California's leading gay rights group said Wednesday that they were prepared to sit it out until 2012 to mount an effort to repeal Proposition 8, California's November voter-approved gay marriage ban.

Equality California (EQCA), the group that led the unsuccessful opposition to Proposition 8 last year, said it planned to wait three years before returning to the polls.

“After reviewing all the information, research and feedback from our coalition partners and the community-at-large and in view of our aggressive determination and dedication to win marriage back as soon as possible, we support committing our energy, resources and leadership to helping the community win a ballot initiative to restore marriage at the November 2012 election,” Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, said in a statement.

Money and time to organize appear to be the major considerations being weighed by gay rights groups in the state, some of which have arrived at a different conclusion.

“I don't know why we would say no to the movement we've got now,” Rick Jacobs, the founder of the Courage Campaign, a liberal grassroots group, told the Wall Street Journal.

The 70,000-member Courage Campaign is expected to release its official recommendation of when – and how – to return to the ballot box on Thursday, but the answer is most likely 2010.

“As of now, we are moving forward for 2010,” Jacobs told the New York Times Wednesday.

Many smaller groups have also committed to 2010, including the Stonewall Democratic Club.

“I find the language of some of the organizations really self-defeating,” John M. Cleary, president of the Los Angeles group told the paper. “And I think we have a moral obligation to overturn this.”

Raising money for the campaign during the current economic climate is a big concern. Big donors especially say they have their reservations.

“In conversations with a number of my fellow major No on 8 donors,” David Bohnett, a millionaire philanthropist who gave more than $1 million to last year's campaign to defeat Proposition 8, said in an e-mail to the New York Times, “I find that they share my sentiment: namely, that we will step up to the plate – with resources and talent – when the time is right.”

“The only thing worse than losing in 2008,” he added, “would be to lose again in 2010.”

Ron Prentice, chairman of ProtectMarriage.com, the sponsor of Proposition 8, said any effort would fail.

“Notwithstanding the decision of EQCA to shift focus to a 2012 election, which they readily admit is a crass political decision, they will lose then just as surely as they would in 2010 or any other year. The people have spoken twice on this issue, both times reaffirming traditional marriage. If asked to do so, they will indeed vote again to protect traditional marriage.”

“Based on ongoing conflict among the pro-homosexual marriage groups, it is unclear if or when this issue may appear before voters in California. But whether 2010, 2012, or beyond, ProtectMarriage.com will be ready to defend marriage and emerge victorious again,” Prentice said in a statement.