Supporters of gay marriage in California are scrambling to raise funds in response to an unexpectedly strong campaign by Christian conservatives and others to amend the state constitution and ban the practice. Proposition 8, a state ballot initiative up for a vote on November 4, would amend the state constitution so that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California”. Gay rights activists were shocked when a public opinion poll published this month found 47 per cent of respondents favoured the measure, with 42 per cent opposed and 10 per cent undecided. The result...