Election Day Update Live Blogging

Jim Burroway

November 4th, 2008

As of 2:12 pm EST/11:12 am PST:
Okay, one last update. The Los Angeles Times declared Prop 8 as passed, and so will we. I hope we’re premature.

Now, this ends the live blog.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,040,122 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,437 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 573,873 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 434,406 (43%)
96% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,235,486 (52%) — Projected winner
No: 4,800,656 (48%)
97% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,710,928 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,877,193 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 1:35 pm EST/10:35 am PST:
At this point, there has been no substantial movement in the election results for the past several hours — just a few tweaks here and there as the last precincts report in. There may be more changes as absentee and provisional ballots are counted over the next few hours and perhaps days. We will continue to update these figures periodically in other posts, and put this particular marathon “live blog” to an end for now.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,845 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,346 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 573,873 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 434,406 (43%)
96% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,220,694 (52%)
No: 4,792,873 (48%)
96% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,674,662 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,855,432 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 1:20 pm EST/10:20 am PST:
Just a few minor tweaks to the Arkansas and Florida counts. No change on Arizona or California. The No on Prop 8 campaign called a hastily organized press tele-conference refusing to concede, saying that 3 million to 4 million ballots remain uncounted statewide.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,792 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,315 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 573,873 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 434,406 (43%)
96% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,220,694 (52%)
No: 4,792,873 (48%)
96% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,674,662 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,855,432 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 12:20 pm EST/9:20 am PST:

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,792 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,315 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 573,774 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 434,344 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,220,694 (52%)
No: 4,792,873 (48%)
96% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,674,626 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,851,966 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 11:30 am EST/8:30 am PST:

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,792 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,315 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 573,873 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 434,406 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,195,136 (52%)
No: 4,779,297 (48%)
96% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,674,654 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,855,427 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 10:00 am EST/7:00 am PST:
It’s time for me to head to work, so updates may be sporadic.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,606 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,279 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 573,774 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 434,344 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,163,908 (52%)
No: 4,760,336 (48%)
95% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,662,558 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,851,598 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 9:35 am EST/6:35 am PST:
Interesting exit polling results for California’s Prop 8. The present is difficult, but the future is ours. Hang in there.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,606 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,279 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 571,392 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 432,512 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,125,752 (52%)
No: 4,725,313 (48%)
95% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,662,558 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,851,598 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 9:15 am EST/6:15 am PST:
Interesting exit polling results for Arizona’s Prop 102. Things will definitely be different in another decade or so. Despite these losses, time and history are clearly on our side.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,606 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,279 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 571,392 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 432,512 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,019,930 (52%)
No: 4,656,291 (48%)
92% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,662,558 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,851,598 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 8:45 am EST/5:45 am PST:
None of the networks are calling California’s Prop 8 yet.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,606 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,279 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 571,392 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 432,512 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 5,010,855 (52%)
No: 4,650,469 (48%)
92% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,662,558 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,851,598 (38%)
99% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 8:00 am EST/5:00 am PST:
Well, we’re back. Let’s see where things stand right now.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,039,606 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 801,279 (44%)
99% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 571,392 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 432,512 (43%)
95% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,948,765 (52%)
No: 4,597,609 (48%)
91% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,632,316 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,832,236 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 2:15 am EST/11:15 pm PST:
I’m afraid this will have to be my last update for the night. My partner has rolled over and turned off the light, and our two dogs are staring at me with that look that says, “aren’t you done yet?” And there’s the fact that I still have to get up early in the morning for my real job.

So here is where things stand right now. We’ll pick it up in the morning. Feel free to add your updates in the comments.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,008,420 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 776,896 (44%)
92% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 544,197 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 544,197 (43%)
90% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 2,457,023 (53%)
No: 2,202,737 (47%)
39% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,632,316 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,832,236 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 2:00 am EST/11:00 pm PST:
California is still hanging in there.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,007,350 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 776,264 (44%)
92% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 509,879 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 379,606 (43%)
84% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 2,282,644 (53%)
No: 2,055,774 (47%)
35% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,632,316 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,832,236 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 1:40 am EST/10:40 pm PST:
As we continue to watch California’s results trickle in, there are some silver linings to report. Arizona State Sen. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) lost his congressional race against Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, 55% to 43%, with 73% of precincts reporting. Bee is the guy responsible for casting the crucial sixteenth vote which put Prop 102 onto the Arizona ballot. His political career is now, fittingly, over.

And perennial Federal Marriage Amendment sponsor Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) has lost her bid for re-election. With 67% of precincts reporting, Betsy Markey is thumping her 57% to 42%.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,004,467 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 774,471 (44%)
91% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 501,385 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 373,806 (43%)
83% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 2,252,980 (53%)
No: 1,983,079 (47%)
32% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,614,855 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,816,930 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 1:20 am EST/10:20 pm PST:
The web site for California’s results is extremely slow right now. It’s been slow all evening, but right now I’m really having a hard time getting the results to come up.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,003,365 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 774,034 (44%)
91% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 481,397 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 361,804 (43%)
77% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,996,918 (53%)
No: 1,810,938 (47%)
29% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,614,855 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,816,930 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 1:00 am EST/10:00 pm PST:
It’s official; Florida has fallen. California is still standing — and the gap is beginning to close.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 998,429 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 771,350 (44%)
91% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 475,310 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 356,953 (43%)
75% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,867,373 (53%)
No: 1,633,120 (47%)
24% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,589,831 (62%) — Projected winner
No: 2,800,945 (38%)
98% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 12:40 am EST/9:40 pm PST:
I’m back home now, keeping an eye on Arizona and California. It looks like Arkansas and Arizona are lost. I can however take consolation that Pima County (Tucson), my home, has stayed true to its better nature and is trending against Prop 102. California and Florida are still too close to call, although I think we’ll be able to call Florida soon, unfortunately.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 973,264 (56%) — Projected winner
No: 747,932 (44%)
85% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 446,081 (57%) — Projected winner
No: 337,638 (43%)
67% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,682,717 (55%)
No: 1,407,141 (45%)
22% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,479,514 (62%)
No: 2,719,369 (38%)
92% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 12:20 am EST/9:20 pm PST:

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 930,710 (56%)
No: 728,183 (44%)
81% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 415,261 (57%)
No: 317,625 (43%)
61% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,451,505 (55%)
No: 1,213,319 (45%)
17% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,414,880 (62%)
No: 2,678,415 (38%)
91% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 11:35 pm EST/8:35 pm PST:

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 877,204 (56%)
No: 684,143 (44%)
71% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 378,764 (57%)
No: 288,143 (43%)
54% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 1,053,742 (54%)
No: 894,081 (46%)
6% of precincts reporting.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,249,773 (62%)
No: 2,591,180 (38%)
86% of precincts reporting.
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 11:07 pm EST/8:07 pm PST:

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 754,526 (56%)
No: 585,886 (44%)
49% of precincts reporting.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 287,692 (57%)
No: 218,441 (43%)
40% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
No results yet.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 4,184,771 (62%)
No: 2,558,175 (38%)
84% of precincts reporting
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 10:00 pm EST/7:00 pm PST:

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
No results yet.

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 90,920 (59%)
No: 63,362 (41%)
3% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
No results yet.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 3,623,476 (62%)
No: 2,179,355 (38%)
62% of precincts reporting
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

As of 9:30 EST/6:30 PST:

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 3,388,335 (62%)
No: 2,066,794 (38%)
50% of precincts reporting
* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

Arizona: Proposition 102: (Marriage Amendment)
No results yet

Arkansas: Initiative 1 (Gay Adoption Ban)
Yes: 21,273 (57%)
No: 16,366 (43%)
3% of precincts reporting.

California: Proposition 8 (Marriage Amendment)
No results yet.

Florida: Amendment 2: (Marriage Amendment)
Yes: 3,388,335 (62%)
No: 2,066,794 (38%)
50% of precincts reporting

* The Florida constitution requires 60% for an amendment to pass.

Joel

November 4th, 2008

sad… so much for marriage in california.

werdna

November 4th, 2008

Andrew Sullivan just linked to this post as the place to track results for these stupid initiatives. Wish the results were a little less depressing. It’s not going to completely spoil the excitement of Obama’s victory, but it sure does hurt.

AJD

November 4th, 2008

So, does anyone have a Plan B?

How about starting a movement to make San Francisco its own state?

Ed

November 4th, 2008

One bright spot — marriage equality looks safe in Connecticut where the ballot question about having a constitutional convention is being voted down by 60% with 79% of precincts reporting.

AJD

November 4th, 2008

Yeah, but Connecticut isn’t a bellwether state. If Prop 8 wins, it’ll certainly embolden the religious right to go after same-sex marriage there, and probably civil unions and domestic partnership benefits as well.

Barbara

November 4th, 2008

So very sad to see these figures. I actually feel sick about this and so ashamed of the discrimination and ignorance.

Well, it’s time to get back to work on changing hearts and minds.

werdna

November 4th, 2008

Plan B? Well there will certainly be a challenge to Prop 8 on the grounds that it is a revision rather than an amendment to the constitution (thus not something that can be decided by initiative, IIRC). If this kind of challenge is successful, I’m sure we’ll hear more about “activist judges” and so forth and there will undoubtedly be some further nasty efforts to keep us from getting married…

AJD

November 4th, 2008

werdna, what are the legal grounds for that claim?

Ed

November 4th, 2008

ADJ, are you saying the right will go after banning same-sex marriage in Connecticut? My understanding is that the earliest opportunity they would have to do that is 20 years from now with tonight’s important victory. And in Massachusetts, where I was very involved in the hard-fought battle to protect marriage equality, I’m sure the right has given us up as a totally lost cause. New England is moving towards marriage equality.

Ostiarius

November 4th, 2008

“Well there will certainly be a challenge to Prop 8 on the grounds that it is a revision…”

Give it up already. This should serve as a wake up call to gays to stop trying to subvert the democratic process via an activist judiciary. If you want gay “marriage” then you need to pass an amendment; you are not entitled to it.

Incidentally, I look forward to the recall of Ron George and his three stooges.

werdna

November 4th, 2008

AJD-Leonard Link has a good article here reviewing a challenge that was made to Prop 8 back in June. The CA Supreme Court denied the petition in July, but left open the possibility of the challenge being refiled after the election.

Quoting Link, the argument is that “because of the significant impact that passage of this initiative would have on fundamental rights and equality guarantees of the California Constitution…” Prop 8 “… is really a revision, not a simple amendment. Under California constitutional procedures, the Constitution may be amended by the popular initiative process, but may not be revised through that process.”

Ostiarius

November 4th, 2008

Please take that route werdna. It will only serve to hasten the recall of Ron George and his three stooges as well as highlighting the fundamentally anti-democratic and anti-republican character of the gay lobby.

AJD

November 4th, 2008

Ed, my point was that New England isn’t a bellwether region like California is. Even if same-sex marriage remains legal in Connecticut and Massachusetts, it’ll probably remain confined to those states. Meanwhile, there will be attacks on gay rights nationwide.

I really had a bad feeling that Prop. 8 would pass. I know it’s technically too early to tell, but I’m looking at the electoral map at LATimes.com, and we’re not doing too well. We’re even losing in Los Angeles.

I really blame the gay rights movement almost as much as the religious right. Basically, we’ve mostly allowed the religious right to define the terms of the debate, so essentially everything we did was just in reaction to their outrageous claims.

I’ve always thought we should act as though we could wake up tomorrow and find sodomy laws back on the books. That’s not to say it would happen like that, but we still need to fight for our rights, but there seems to be this notion that it’s enough to just lobby and vote for them.

It’s easy to forget that a lot of the anti-gay activists today are the sorts of people who supported laws in Colorado and Oregon back in the 90s that would have explicitly made gay people second-class citizens. I think that when the Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s Amendment 2, it didn’t make the religious right think “Well, maybe we should be nicer to those LGBT folk” — rather, it made them think “If we want to get rid of the faggots, we’ll have to do it one step at a time.”

I have to be in New York for at least a year, but I think I’m going to start looking for jobs in Canada if I wake up tomorrow and the worst of my fears is confirmed.

Tyler Blalock

November 4th, 2008

I’ve been looking at the county-by-county breakdown, and luckily all the counties with large populations seem to be voting no, and aren’t even halfway counted yet. So I think that by numbers alone 8 will be defeated, albeit barely.

Vicky

November 4th, 2008

Los Angeles county was voting Yes on 8 in both absentee and first results. That will be a big factor in Prop. 8 passing.

Mark

November 4th, 2008

*sigh* This election is a mixed bag. I have a hard time feeling incredibly excited about the results of the election when so many are about to lose rights and benefits. It will be effectively impossible to remove this amendment from Florida’s constitution by another ballot initiative; we essentially have to hope for something to happen on the national level.

Hang in there, California.

Ostiarius

November 4th, 2008

Tyler,

You must be looking at results from a parallel universe because Prop 8 is ahead in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties (among many others).

Steve

November 4th, 2008

NO ON 8 should have done more to reach out to the African American community. Obama really should have said more. I can’t help but think if Clinton had won the nomination, we would be in bed now and Prop 8 would be defeated.

Samantha Davis

November 5th, 2008

No on 8 should never had approached the children issue in the way they did. Claiming your opponent is lying about something as volatile as that issue is an argument that simply can not be won.

Ed

November 5th, 2008

My opinion is that “no on 8” had a very difficult battle on its hands. It’s unfortunate that there was a ballot initiative so soon after marriage became legal. My experience in working on marriage equality in MA was the longer the fight went on, the more people got used to the idea of same-sex marriage.

Dan

November 5th, 2008

I’ve been crunching some numbers, using country returns to extrapolate the votes still uncounted…I don’t think we can do it. There just aren’t enough votes left in pro-gay counties. Without big, big internal changes in Los Angeles, San Bernadino, and San Diego, this is looking quite bad…

Dan

November 5th, 2008

We’re running out of precincts…the margin for Yes has been steady at just over 300,000…the outstanding precincts in LA, San Bernadino, San Diego, and Santa Clara will all have to break very, very hard for No to have any shot at this thing…I just don’t see it happening. Damn, damn, damn.

werdna

November 5th, 2008

Yeah, it looks grim for this year. Still, the margin is a lot closer than Prop 22 was and tighter than the early returns suggested it would be.

My husband and I were talking the other night about how when we were radical queers back in the early ’90s we never seriously imagined we’d be able to marry in the US. Now we have a legal marriage certificate from the State of California. It’s amazing how far we’ve gotten already. This is discouraging and there’s a lot of work left to do, but let’s not lose hope.

Dan

November 5th, 2008

We need a margin of 61-39 on remaining precincts to win this thing…it just ain’t gonna happen. It’s over.

Lynn David

November 5th, 2008

We won the battle but lost the war.

Or something really stupid like that. Getting out the vote for Obama, registering new voters for the Democratic party out of those minority groups which were previously marginalized, both activities have resulted in creating many new voters who, while for Obama, were likely to be against marriage for gays and lesbians. At least that will be the claim of some of those more libertarian/conservative, LCR-type gays.

Then there will be those who blatantly wish to take away all aspects of our rights who will be crowing over this. They are those who have used an appeal to a supposed god for these last several millenia to denounce such as us for whom we should find to love. They are those who have denied us our full measure of joy in our lives for too long.

I thought I was seeing a bright shining star of hope, and yet now there seems not to even exist the glimmer from a moonless pond at midnight. I am getting old, been ill, and this fight no longer seems to be winnable in my lifetime (whatever that may be). Yes, it is depressing, mostly because half of me seems to want to believe the idea that the methodology for an Obama win is the reason for our demise on Florida Amendment 2, Arizona Proposition 102, and California Proposition 8. The other half is repulsed by the almost racist interpretation that must engender.

But the high I felt listening to Obama’s speech in Grant Park has been replaced by the thought that I would rather had not heard of Barack Obama or the ‘audacity of hope.’ Bittersweet doesn’t describe the sourness I now feel.

Liv

November 5th, 2008

*am crying in NC*
Keep fighting them, California! Can we organize some sort of boycott? This is just dispicable. How the citizens of any state can vote to take rights away from their neighbors is beyond me – how can people do this?

Joel

November 5th, 2008

On the bright side:
– Sure it may not have won but take into account that the amendemnt passed in other states with about 85% voting Yes in many other states.
– The younger age group( in exit polls )seemed to be highly in opposition to the amendment.
– OBAMA WON! Which means that there is a better platform for gay rights(although not marriage). One step a time?

BTW what hapenned with Proposition K?

In order to continue the fight we do need to target the possible why’s of us losing in california:
– In exit polls african americans seemed to OVERWHELMINGLY vote yes in the proposition. Specially the males(with almost 90%).
– Unless those voting had a clear moral distinction between Prop K and Prop 8, it may have influenced to just condemn both.
– There is still much peope do NOT know about the reality of gay families or life. Hell, my father was condemning gay marriage on the grounds that those that those who are raised in gay families turn gay.
– Religion will ALWAYS be an obstacle(look at Russia/Middle East) more than a means to help gay ppl have rights. So targetting that, cautiously, may help.

Helen

November 5th, 2008

Here in Ireland I have been following both the presidential election and the various state constitutional amendments – and I have to say that, despite the initial joy I felt at learning of Obama’s win that I am totally depressed by the results in California and your other states.

My husband is transgendered, nearing transition, so – despite myself being straight – within a few years I will be in a same sex marriage. I regularly follow the posts here and on G-A-Y and Pam Spaulding’s pages and I just wanted to express my sympathy and respect for all that you do for gay rights.

My partner doesn’t understand my feelings as she is obviously more invested in LGBT issues in Ireland and Europe, but I just feel gutted.

Bless you all

Helen

AJC

November 5th, 2008

Here in Canada most of us are ecstatic about the Obama victory. Wonderful!

But very disappointed over the defeat of equal marriage in California.

It needs to be challenged in the courts. Ignore the right-wing loons who complain about so-called activist judges. They’d do exactly the same thing if things didn’t work out their way.

It’s still the politics of division: we have our piece of the pie, but we’re not going to let you have yours. We’re a legitimate minority, but you’re not.

So take it to the courts!

tomd

November 5th, 2008

I’m very upset with Florida voters. Amendment 2 is just a bad, deliberately vague piece of crummy legislation. All the major newspapers agreed. But it came wrapped in fear of gays. Florida voters couldn’t see beyond it.

Dave

November 5th, 2008

AJC,

Your advice is foolish in the extreme.

Ignoring people’s concerns about judicial activism and taking it to the courts (as you put it) is what led to the situation in Florida, Arizona, and California.

If gay activists would concentrate on convincing their fellow citizens rather than on suing them they would do gay Americans a much better service.

AJD

November 5th, 2008

“How the citizens of any state can vote to take rights away from their neighbors is beyond me – how can people do this?”

Liv, no offense to you, but that pretty much sums up what’s wrong with gay activism today.

How could they vote to take away rights? I’ll tell you how: It’s because they hate us. They’ve always hated us. And they’ll continue hating us by wide enough margins that we’ll still have to fight tooth and nail just to get a minimal amount of respect in this country for years, if not decades to come.

That’s why despite all of No On 8’s appeals to fairness and equality, despite the obvious fact that Yes On 8 was lying, Yes On 8’s deplorable behavior and the obvious viciousness of trying to make officiation of same-sex marriages legally equivalent to banning guns and detaining peaceful protesters, the amendment is still poised to win.

The sooner we realize that they hate us and start to act accordingly, the better.

werdna

November 5th, 2008

Dave, while there’s merit to what you’re saying (convincing people that we’re not scary deviants is an important part of the struggle) you’re crazy if you think we’re not going to use the courts to achieve equality as well. It’s not either/or, we’ll do both.

Brown v. Board of Education, Perez v. Sharp (also a 4-3 decision of the CA Supreme Court), Loving v. Virginia, Lawrence v. Texas… All important court decisions which overturned the “will of the people.” Are you going to argue that the activists who pursued these cases were wrong to do so? Did those decisions set the causes back or did they establish important precedents which improved countless people’s lives?

If Prop 8 is unconstitutional, then it’s appropriate for the CA Supreme Court (or even SCOTUS) to overturn it. If it isn’t, then they won’t.

There’s nothing undemocratic about using the courts to advance our cause. The people who have been complaining about “judicial activists” simply don’t like particular decisions and either don’t understand or don’t care to understand the way our system of government works.

cowboy

November 5th, 2008

My feelings are vacillating between anger and hurt. In spite of what many have expressed about what the future brings, the last vestiges of hope has evaporated from me. Not in my lifetime will I be equal. The only hope that remains is for another generation.

AJD

November 5th, 2008

This is a column Larry Kramer wrote last year. It’s not very timely, but he pretty much says it like it is.

“Our own country’s democratic process declares us to be unequal. Which means, in a democracy, that our enemy is you. You treat us like crumbs. You hate us. And sadly, we let you.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kramer20mar20,0,1705133.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

Ben in Oakland

November 5th, 2008

I’m very sad that we lost. It was about what I expected, but for me personally, worse than I thought it would be.

I do have one thought– something I wrote in early September in an editorial that appeared in the BAR.

I had asked Mark Leno personally if they were going to do the liberal tolerance-equal rights strategy, pointing out that it had never worked before (except in AZ– once), or if they were going to show actual gay people, actual families, gay people attending church– you know, reality. He said that the focus groups had indicated that liberal tolerance was the way to go. I made the same point to HRC’s Marty Rouse at a fundraiser, and he repeated Leno’s line.

I didn’t work much with No on 8 because of their stated approach and because they seemed totally uninterested in having a speakers’ bureau to reach out to community groups and churches. Phone banking is what they were interested in and wanted volunteers for, not personal contact with real voters. (I tried phone banking once, but hated every minute of it. It seemed flat-out WRONG). Stuff of value to political operatives in their world, but totally divorced (in my opinion) from the real world. I did attend one training directed at churches, where in we were told NOT to use words like prejudice, children, gay marriage, religion, and so on– you know, reality. We were told that the pro.8 people had “co-opted” the issue of children. It was no longer ours to use.

I heard this with disbelief. I gave the campaign money (including FL and AZ), though I did it to show commitment, not because I believed in the approach. I raised a bunch of money, I even gave them some of my time, but I put more energy into Marriage Equality USA, and doing what I could do myself.

Though this political approach has merit, it is very troubling to me. It smells uncomfortably of the closet, which I have long maintained is the real enemy, not the Radical Right. It tells us to be invisible, not to talk about our lives and the REAL issues we face, lest we offend some undecided voter who needs to be manipulated into doing the right thing.

It avoids the larger issue of anti-gay prejudice, an apparently invisible 800 pound lavender gorilla. Research and experience show that people who know gay people tend not to vote against them. If we do not show gay people, we remain a faceless, menacing other, instead of friend, neighbor, or family. It is easy to vote against someone who is invisible.

And we were quite invisible.

I know that the California battle was important, and that we will be back. It’s not over. But I will say this much about any future campaign:

If it is going to be this type of campaign again– focus groups, polling, phone banking, and irrelevant ads that look good on a political resume but are useless in swaying people– don’t expect one dime of my money, one minute of my time, one iota of my energy.

I am angry as hell about this. I feel betrayed by our leaders. The handwriting was on the wall that a new approach was needed, and they preferred to immerse themselves in their political culture and operatives rather than show the simple facts of our lives.

And the result– more people thought that the standard of living of animals raised for food was more important than the civil rights and families of their fellow Americans.

I may have more to say later. Right now, I feel too weary.

William

November 5th, 2008

Those folks who are voting “correctly” on Prop 8 are spot on…they are not hating folks they are loving marriage…marriage as define as one man with one woman…that is the BIBLICAL definition of marriage. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and the two shall become one. Genesis!!! Doesn’t say anything about a man leave his daddy and daddy or mommy and mommy. A man shall leave his father and mother and unite with his wife.
Any PERVERSION of that model is wrong…it’s sinful and the good people of California are voting correctly.

cowboy

November 5th, 2008

William,

And we’re the “bad” people of California?

AJC

November 5th, 2008

“If gay activists would concentrate on convincing their fellow citizens rather than on suing them they would do gay Americans a much better service.”

Oh, sure, that’ll work! Let me know how that goes … forty years from now. What? No equal marriage yet? Oh, just do some more outreach. Yes, that’ll work wonders!

It’s a never-ending culture war. Even if you think you’ve won, you’ll always be in danger of having everything taken away again. Conduct yourselves accordingly. Litigate! Litigate! Litigate!

William

November 5th, 2008

cowboy,

just read scripture about marriage that should be fairly educational

AJD

November 5th, 2008

The only way to win in the long term is to vanquish the religious right. As I said before, with all the dishonesty and immorality the Yes On 8 put into this campaign, it’ll will probably be to the 2000s what the Scopes trial was to the 1920s. We just need an H.L. Mencken of our own to articulate the new era.

And I was totally serious about starting a campaign to have San Francisco become the 51st state, and maybe have Marin County join in, too.

If not that, then maybe try working to mandate comprehensive sex-ed in all schools and overturn the opt-out clause. Might as well make the Prop. 8 people’s nightmares come true, despite their best efforts.

Dave

November 5th, 2008

Werdna,

I assure you I am not crazy.

You can only properly use the courts when there is a statutory or constitutional principle at issue. The question of same-sex marriage is one of what marriage properly means and is. This is an ethical decision that belongs to the legislature or the people.

For people who oppose same-sex marriage the marital relationship is both the proper social norm for responsible procreation and a symbol of the mutually arising nature of male and female. (The latter is classic mythic thinking; when people go on about their religion’s view of marriage they are engaged in mythic thinking, albeit stereotyped by the forms of their own cult.)

Proponents of same-sex marriage view marriage differently, of course.

Such conflicts are, in a democratic nation, properly by convincing your fellow citizens.

The 14th amendment cases you mention do not bear on this issue; the 14th amendment is about not making arbitrary distinctions between individuals. It says nothing about making distinctions concerning actions.

“The people who have been complaining about “judicial activists” simply don’t like particular decisions and either don’t understand or don’t care to understand the way our system of government works.”

This is simply wrong.

B. Daniel Blatt (aka Gay Patriot West) who blogs at http://www.gaypatriot.net asked a commenter with a similar view if he thought that the Dred Scott decision never happened.

I can similarly ask if you hadn’t noticed the arguments over Griswold v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade, the Miranda decision …. I could go on all day.

Concern about courts overreaching their authority is not new and not confined to the concerns of the Christian Right.

Stop assuming — without evidence — that there are no intelligent, informed, and sincere believers in judicial restraint.

kevin

November 5th, 2008

William,

Like all religious bigots, you take that passage out of context. The context of Jesus’s saying comes from the Pharisee’s asking a specific question. They asked “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.

Then Jesus goes on to teach that a bond made before God must be taken seriously and for life…something which a vast number of Evangelicals ignore.

But Jesus doesn’t preclude the bond made by same-sex couples in this passage (found in all 3 synoptic Gospels). He simply answers the question that was posed to him.

By the way, William, Jesus was on the side of the persecuted. Do you really think you are living by his example when you come here to gloat over the inequality of others. People like you and Frank Shubert have to repeat over and over that this “isn’t about hate”, but that’s simply you attempting to forgive yourselves. It is not up to you to forgive yourselves, it is up to us and God to forgive you. And you can’t coerce that forgiveness no matter how you hard you claim you are only persecuting the lesbian and gay community out of “love”.

What’s more, you put your interpretation of the Scripture above the rights of other Americans. That is simply treason to the American ideal of Equality and Justice.

Ostiarius

November 5th, 2008

“If Prop 8 is unconstitutional, then it’s appropriate for the CA Supreme Court (or even SCOTUS) to overturn it. If it isn’t, then they won’t.”

If Ron George and the other members of the court who imposed gay marriage on CA entertain the idea of putting themselves above what is clearly now part of the CA constitution, then they will be recalled as surely as Rose Bird was recalled in the 80’s.

Ostiarius

November 5th, 2008

“William,

Like all religious bigots, you take that passage out of context.”

No amount of surrounding text changes the fact that Jesus leaves no room for gay marriages.

Lynn David

November 5th, 2008

Ostiarius blathered: If Ron George and the other members of the court who imposed gay marriage on CA entertain the idea of putting themselves above what is clearly now part of the CA constitution, then they will be recalled as surely as Rose Bird was recalled in the 80’s.

Fine. Bring it on…. ’cause we’re never going away.

Joel

November 6th, 2008

William said:
“Those folks who are voting “correctly” on Prop 8 are spot on…they are not hating folks they are loving marriage…marriage as define as one man with one woman…that is the BIBLICAL definition of marriage. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and the two shall become one. Genesis!!! Doesn’t say anything about a man leave his daddy and daddy or mommy and mommy. A man shall leave his father and mother and unite with his wife.
Any PERVERSION of that model is wrong…it’s sinful and the good people of California are voting correctly.”

If the issue of religion is as relevant here in Puerto Rico(US territory) as it is in California then, convincing other people in california of same sex marriage will undoubtedly mean that you need to address religion. Targetting large concentrations of republicans also has to be on the list. It was more than clear through the pollings that THEY(the republicans, in unison with afro-americans) are the ones responsible for the passing of the amendments.

We need to think of some ways to target the literal interpretation, through faith, that demeans/forbids the rights of gays and lesbians.

Albeit this is not the only reason, as there is bigotry, tradition and simple repulsion, to homosexuals, once religion embraces gays and lesbians… it can be a very valuable asset to progress gay rights. Although, i don’t see this happening anytime soon…

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