Prop 8 debate

At the moment loads of news in Britain is about the economy, but the US presidential election is also getting a fair amount of coverage. Newsround came up with the idea of Pres Packers - kids who send in their webcam diaries about what they feel on the presidential race. The kids are all from the town of Culpeper in the state of Virginia.

One story which hasn't had much coverage here in the UK is the battle for equal rights in California. Earlier this year that state's supreme court ruled that the respect and dignity of marriage is a basic human right which cannot be withheld from same-sex couples.

Religious groups are campaigning to change the state constitution so that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognised. A simple majority of those voting would be enough to pass Proposition 8 which amends California's constitution. The vote is on 4 November 2008, the same day as the election for US President.

The latest opinion polls show that, unlike the Presidential election, the outcome is finely balanced. So what I'd like to see Newsround report is how Californian kids are reacting to the campaign. What do kids in Californian schools think? How about a few Prop-8 Packers reporting for Newsround?

This is a golden opportunity to acquaint Newsround viewers with the debate, and it might go some way to make up for the dearth of coverage of LGBT issues on BBC children's TV.