Gay marriage bans pass in three states
US POLITICS / California's Prop 8 passes with 52 percent; activists vow to fight the ban
Xtra.ca / National / Wednesday, November 05, 2008
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While progressives cheered on Democratic candidate Barack Obama's US presidential win on Nov 4, bans on gay marriage passed in two states and will also likely pass in California.

As of 10:23 am EST, Proposition 8, which would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California, was winning 52 percent to 48 percent, with 95 percent of precincts reporting. If the measure passes, it would amend the state's constitution to overturn a May 2008 decision by the California Supreme Court that legalized gay marriage. You can follow the results at the LA Times website.

The fight against Prop 8 was one of the most costly ballot initiatives in US history. The measure had a number of high-profile opponents, including Hollywood celebrities and high-tech companies who donated large amounts of money to fight the ban. Read more about how the vote came down to the wire.

CNN exit polls suggest that voters who are young and had never attended church were more likely to oppose the ban. Voters around the San Francisco Bay Area rejected Prop 8, especially in San Francisco county, where 77 percent voted against the ban.

Elsewhere in the US, state ballot measures — essentially what Canadians would call referendums — rejected gay marriage.

Bans on gay marriage passed in Arizona and Florida. Arizona voted against a ban in 2006, but this time, the measure passed with 56 percent support. Florida also supported a ban, with 62 percent of voters in favour. The measure needed 60 percent support in that state to pass.

And in Arkansas, gay couples will be banned from adopting. Initiative 1 bars unmarried couples from adopting children or serving as foster parents. The initiative has 57 percent support in the state.



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Reader Comments


 
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I think in California the next steps have to be (1) banning out-of-state donors in California ballot initiatives and (2) suing to eliminate civil marriage for straights, as the constitution both requires non-discrimination and bans gay marriage, so it therefore also bans straight marriage.
Randy, Windsor ON
11/05/08 10:53 AM EST
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Same sex marriage not worth dying for
SSM is a complex issue. Obama said in the debates that marriage was between a man and a woman. Period. (And I am a "yes we can" Obama supporter.) And I would argue that most gays do not want to marry and buy into a flawed hetro institution. (Though a small minority do and they should be allowed to if they want to. ) But he and Arnold were against Proposition 8 for essentially legal reasons. The California Supreme court followed the Massachusetts courts which followed the Canadian court decisions which argued that gays should be allowed to marry just like everyone else. And a proposition discriminating against a minority group should not be written into law. This human rights issue is real and the courts know this. But marriage as an institution has many religious implications and the word is an emotional touchstone for many. I would argue support for Prop 8 is not homphobic per se--as many might have strong personal or religious beliefs. But in the end I think the court decisions will l trump this unless they ever really getting around to a Federal Constitutional amendment stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman. This is unlikely as it is a very cumbersome process and many correctly do not want to put a discrimation in the Constiuttion. Which leaves the courts in charge of defending human rights. Personally I believe it is a waste of gay activist energy to continually work for gay marriage as if that really matters to most gays. In the US shockingly you are still routinely tossed from the military for being outed as a gay or lesbian. That is real dsicrimination and prejudice. So lets not call these votes in Florida and California homophobia. There are real issues of homophobia out there in the US and Canada to expose and rant against. Civil unions and partnerships as in England, Vermont, France and many states, in actuality will work just as well as the emotive "marriage" till death do us part and all that over
James Dubro, Toronto Ontario
11/06/08 12:11 PM EST
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finale of my comments left off
the top stuff. Do we really want to riot so that we can marry (and divorce) just like God-fearing straight people?
james Dubro, toronto ontario
11/06/08 12:40 PM EST
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RE: James Dubro
To respond to your last question: In a word, "Yes".
Nicholas Dodds, Aurora Ontario
11/07/08 10:31 AM EST
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Invalidate Prop 8
http://invalidateprop8.org/
Randy, Windsor Ontario
11/08/08 5:05 PM EST
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NO reason to riot-Battle is in the courts
Gov Arnold has said it. Prop 8 does not change the marriage status of those married. Not 20,000 marriages dissolved as some have written. He also said that it will be overturned by the courts (it is an issue of dsicrimination and human rights as all the Candian courts have said for years and the MAss. courts said and other courts--clear as that) and will eventually be repealed or overidden in a vote. SO there is no reason to riot as a previous letter writer has stated as a tactic. Hard work in the courts and in a later public relations campaign will change this narrow bigoted victory which as I said earlier is not all homophobia but much more complex But to not panic--Gov Arnold, Pres elect Obama, and the courts are on our side, at least on this issue!
james Dubro, toronto ontario
11/09/08 12:31 PM EST
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