Blaming the African American Community Oversimplifies Prop 8 Results

The epilogue for most losing campaigns is to ascertain the reasons for defeat. This process can range from honest self-reflection to delusional rationalization.

Opponents of Proposition 8 have been forced to write this closing section detailing the reasons for its fate. The most popular finger pointing has been directed toward the African American community.

How can a group so tied to the legacy of civil rights in this country stand at the citadel of injustice?

Exit polling indicated 70 percent of African Americans voted in favor of Prop. 8, leading many to conclude that less than 10 percent of the electorate was responsible for its passing.

I am somewhat suspicious of exit polling because it is not an exact science. Exit polling cannot account for Prop 8 passing in practically all counties in the state, except on the coast. As David Binder, principal of David Binder Research, pointed out this week, if the African American vote split 50-50, Prop 8 would have still passed.

But the truth is seldom as neat as we would like it to be. In a state as vast and diverse as California, how can there be a single cause for something as controversial as Prop 8 to pass?

There is no doubt a large number of African American clergy took an active and visible role in support of Prop 8. Using arguments that, in my opinion, relied more on conjecture and fear than actual data.

Sadly, a number of African American clergy concluded that support for Prop 8 was more important than other initiatives on the ballot that would actually impact the lives of many they preach to on Sunday mornings.

And homophobia continues to rear its head in far too many churches of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

The linear conclusion that African Americans led Prop 8 to victory serves only to pit groups against each other. It does not offer an explanation as to why groups based on age, gender, sex, geography or religious affiliation voted the way they did.

The real culprit responsible for Prop 8 passing is the quirky California political process that allows for a mulligan after the state Supreme Court rendered its decision in support of same-gender marriage.

The judiciary branch of government is the referee that arbitrates when we struggle to get it right. They ascertain if the will of the people is in line with the democratic values we've committed ourselves.

Imagine if after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0, as they did, in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, officially ending de jure segregation, the Southern region of the United States were allowed to place a pro Jim Crow initiative on the ballot for a vote several months after the ruling.

The state Supreme Court applied the dispassionate standard of equal protection under the law to reach its decision. Those opposed to the court's ruling conveniently called it "judicial activism," as if the will of the people is always right.

California, under the pseudonym "direct democracy", along with tens of millions in campaign contributions courtesy of the Mormon Church in Utah, passed Prop.8 -- achieving something antithetical to the American experiment by taking away rights already conferred.

Though many were understandably saddened that Prop.8 passed, there is much to celebrate for those supportive of same-gender marriage. In 2000, Prop. 22, which limited marriage to between man and a woman, won with 61 percent of the vote, Prop 8 passed with only 52 percent. Those in opposition increased from 38 percent in 2000 to 48 percent this year.

Moreover, roughly 18,000 same-gender couples were married in 2008 and will hopefully remain so under California law.

As a supporter of same-gender marriage, I am saddened that Prop.8 passed. I am also saddened that the best we can do is blame a group that comprises no more than 10 percent of the electorate for its passing.

This latter conclusion is wrong, divisiveness, and it oversimplifies the complexities as to why there remains a majority of Californians, though shrinking, who cannot authentically support equal protection under the law.

Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist. He is the author of Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections of the Iraq War. E-mail him at [e-mail] or visit his website byronspeaks.com

Comments

[firstfreeze]

If I vote for gay marriage,will everyone agree that marriage remains between only two consenting, unrelated adults (no polygamy, no adult-child relations, no relatives).

[FearlessFreep]

"The most popular finger pointing has been directed toward the African American community."

Actually, blaming the No on 8 campaign is equally popular.

[greasedog]

Apparently, those in opposition of gay marriage for the most part, do so for religious reasons spelled out in the Bible.
Okay, fine.
The Bible also frequently speaks of compliance to God's laws by way of FREE WILL. Deuteronomy 30:19 states "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life." Again, Joshua 24:15 states "Choose you this day whom ye will serve.... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." It is apparent to me God wants his children to CHOOSE the right path.
There are many of God's laws that are consistent with man's laws. Violation of these laws can have an adverse affect on society as a whole or in part. This makes compliance with these laws compulsory and exempt from free will.
Gay marriage would have no adverse affect on society as a whole or in part. It may make some people uncomfortable, but no practical harm is done to others.
Compliance with God's laws as a component to enter his kingdom must be that of CHOICE or FREE WILL.
Legal prohibition of gay marriage due to religious beliefs removes the fundamental and most important component of compliance. That compliance component is FREE WILL. Yes, the Bible does speak against homosexuality. In Leviticus 18:22, homosexuality is described as "an abomination to God". However, stopping homosexuals from legal marriage WILL NOT STOP THEM FROM BEING GAY. BEING GAY is the fracture of God's law. Not getting married!

[coolmaiden]

Reverend Wright's church, blamed for being extreme and hateful, is actually one of the few gay-friendly churches on the south side.

[KevinVT]

There are many many people in both the gay community and the AA community who see this as a red herring. The right is trying to pit us against each other (see Bill O'Reilly), but thinking people on both sides don't take the bait.

Colbert got it right: it's an imaginary war thought up by Fox News & Co.
True, some on each side have taken the bait, but most havent.

http://placeinsun.blogspot.com/2008/11/war-between-blacks-and-gays.html

[hack-the-planet]

Want to make a difference? Sit down with the list of businesses to boycott and start writing about their contributions to the elimination of rights for Californians on review sites like Yelp, CitySearch, and more.

[kutkreata]

When did it become a problem when a group votes how they want to vote? They are supposed to feel guilty because they didn't vote the way you wanted them to? I keep hearing words thrown out like "disgrace", "shameful", "hypocrisy", and "homophobic". This is a democracy. Sometimes it doesn't go the way you want it to go. You don't blame the voters. I have never seen anything like this in my life. Ridiculous.

[KevinVT]

It becomes a problem when that vote has no effect on them, but effectively takes away a right from a minority.

The only justification for NOT allowing full marriage rights, as the Supreme Court has already established, is to mark gay people as second class citizens.

How is that not homophobia?

[kutkreata]

Because maybe they didn't vote to take you rights away. May they voted to stand for the principle of their religion that says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That doesn't mean that they hate you or are afraid of gay people.

[FearlessFreep]

You have an attitude problem. With the power of the ballot comes responsibility.

[MissDaphne]

I actually think that a lot of the newest, youngest voters just goofed.
On the CA ballot, support for most of the progressive initiatives (new farm regulations, $ for light rail, $ for drug treatment instead of prison) = a yes vote. All except for Prop. 8. The no vote = yes for equality. It was confusing, and I think that the courts will figure that out.
Can't speak for the other states.

[rpr]

It was those who are religious and certain socio-economic levels of society, those lower on the educational scale and thus less educated about the issue and easily swayed by TV ads and the campaign in general.
Blacks and Latinos are a higher percentage of both groups than whites.

[Nommo]

I don't know about that. If white people are so damn smart, how come they have not found a wmd in Iraq or bin Laden?

[BruceHNV]

Why, that's cleverness incarnate. It would never have occurred to me that a witty insult could nullify statistical fact.

Damn. No wonder the fundies always win.

[lcelidon]

word from a black heterosexual male,a lot us are in the closet,sticking to their ego,,,
somebody is trying to find escape goats...

[Cybersquirt]

I agree, mostly. The other problem is that politics continues to creep into the pulpit and, in turn, religion continues to creep into law. Separation now! And if they won't then they start paying taxes.

Thanks for the article and the numbers.

[Tanyars5]

There were three gay marriage issues that failed on election night. I find it curious that no one is debating the demographics of Florida and Arizona and trying to understand why a particular group of people voted the way they did.

[BruceHNV]

Well, hey - it's ultra-liberal CA, don'tchaknow. This was an unexpected result.

[Tanyars5]

that is my point.......if this was voted down previously why would you think it was going to go down the second time......nothing really changed......again why did the other two states issues fail??????

[Cybersquirt]

spoken like someone who doesn't live here ;)
it's not ultra-liberal, it's usually ahead of the curve though.

[antaeus]

Maybe you could go on a fact-finding mission to find out. You don't live in any of these states, right? You just like to sit in the midwest and write things here like, " . . . white gay people write in blogs that black people are dumb, we should be lynched . . . " I'm really interested in the demographic profile of self-styled Christians who bear false witness.

[SwingVoteNYC]

I have seen it in many blogs and there is only one battle ....It is not Gay Marriage it needs to be the movement to remove church verbiage from your loving partnerships. If you want everything "equal" it starts from terminology changes and transparent non religion based terms.

The battle for equality is a long one and as a black person or any minority in America that battle was not won by electing Obama president. On a local level in people of authority will find ways to oppress people.

At the end of the day I walk into a room everyone knows I am black man and all of the stereotypes and questions are already predetermined.... If your Gay and walk into a room that is up too you to let everyone know. If you are on a job interview no one knows for sure if your gay but they damn sure know i am Black.

If you want things to change and to progress The "Black" community makes up maybe 13 percent of this country and only 10 percent of the electorate in California you have at least 65 percent to go. You have work to do.

P.S. If you are Gay and Blame the "Black Community" you should realize that you agree with Bill O'Riley.. You know something is not right ...at that point.

[PerfumeisToxic]

Actually people very often know that someone is gay when they walk into a room or down the street. This is hwy so many gay people have to live in constant feat from total strangers that they have never told they were gay. And if you get treated better because no one knows you are gay, then you have to be living a constant lie and have constant fear of being found out.

[BruceHNV]

True, dat.

I have excellent "gay-dar." (sorry if that sounds offensive).

I can usually tell when someone is "passing," and I feel sorry anyone feels they have to. But there's no denying they do.

[jackson1015]

Okay, forgive me....I'm trying to blog and take phone calls at my job at the same time. What I meant to say is that I hope that one day AA's will view the gay community with less heartlessness.

[jackson1015]

It is not uncommon to go to a black church and hear ministers refer to homosexuality as an "abomination," according to the Bible. In NO BLACK CHURCH THAT I HAVE EVER ATTENDED IN MY LIFE have I ever heard any minister bring up the fact that the Bible also condones slavery. Keep in mind that many people who call themselves Christians have never even read the Bible completely....many go by what they hear on Sunday morning service and don't study it any further.

If every black person in California had voted No on 8 it wouldn't have changed the outcome, but I can understand the hurt felt by those in the gay community toward those who they would have "assumed" would have been on their side. A lot of reaching out and discussion, teaching and compassion has to take place on both sides in order change minds and hearts. I especially feel for those same sex couples who have adopted hard-to-place children with special needs and now they feel that their families aren't legitimate in the eyes of the law.

I really admire those same-sex couples with hearts big enough to adopt children who need loving homes. I hope more work can be done to open up the lines of communication to enable AA's from viewing them with less heartlessness.

[PerfumeisToxic]

In truth the main psychology behind what these black churchies say, as well as other homophobia, is that some people do not feel good about themselves and therefore need someone LOWER than themselves that they can look down on. Bullying and feeling superior to SOMEONE is the motivation for homophobia by people who feel that they themselves are being looked down on. No one wants to be at the very bottom of the social heirarchy, so they need to keep some group lower than themselves so that they will feel better.

[BruceHNV]

Hmmm, welllllll, I don't think so.

There is a relationship, but it's not that.

Statistically, the better educated a population, the less resistance to gay rights. Color does not seem that critical.

Historically, however, blacks have been provided far inferior education on average to whites. In the presence of ignorance, prejudice flourishes. Add to this a relatively conservative social climate in one of the principle sources of information in many black communities, the church, and institutionalized homophobia therein, and you have not only no COUNTER to natural aversion to reminders of same-sex relations, but an actual ACCELERANT to it. Hence, a higher density of homophobia in lower socio-economic black communities.

Where there are signs of having to be "better than someone," you will see that played out against Korean store owners in Watts, for instance - not gays.

[FearlessFreep]

"In NO BLACK CHURCH... have I ever heard any minister bring up the fact that the Bible also condones slavery." The slaveowners certainly brought it up.