Chanting "Let the people decide," dozens of opponents of gay marriage held a news conference at the state Capitol on Friday urging state lawmakers to put the issue before voters through a constitutional amendment.

The state House and Senate have been called back by Gov. Neil Abercrombie for a special session this month to debate a gay marriage bill. The governor called the session in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that legally married gay couples are entitled to federal benefits.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 that gave the Legislature the power to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. The state attorney general’s office and several constitutional scholars believe the Legislature has the power to change that definition, but many opponents of gay marriage think voters should be given the choice.

"Don’t take our choice to preserve traditional marriage as a unique social institution out of the law unless you ask us," said James Hochberg, an attorney and president of Hawaii Family Advocates. "If we say ‘yes,’ fine. If we say ‘no,’ no."

Hochberg, who also leads the Let the People Decide on Marriage coalition, said redefining marriage is a complex issue. He compared gay marriage to the legal change that allowed no-fault divorce, which he contends compromised the family structure of a mother and a father needed to raise children to become civilized adults.

"There are unintended consequences to redefining marriage," Hochberg said. "And if these guys in this building don’t know what they are, they should not undertake to redefine marriage. They should let us do it, if we want to, and be responsible for it."

Russell Stewart, a pastor at The Ark Christian Center in Kaneohe, cited the history of Christianity among many Native Hawaiians and said many do not accept same-sex marriage. "We do not want it," he said. "Let the people vote, because we don’t want it."

The news conference Friday was a prelude to a rally planned for Oct. 28, the opening day of the special session, that organizers predict will draw thousands to the Capitol.

Lois Perrin, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and founding member of Hawaii United for Marriage, said voters in 1998 gave the Legislature the responsibility to define marriage.

"Today, a growing majority of people in Hawaii support marriage equality, and when the Legislature convenes in special session, we are hopeful that lawmakers will reflect the loving spirit of Hawaii’s people," she said in an email statement.

A few dozen advocates for marriage equality, led by GSA Hawaii, which supports gay-straight alliances in schools, waved signs outside the Capitol on Friday afternoon. The event, which involved mostly young people, marked National Coming Out Day.