Proposition 8 is an initiative state constitutional amendment on the 2008 California General Election ballot, titled Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry.[1][2] If passed, the proposition would "change the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California."[3] A new section would be added stating "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."[3]

 

The measure was originally submitted for the ballot by petitioners with the title "California Marriage Protection Act."[4] The title and summary were revised by Attorney General Jerry Brown to more "accurately reflect the measure."[5] The Superior Court of California ruled in favor of these changes, stating, "The title and summary is not false or misleading because it states that Proposition 8 would 'eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry' in California. The California Supreme Court unequivocally held that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry under the California Constitution." [6]

 

On the day after the election, with 99.5% of precincts reporting the vote was 52.5% in favor of Proposition 8 and 47.5% against;[7] as many as 3 million absentee and provisional ballots remain to be counted.[8]

 

:cry:

Almost 70% of blacks voted in favour of Prop 8, 55% of whites voted against the proposition.

 

I feel like smacking these black people in particular. You'd think that after decades of being treated unequally and being victims of racism in America would make them more accepting, but they're the biggest hypocrites of all. I'd like to start a Proposition on banning marriage between black people, let's see how they take it.

Some exit poll info:

 

Men and women voted the same way.

White men and women both voted no more often than yes.

The largest group voting in favor was black women with approximately 72%, followed by Latino men with 51%.

The only race that, as a whole, voted "yes" more often than "no" was African Americans.

66% of those between 18-29 voted "no".

57% of those 65 and older voted "yes".

67% of Democrats voted "no".

79% of Republicans voted "yes".

52% of heterosexuals voted "yes".

68% of Obama voters voted "no".

82% of McCain voters voted "yes".

 

I don't believe that any minority has ever had civil rights which they already possessed taken away from them in the history of the US.

This law actually disgusts me, im really surpirsed on a day Obama shows us great change, we get shown that there still isnt equality for homosexuals, next they will have to sit on the back of the bus.

I think a friend summed it up when he said 'I don't get it. We're just people too.'. Shame on those voters.

Still, with Obama as president, I can see gay rights taking huge leaps in gallops in the next few years...even with this misstep.

I think he's against gay marriage though

Yeah, but he does want to give gays complete equal rights. Tis unfortunate he's not for calling it marriage, but it's a step in the right direction like I said.

Aye, the usual double standards. Push and push for family unity, sneer at unmarried couples but, God forbid two people of the same sex should tie the knot.

 

Marriage is pretty outdated anyway - it should be seen as a gesture alone and laws regarding security, money etc should not be based around it. A contract of co-habitation and co-responsibility of dependents should be drawn up for that with all religious connotations removed.

 

Let's see these backward f***ers vote for that proposition.

I think the main reason that so many people voted yes was because they are brainwashed by religion :rolleyes: A book written 2000 years ago by drunk people says it's bad so that must be a fact :rolleyes:

I don't get how people can vote Yes to this. People who vote Yes are idiots because Gay Marriage doesn't effect them in the slightest. It's the same with Abortion in Ireland. People vote no to it every time, but most no voters are old which is more or less a wasted vote because A)They can't get pregnant, and B-) You don't have to have the abortion if you get pregnant. Religion has a huge role in the world today, which is a shame.

 

 

BUT. This would have been the same if McCain was the President Elect. People are saying that Obama is to blame, but it's the people of California speaking, not Obama. The Governor of California, Arnold [can't spell his last name and I don't plan on learning it], is such a douche. Prop 8 was a successful power trip. He should be stripped of his status and should be sent back to Austria for taking rights away from a large percentage of Californians.

I don't really understand why this was put to a vote? :unsure: What am I missing about the American legislative system?

 

I'm also surprised that a state like California would even consider voting no. As my flatmate said earlier, what with LA and Hollywood there they seem pretty liberal. Obviously not. As Xylem said, I've never heard of a minority group having their rights removed from them before (after being given them).

Almost 70% of blacks voted in favour of Prop 8, 55% of whites voted against the proposition.

 

I feel like smacking these black people in particular. You'd think that after decades of being treated unequally and being victims of racism in America would make them more accepting, but they're the biggest hypocrites of all. I'd like to start a Proposition on banning marriage between black people, let's see how they take it.

 

Absolutely BRILLIANT post - superbly put!! My sentiments exactly.

Almost 70% of blacks voted in favour of Prop 8, 55% of whites voted against the proposition.

 

I feel like smacking these black people in particular. You'd think that after decades of being treated unequally and being victims of racism in America would make them more accepting, but they're the biggest hypocrites of all. I'd like to start a Proposition on banning marriage between black people, let's see how they take it.

If you're actually being serious, then your comments are pretty disgusting, even though I am too very disappointed by this.

 

Btw, a Supreme Court challenge is being mounted against the Proposition, saying it is unconstitutional, and legal experts are apparently saying it should be successful.

There are a couple of issues here:

 

First and foremost, the issue never should have been on the ballot. The basic rights of a minority group should never ever be subject to a public referendum. This was espoused by the founders of America and its greatest leaders - Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves and Kennedy's Civil Rights Act outlawing segregation of blacks. A little history: California's same-sex marriages began earlier this year when the state Supreme Court struck down a 2000 law restricting marriage to men and women, stating that that law was unconstitutional on the grounds that California's constitution promises equal rights to all. Proposition 8 states that the California constitution will add the statement "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

 

Here's the problem: that's no an amendment, it's a revision. It revises how marriage was previously defined in the constitution. For a revision, 2/3 of the California legislature must allow it. Already there have been multiple lawsuits filed.

 

Proposition 8 will likely be turned over, at the very latest in the next election. It would have been a tremendously powerful symbol giving gay marriage legitimate popular support had it passed. And it came very close to passing.

 

Proposition 8 supporters carried out a filthy, disgusting, lying, cheating, threatening, vulgar campaign. They saturated markets with misleading commercials and propaganda. They were able to do this with gigantic sums of money from neighboring Utah. The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) engaged in huge fundraising campaigns in their bigoted churches and sent it over the CA. Also the Catholics in and outside California were major donors to the Prop 8 campaign. By the time the No on 8 campaign realized that they'd need to solicit support from outside the state, they had been outspent by something like 10 times.

 

All 10 major California newspapers rejected Prop 8, all major CA legislators, including Schwarzenegger, opposed it. All the major unions opposed it. Google, Apple Computer and other large Silicon Valley companies made 7 figure donations to the No on prop 8 campaign.

 

Californians and many millions of Americans, including (rumored) the president-elect, are furious about this. Civil rights are not ever meant to be put on a ballot. But I am quite sure the legality of this measure will be struck down. It's a temporary road block, but it highlights the depravity which Catholics, Mormons, and evangelicals will use to restrict the rights of others. It also highlights how the LGBT community has major inroads to make in the black community. Whites voted decisively against the measure; Latinos voted for the measure, blacks voted hugely for it. Liberals counted on blacks and Latinos to get Obama in office but they cant count on them all the time.

Edited November 6, 200816 yr by Consie

It's a temporary road block, but it highlights the depravity which Catholics, Mormons, and evangelicals will use to restrict the rights of others. It also highlights how the LGBT community has major inroads to make in the black community. Whites voted decisively against the measure; Latinos voted for the measure, blacks voted hugely for it. Liberals counted on blacks and Latinos to get Obama in office but they cant count on them all the time.

 

A really interesting post - the black communities do seem to have a huge problem with homosexuality - and not only in America.

A really interesting post - the black communities do seem to have a huge problem with homosexuality - and not only in America.

Well, that's a pretty offensive generalisation.

Well, that's a pretty offensive generalisation.

 

Well, I generally don't support generalizations of "blacks" and "whites" and such. But at least in the US (I can comment here), there is a problem of homophobia within urban African-American communities. There are a number of reasons, chief among them is religion. In urban America, churches (and in a few cases Mosques) are the only institutions left in ghettos. All other institutions have failed to provide basic safety nets for people. Churches provide free job-training, decent education, community advocacy centers, medical clinics, playgrounds, child-services, and many more desperately needed services. So from a young age, many black Americans are brought up in very religious environments, which of course, continues from generation to generation. Also urban ghettos in America are very insular - they are almost impossible to escape from. Add in the fact that the schools are awful, and the machismo kind of "survivalism" instilled in black male youths ('get rich or die tryin') and you have an environment in which homophobia breeds.

 

Of course with increased education and better integration into diverse communities, homophobia is greatly diminished. Just like with all people. It's further proof that we need to fix our ghettos, provide economic growth and jobs, improve education, give hope... many social problems - crime, homophobia, racism and others - depend on this.

Well, that's a pretty offensive generalisation.

 

No it isn't - at all.

 

I can only presume you're a) straight and b ) white?

 

Because unless you're at least one of the above - how on earth would you know? :rolleyes:

 

One of my closest friends is of Jamaican descent - and I can assure you, the homophobia he's encountered because he's gay and black is repulsive.

 

Also - I suggest you Google Jamaica and gays.... to say that homophobia amongst the black community isn't more prevalent is staggeringly naive and ill-informed.

Well, I generally don't support generalizations of "blacks" and "whites" and such. But at least in the US (I can comment here), there is a problem of homophobia within urban African-American communities. There are a number of reasons, chief among them is religion. In urban America, churches (and in a few cases Mosques) are the only institutions left in ghettos. All other institutions have failed to provide basic safety nets for people. Churches provide free job-training, decent education, community advocacy centers, medical clinics, playgrounds, child-services, and many more desperately needed services. So from a young age, many black Americans are brought up in very religious environments, which of course, continues from generation to generation. Also urban ghettos in America are very insular - they are almost impossible to escape from. Add in the fact that the schools are awful, and the machismo kind of "survivalism" instilled in black male youths ('get rich or die tryin') and you have an environment in which homophobia breeds.

 

Of course with increased education and better integration into diverse communities, homophobia is greatly diminished. Just like with all people. It's further proof that we need to fix our ghettos, provide economic growth and jobs, improve education, give hope... many social problems - crime, homophobia, racism and others - depend on this.

 

homophobia, now religion, .... *sits back and awaits janet jacksons nipple to comment* :lol:

 

consie.... a seriese of excellant posts :)