Gay Marriage Bans Succeeding

State amendments to ban gay marriage did well across the country with voters in Arizona and Florida approving proposals to outlaw same-sex marriage and Californians on the verge of passing such an amendment in their state.

The proposal in Arizona was a stripped-down version of an amendment that was narrowly voted down two years ago. In Florida, social conservatives spent millions to push their ballot drive:

Florida's gay marriage amendment drew the most attention, with dueling groups pumping more than $5 million into TV advertising and statewide campaigns. Same-sex marriage has been illegal in Florida since 1997, but supporters argued a constitutional shield was necessary to make sure judges would never overturn the law.

And the most closely-watched gay marriage ban, California's Proposition 8, had slightly more support, 52% to 47%, with almost 60% of precincts reporting.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

A measure to ban gay marriage in California led in early returns Tuesday although the final outcome remained in doubt, leaving advocates on both sides in suspense about the most divisive and emotionally fraught contest in the state this year.

Proposition 8 would amend the California Constitution to define marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

Comments

[CSP]

Wow, for a few hours last night, I was actually proud of my country.
Americans never fail to disappoint in the end...

[deliriousgod]

you always have to have someone to kick and wedgie

[PresWatch]

The disappointing Californians were the ones who didn't vote. Prop 8 was passed by 18% of the state's population in a 52/48 split. We are not all bigots and haters here, but some of us were too lazy to vote.

[eyecon]

I have seen the demographics in the exit polls. However, we are to blame for the apparent passage of Proposition 8. We failed to get the necessary support to defeat this amendment. We were not outspent — We were out-organized!

http://www.tips-q.com/content/we-start-pointing-fingers

[handgrenadejumper]

first and only smart thing i've read on here, take some personaly responsibilty that YOU failed, It's ok to fail at something, get back up and dust yourself off. It makes you a better person.

at least you didn't blame it on the blacks like every other racisist person here.

[CSP]

hand, numbers are numbers. You sound like that republican claiming the polling numbers were biased! 70% of african americans voted against a group's rights, just as they were celebrating their own. That is not racism, it is simply the truth.

[ajhmd]

After 28 years together, we were married in Carmel by a Reform rabbi in June of this year. Now, whether Attorney General Brown wins to uphold licenses such as ours, California has voted discrimination into their State Constitution. It was thrilling to watch Obama win last night. As son of a white civil rights worker mother in the 1950s and 60s, however, it is depressing to see the number of people who voted yes on prop 8. The % of African-American women who voted yes was exceptionally high. Although the late Coretta Scott King often talked about gay rights being part of the civil rights movement, it is clear that there is massive homophobia in the African-American community. Many of us fought against their being victims of discrimination, and I am proud of our successes. Maybe one day many of them will vote to eliminate the last sanctioned form of discrimination in our country.

[juzcuz]

I look forward to the day when those who voted to ban gay happiness... their children and grandchildren come out to them as gay. They can stay stuffed in the closets forever. Afterall, it' is the straight folks who delivered gay babies. That will never stop. Some day gays will not be the minority.

[ArtistinNY]

I was so incredibly happy at Obama's win last night and today my happiness and elation is muted by this news. I cannot believe that an existing right was taken away and by people who claim to be Christians. It is so easy to forget that the Bible was used to justify slavery and the miscegenation laws.

[babytomata]

As a Hillary Clinton supporter, I held my nose and voted for Obama. But as I experienced last night - I was so elated by Barack's victory. The significance of his election is not lost on me - it moved me deeply. Then to find out that Californians voted to add discrimination to their constitution on the same day that a black man was elected president AND that it probably was the increased black turnout that did it....I am completely horrified. Coretta King worked so hard her last few years for equality for all , that the black community would embrace hatred and deny love makes me sad beyond belief.

[DoomtoNeoCons]

My advice: Come to MA. We're not perfect, but we Massholes want to keep moving forward, past the religous big_try and h_te.

[Sparty1]

It's really sad that we have to be such a puritanical society. Why does this need to be an amendment to the Constitution? I mean with all of the closeted Rethugs, you'd think they'd have a soft spot in their heart for the gays.

[PresWatch]

Furthermore, exactly how does a gay union threaten a heterosexual union?

[nibblybits]

You cannot celebrate the election of Barack Obama without mourning the passing of 3 separate same sex marriage bans, written into constitutions.

Shame on the black community, the Mormon church, and everyone else to support the oppression of the equal rights of others.

I'm straight, and I'm not a particular proponent of gay marriage. But I also am completely against writing into the constitution a denial of rights. It is a travesty of what today was meant to represent: a step towards equality for everyone.

[oynkie]

Same sex marriages have been legal in Canada for the past 3 years. Those who think same sex marriages destroy the moral fabric of society need only look to your neighbour to the north to see how we are overcoming our differences to create a better home for all.

[handgrenadejumper]

yeah we are looking at you guys, and honestly.. not that great of a place.. congrats and having a crappy government and horribly run country.

[AlienNationRefugee]

Wow. So you have a problem with balanced budgets? Maybe that's why you probably voted for McCain.

[juzcuz]

Handjob: move to Siberia

[Quaoar]

Do you have any evidence that Canada's troubles were caused by gay marriage?

Didn't think so.

[AlienNationRefugee]

I have always felt that the snake handlers relabeled the homosexual civil rights campaign as "Gay Marriage" in order to make it a State vs. Church issue. I reality I don't want gay marriage. What I want is for the government to reassign any and all legal attributions of marriage to civil unions the primary beneficiary of this would be unmarried heterosexual couples. That is what we have in Canada. Marriage in Canada is strictly a religious event without any legal significance. Nonetheless it is simple shameful how so many intolerant African Americans voted for this. It is equally unfortunate how much racism still persists in the gay community. The two groups need to come together more and find some common ground.

[JHCowboy]

Barack Obama is the African American who loves the gay community and speaks out for us. It's hard to believe African Americans who voted for prop 8 could be so ignorant or just did not listen to Barack when he has spoken out in our behalf.

[Downwithdumbness]

JH Cowboy, does Obama support gay marriage???????????? No

[AlienNationRefugee]

In general African Americans may be bisexual or homosexual but still not identify with the LGBT community. Basically they are closeted hypocrites in a community that is outwardly very intolerant. I also think the African American church has drawn much to close to the white evangelical snake handlers on this issue. It is ironic how radical religious extremism afflicts the US at the same time we are trying to fight Islamic extremism abroad.

[xdevildawg4u]

I wonder how many African-Americans went to the polls in Florida, Arkansas, Arizona and California and voted to discriminate against another oppressed minority and then went home and sobbed in celebration at the election of Barack Obama and how his election was a massive blow to the "LAST" remaining form segregation and minority oppression in America?

I can't help but be elated and disgusted, happy and sad, hopeful and dispondent, proud and ashamed, picked up and pissed off, ALL at the same damn time.

It's 2008 and this "great" country still has a LONG way to go before she's all grown up.

[Khill]

many AA don't see Gays as an oppresed people they see it as a life style that people choose stop assuming that blacks know anything about homosexuality outside of what they already believe because many of them don't and there is no one to educate them otherwise. While were at it why do gays always assume that AA and Latinos see there struggles as the same...they don't were talking about a race of people with extremely religious beliefs Hell the Civil rights movement started in the Churches so while you're all pissed off and feel stabbed in the back by the black community....I haven't heard anyone reaching out to them to express there views either and asking them to stand with them for rights for all. By the way did the AA community put this on the ballot in the first place no....but the Mormon who did must have did a hell of a job playing to the AA community religious beliefs......

[groda63]

I know the reason why people vote against gay marriage. Because if they support it, then they are admitting that gay people are equal to them. And straight people always want to believe that they are better than gay people, that there is something wrong with gay people. And they aren't willing to do that.
So if you voted for Prop 8, I want to tell you of the pain and hurt you have now caused to your fellow americans. It hurts so deeply I can barely breathe today. Last night I was so happy for African American people that I was crying. I kept telling my friends that I am so happy for them. And this morning, the news that the black community overwhelming voted against gays in Prop just adds to the pain I feel.

[JHCowboy]

The silver lining is the fact that those who have been married during that 6 month period are going to remain married. I have a feeling that this issue is not over. I also have a feeling that a class action lawsuit is coming to California.

[juzcuz]

and, oh yes... there are gays hiding in their closets by the millions.. in the black community. They'll never know what it's like to be authentic and living their truth. They'll hide in the dark their whole life. Sad. So be it.

[thebigbike]

WE ARE STILL MARRIED !!!! a California same sex couple .....

[Bostongirl1]

Yes you are! No one can tell you different.

[handgrenadejumper]

actually yes.. and the voters just did..

[Fightnmad]

Thank you for putting into words the nebulous question: what happens to all those same sex married couples already in existence? Are their marriages instantly dissolved under this garbage legislation? What happens to children of these unions? Do dependents automatically lose health care coverage? Logistically speaking, what happens now?

[juzcuz]

congratulations... hang in there. I donated all I could to NO on prop... your neighbor in Oregon.

[milo h minderbinder]

So does it only take a simple majority to repeal this amendment?

[timberdoodle]

Being a Canadian I am overjoyed at Obama being elected just like 99% of the rest of the world but a little disheartened about people voting to discriminate against their fellow man/woman. Maybe in another 100 years America will be able to catch up with the modern societies througout the world.