California voters will decide the fate of 12 state initiatives on Nov. 4, and easily the most talked-about is Proposition 8, the California Marriage Protection Act. This measure would ban gay marriage in California, embedding in the state Constitution language defining marriage as something that can only take place between a man and a woman.

In our view, Californians should reject Proposition 8.

First of all, California marriage doesn’t need to be protected from gay people. Gay people pose no threat to the institution of marriage, to traditional families or to society at large.

California’s large gay population includes countless committed relationships, countless extended families in which people care for each other and their relatives with compassion and love, and many gay couples are raising children.

Gay people deserve equal treatment under the law, as our U.S. Constitution calls for all men — and women — to be treated equally.

For many people of faith, gay marriage is a religious issue. We understand that many people are opposed to homosexuality and want to raise their children accordingly. That is a choice to be respected — and a choice that would be undisturbed by the outcome of Proposition 8, whatever it may be.

While advocates of the measure say that its failure would result in public schools teaching tolerance for gay marriage, Proposition 8 says nothing about schools and would do nothing to change curriculum.

In fact, the measure would do only one simple thing, add the following phrase to the California Constitution: “Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court determined that such a statement violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

In our view, Proposition 8 is a misguided and unconstitutional proposal. We urge voters to reject Proposition 8.