A proposed state constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot would ban gay marriages and civil unions. It was put on the ballot through a vote earlier this year of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Independent polling shows the measure could pass by a wide margin.

"We will succeed on Nov. 2 if the people just step up and get involved," said Kent Ostrander, executive director of the faith-based Family Foundation of Kentucky in Lexington, which is campaigning to pass the amendment.

"The conviction on the issue here in Kentucky is firm," Ostrander said. "The question is whether citizens will display the resolve needed to prevail."

But the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, a group trying to defeat the amendment, said the opposition is getting broad support.

"We are getting a lot of support from conservative people who realize this amendment goes far beyond defining marriage," the alliance said in a statement. "Also, we are getting support from people who are opposed to gay marriage, or don't know how they feel about gay marriage, but who understand the second part of the amendment, which would ban civil unions and domestic partnerships for all unmarried couples, goes too far."

Here is how the issue will appear on the ballot:

"Are you in favor of amending the Kentucky Constitution to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be a marriage in Kentucky, and that a legal status identical to or similar to marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized?"

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com