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

[dmcd354]

Just goes to show you that even though McCain's scorched earth lies and fear campaign didn't work on a national scale, when you lie and spread fear about gay people and you involve children in those lies, you still win even in "liberal" California. I've got an idea! Let's get a constitutional amendment on the ballot that automatically ends a church's tax exempt status when they get involved so blatantly in politics!

[gipper1]

These "bans" will never stand up in court.

[madzippy]

More hope:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/05/state/n082023S02.DTL&type=politics

[CapableOne]

Yeah, Prop 8... I guess that will be our next major civil rights breakthrough... someday. Remember the days when an African American president was considered impossible. The politics of fear took a beating last night but did not get completely knocked out.

[madzippy]

As I sit here, blogging, staring at my 3 month old marriage certificate with my partner of 18 years in one hand and a box of tissues in the other, I wonder how you would feel being told your marriage is no longer valid? I bet the pain feels the same whether your gay or straight.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20238033,00.html

Maybe some hope?

"Minter says he will also argue that Proposition 8 be set aside altogether, on the grounds that state voters don't have the power to make such a sweeping change to their constitution – especially one that calls for discrimination against a minority group. "

[justanotherarchivist]

My heart goes out to you, the many other couples immediately affected by this development, and the rest of us who were counting on the hope that we have that Californians would not be swayed by lies and the oppression of political agenda masquerading as spirituality. As another person had commented, I too feel that this November 4th was bittersweet.

Hold onto your hope. Remember that these are long and hard fights. Keep your fists up, and when others don't care to recognize the love that you and your partner share, remember that try as they might to take it away, they just bloody can't.

:-)

[madzippy]

Thank you. :_)

[Pigliacci]

I came out to my parents 29 years ago last month. At 22, and with a tender heart, I said hopefully then that I looked forward to giving them a big hug at Thanksgiving.

All these years later, I'm still waiting for Thanksgiving to come,.

My parents have grown old nursing their righteousness, cut off from their only son. So, I've been fighting this fight one way or another nearly my entire life.

Maybe it'll take the rest of my life, too, but none of us can give up or give in. Somehow we have to keep making this world better and more just for generations to follow. That's the hope that Obama represents and I have to believe he's better than he knows.

Peace.

[Khill]

My heart goes out to you it really does..... it's a shame that we can come so far in one way and get knocked back in another but I hate to say this but as long as religion is a big part of peoples lives and as long as you have not jobs who will use religion as a tact to scare people then you will always have these results which is why as much as I believe in God this election cycle has really made me realize that God and church are two seperate things and I really can't be affiliated with them at this time....Keep hoping I will keep you in my prayers

[dmcd354]

I am so dissapointed in my fellow Californians today that they fell for that load of bile the Mormons and the other "houses of God" were preaching. They did nothing but lie and spread baseless fear about children and schools. It just shows you that fear and lies can still trump reason and truth even in supposedly "liberal" California. Monday I asked a co-worker of mine how he was going to vote and he said he was voting yes because of the teachings of the Bible (there's that bludgeoning weapon again!) and that gays were already protected under Domestic Partnerships that were just like marraige. So it all boils down to the word marraige?

[OkieIntellectual]

Hey I just had an idea. I know Obama has stated that he feels the gay marriage issue should be left to the states, but perhaps he could push some kind of legislation that requires all states to fully adhere to the Full Faith and Credit Clause in Article IV of the Constitution.

"Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state"

He should say to the states "fine, you don't want to allow homosexuals to marry in your state, but you WILL recognize those marriages that took place in other states, regardless what your state constitution says."

He really needs to hold the states to the rule of the Consitution.

[Researchguy66]

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Obama was notably silent on Proposition 8 and Amendment 2. He knows that vocal support for human rights for gays and lesbians could have cost him African-American votes that he couldn't have afforded to lose.

Per his acceptance speech, he's already looking to re-election in four years. You might be waiting for a while.

[OkieIntellectual]

Good point.

[OkieIntellectual]

Good point, however he wouldn't be specifically referencing gay rights. He could get around it by speaking in generalities, yet insisting that ALL states must adhere to Article IV. Perhaps the legislation could address the kinds of contracts and judicial preceedings and actually use the words "Marriage and civil unions", just bury it in the legislation where it won't necessarily be noticed. Politicians do that kind of thing all the time.

Basically I'm saying that if the legislation is drafted carefully enough, he could get away with it.

[wembles]

californians care more about animals that will be killed for food (which i supported) than they do for their fellow human beings. disgusting. we have a long road ahead.

[JailNeoconVicts]

Like Barack said last night: imagine the changes we still have to make, so in a hundred years our kids can look back with pride at the progress we've made.

If Prop 8 passes this year, it will get un-passed in the not too distant future.

[Bitsko]

Too many people believe that once a law, or in this case a proposition, is passed, it cannot be repealed or revoked. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and the struggle never ends.

[MourningDood]

Hopefully our grandkids and great grandkids will see the biggest discriminatory scourge eliminated from our nation. That would be abortions.

[suejester]

I am very sad by all of this. It is so disheartening to see all the Anti-gay measures pass in all the states. Unfortunatly for me this sadness is overshadowing the excitment of Obama winning. I feel these defeats have been huge setbacks.

What happens next? Do we have to wait for two new appointees to the Supreme Court, and then fight to say it is unconstitutional for states to write discrimination into state's constitutions, and fight this fight all over again?

This all feels like such a David and Goliath battle. Gays ($) vs Religious and ignorance (tax exempt $$$$$)

Please someone give me some hope again... It sickens me that those freaks that prayed in San Diego are reinforced that praying to some god thinks their praying worked...

[Mulvaney]

Barak shows us that we can do it. Prop 8 shows us that we stiil have a lot of work to be done.

[moussier01]

How sad it is to see all those hypocrites saying that it's OK to have more than one wife but it's wrong to marry the person you just happen to love.

I just can't believe it, I thought society was going forward, not backwards, I wouldn't be surprised if the holy inquisition re-appeared.

Shame on all those hypocrites!

[Bostongirl1]

Mitt Romney frightens me

[MourningDood]

Everyone's complaining about ALL THE MONEY poured into getting Prop 8 passed, but neglect to mention that MORE money was poured into getting it rejected.

Funny, isn't it?

[robertny49]

The money is coming from out of state (Utah). That's why people are pissed. Why don't they mind thier own business and concern themselves with the forced marriages of underaged teenage girls.

[Kassandra]

Same thing happened in NM when we tried last session to get legal rights for gys marriage. Colorado christains poured money and activists inot the state. I think this should be illegal, to interfere with another state's judicial and legislative processes.

[milo h minderbinder]

Source? Link please.

[MourningDood]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-moneymap,0,2198220.htmlstory

Total for - $37,799,539
Total against - $35,893,165

[Lemeritus]

Would you like to cite a credible source to back up your assertion? The forces of discrimination raised over $4 million more than the No on Prop. 8 people. Major donors in California included the CN based Knights of Columbus ($1.4 million), Utah's Mormon church ($1.5 million), Orange County (Irvine) banking heir Howard Ahmanson Jr.'s Fieldstead and Co. foundation ($1.1 million); John Templeton Jr., son of the late Bryn Mawr, Pa., investor John Templeton ($900,000); the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association ($500,000), and Elsa Prince, ($450,000), mother of Blackwater founder Erik Prince.

Not funny at all.

[MourningDood]

Total money raised OUTSIDE CA against Prop 8 - $11,895,435
Total money raised OUTSIDE CA for Prop 8 - $10,581,085

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-moneymap,0,2198220.htmlstory

You may have to copy and paste the link.

[rafael44]

Funny not pathetic rather when people like you quote ad hoc from unrealible sources

[clayfisher]

Donate to the Human Rights https://secure.ga3.org/03/join2org/03/join2. Ask every retail store, every service provider, every physician, lawyer, car dealer, insurance company, every and anyone with whom you would spend money to reveal their position on human rights AND DO NOT SPEND A CENT WITH THOSE WHO FAIL TO SATISFY YOUR SENSIBILITIES. Do not travel to Florida, Arizona, California. Do travel to Belgium, Canada, Norway, South Africa, Netherlands, Spain, Massachusetts, Connecticut. Assume equality. Talk to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, fellow parishioners, insurance agent, car mechanic, plumber, etc. your story and your position on human rights. ASSUME EQUALITY. Do not fight for it. It is yours if you assume it.

[HawaiiBill]

Thanks clayfisher for putting words to my anger this morning. Our wedding we were planning in San Francisco will now happen in Boston. If California is blind, we'll go where they see the light!

[clayfisher]

Congratulations on your pending nuptials, HawaiiBill. I encourage you and the love of your life to add your wedding to the HRC Wedding Registry...and I will make a donation on your behalf.

[rafael44]

Friends her ein South Florida are starting to organized a travel boycott against FLA

[Bostongirl1]

I'm an African American heterosexual who is pro gay marriage and adoption. As much as I am sadden about the results of prop 8, I think people have to understand that we have to conquer one hurdle at a a time. I bet if they polled the gender of those who voted for prop 8 they will find the male percentage out weighs the race percentage and this is due to fear. Men have a deep rooted fear of gay men and it's perpetuated by society in movies, songs, television even cartoons. It's not a race that needs to be pinpointed for what's happening it's society.

that's my operating soley on caffeine humble opinion

[madzippy]

I appreciate your perspective. Ironically, according to the exit polls on CNN, it was AA women who most strongly supported Prop 8. I think it's because they tend to be most devout religiously and voted that way.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1

I don't mean to blame anyone or any one group. I'm just trying to understand why my marriage possibly became invalid today. We just need to target our education efforts to dispel the myths and fears.

[Bostongirl1]

That really dissappoints me.

We just have to keep fighting the bigots - it took years of heart ache and bloodshed to see Obama achieve what he did last night - It will take some more sweat and tears to finally have equality for all...

[Khill]

I Agree with you but the only way to change anyone's mind is not to yell at them and blame them because someone played to there beliefs or fears for that matter it is to talk to them in one breathe I made a friend of mine feel real small about voting for the ban I explained to her that marriage is not an issue to be decided by the public it is in its nature a very private affair, and she hasn't the right to vote against it. because no one should be voting about marriage in the first place, it's too late for her to change her vote but she'll think about it a little more before she rushes out to cast a vote the next time