Proposition 8 Accepted by Californians
While we all focused on the elections for president and to a lesser degree on the elections for U.S. Congress, we forgot to point out that Californians voted on quite a controversial bill, about which we had written in the days before the elections.
Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the entire state, was accepted yesterday by Californians.
The California Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that a ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. Therefore, its opponents came up with a way to amend the state’s constitution, which would obviously make it constitutional. They lobbied hard, spent many millions of dollars, came back from behind and a majority of Californians voted for the ban yesterday.
This will bring an immediate end to the gay marriages in San Francisco, which started marrying gay couples immediately after the state’s Supreme Court overturned the previous ban.
Approximately 54% of Californians voted Proposition 8, while only 46% opposed the ban.
The debate about gay marriage is not over; it will be continued throughout the coming years. But yesterday marked an important victory for social conservatives, on a day when they lost virtually every other single battle.
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-->7 Responses to “Proposition 8 Accepted by Californians”
Comment from MissB
Time November 5, 2008 at 4:43 pm PST
The California election is not over.
We still have almost 10% of precincts to go through.
Below is a link to the election website. You can get accurate information there.
Comment from c3
Time November 5, 2008 at 5:34 pm PST
In a related item in neighboring state AZ:
“Proposition 102, the Yes for Marriage campaign, proposed a 20-word amendment to the state Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. It’s an attempt to do what backers couldn’t do in 2006: ensure that Arizona’s existing law banning same sex marriages will not be overturned by a judge.”
Comment from Grewgills
Time November 5, 2008 at 7:32 pm PST
A sad thing on an otherwise happy day.
“Approximately 54% of Californians voted Proposition 8, while only 46% opposed the ban.”
It has tightened up a bit since then. But, as much as I would like to believe MissB correct the remaining votes would have to break at better than 9:1 against. It’s not impossible, but it might as well be.
Comment from Kaspar
Time November 5, 2008 at 7:33 pm PST
Urrrrrgh. You. Can’t. Choose. Your. Sexuality.
This is sickening and medieval stuff. I don’t want to see it today, not when the golden rule is more important than ever.
Obama’s fight was about my politics and stances, but opposition to Prop 8 directly relates to my metaphysical quality as a being capable of reason. The fact that this is even up to a vote by… People is beyond me.
Unfair, unpleasant, unbearable.
Comment from c3
Time November 5, 2008 at 7:59 pm PST
Kaspar;
While clearly there are supporters of such measure who are voting against homosexuals I would suggest there are a sizable number who are voting based on what they perceive “marriage” to be. Now of those there are some who vote based on history, culture and religion. I would still suggest there are legitimate discussions regarding what relationship the state should actively “sanction” including benefits.
Now whether this ends up being a argument between what we call “marriages” and what we call “civil unions” may speak more to those “sacred cow” images we have versus what relationships the state should sanction and support.
Comment from Kaspar
Time November 5, 2008 at 8:24 pm PST
I am afraid I am not ready to accept the shadow of the notion of a discussion on civil benefits for same-sex couples. It is a civil rights issues, related directly to my own sanctity as a human, my survival and the core of myself – rail-road it through, make it ironcast, screw everyone’s feelings whether or why they are for or against. Just get it done and let society progress forward – I don’t want to trifle over the obvious.
Regarding marriage – I don’t care how old or tried or tested it is. There is the solution we have and there is a suggestedto change – apply scepticism and reason and you don’t have to care a crumb whether the resulting choice is red, blue, republican, democrat, conservative, liberal or whatever.
If it all is about maintaining the integrity of the bible – I would probably be stoned to death multiple times if the bible was followed to a tee – why do we care about what the bible says abot non-heterosexuality one second and look away regarding its stance on adulterers or boys with long hair?
Comment from MissB
Time November 5, 2008 at 4:31 pm PST
The statement above is not correct. Proposition 8 is still in deliberation. We still have over 1 million ballots to go through and the opposition of gay marriages is ahead. (opposed) 51% to 49% (for)
With a 4% margin of error. We will not know the outcome of prop 8 until later today.