Comments on: The Psychological Harm of Anti-Gay Ballot Campaigns

By: Top Stories Today – 12.04.2008 : GLAADBlog.org

Top Stories Today – 12.04.2008 : GLAADBlog.org — Thu, 27 May 2010 21:51:08 +0000

[...] Box Turtle Bulletin: The Psychological Harm of Anti-Gay Ballot Campaigns [...]

By: jOHN

jOHN — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:29:24 +0000

Now I am feeling better just knowing I wasn’t alone. I fell into a depression 2 Saturdays before the election. I live in SF and I was driving down to San Bruno and saw all these people with Yes on 8 along El Camino, and cars honking their horn in support. It lasted about 4 weeks and finally I started to feel better. i think that a lot of it comes from the fact that I try and support so many causes for so many people and just could not believe at the joy and happiness people were feeling as they were telling lies to hurt people who just wanted to have the same happiness as they themselves enjoyed.

By: Louie

Louie — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:17:59 +0000

Before the election, I recalled having a few bad dreams about a frenzied crowd of straight people breaking down the door to our home and lynching my husband and I for being gay.

These feelings were generated by all of the “Yes on 102″ signs put up on almost every single street corner in metro Phoenix and posted on many churches lawns. It was like a direct slap on my face everytime I saw one!

Even on election day, as people were driving onto church property to cast their vote, these signs were right where every single passing car would read it. But, I couldn’t post my “No on Prop. 102″ sign because it was “private” church property!

Hmmm, I wonder how that worked out? How convenient for “Yes on 102″.

Add to this all the problems with the economy and personally getting laid off from my job, etc.

Then they vote to take one of my civil rights away! In California anyway.

Arizona already had a ban on same gender marriages, so either one was a loss. Except now it’s defined in the Constitution!

By: AJD

AJD — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:23:22 +0000

Duncan,

The point is that Prop. 8 wasn’t a typical political campaign. Of course people feel disappointment when their favored initiative or candidate fails. I’m sure some poultry farmers are unhappy about that chicken cage proposition passing, while plenty of Republicans are ticked that Obama won.

What sets Prop. 8 apart is that it was a deliberate attack on a group of people who grow up being bullied and demonized.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:24:28 +0000

It is valuable research, but it has to be recognized that in every election there will be a loser. Many activists cope with it by delegitimizing the other side’s victory; a few Republicans are blaming fraud by ACORN this year just like Democrats blamed fraud in Florida in 2000 (or said 2004 was down to having scared the electorate, sort of thing).
For those who don’t allow themselves such luxuries, the result is indeed distressing because they staked so much in it. It would have been equally troubling for social conservatives had they lost a referendum after years of bragging that the majority was on their side; and so it will be, soon.
It has to be acknowledged that gay marriage will be built on the broken dreams of already-married people who are only doing what is most natural, defending the privilege they have so that they can look down on those who lack it.

By: David C.

David C. — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:06:45 +0000

To: banshiii:

Here are some of my suggestions:

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/01/7018#comment-26431

By: banshiii

banshiii — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:42:02 +0000

nice article….but it gets a big DUH from me.
I want solutions on how to cope with the aftermath, healing and getting back to kicking some ass for our community.

By: fannie

fannie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:19:49 +0000

Sadly, I don’t think the effects that these initiatives have on our mental health matters to most “marriage defenders.”

When we’re sad, we’re just being overly-sensitive gays as usual.

By: Ephilei

Ephilei — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:35:16 +0000

Thanks for bringing attention to this underestimated problem. I think the depression caused by heterosexism is far more dangerous than laws.

By: Tara TASW

Tara TASW — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:16:02 +0000

Not only the mental health effects, but every time I saw one of those “The gays are coming to your elementary school to recruit your kids” commercials, my blood pressure shot throught the roof.