To be honest, with the happiness, I'm sad and angry today,

[terrya]

Yes, Barack Obama is our next President. Yes, we have stronger majorities in Congress. Which is amazing and wonderful.

But the voters in 3 states, California, Florida and Arizona, have apparently voted for bigotry and hate last night. They voted for anti-gay marriage amendments and proposals.

The supporters couched the wording and message of those amendments as "preserving the sanctity of marriage" and "maintaining the definition of marriage between one man and one woman". But we all know that it's homophobic bigots who despise us...gay and lesbians...and our relationships. We want recognition of our relationships...of our love. They see us as a "threat" to be taken care of.

Somehow, along with the wonderful message of diversity from last night, we gay and lesbians were reminded, again, that we're seconc class citizens not quite ready yet for that place at the table.

Forgive me for being a little sad today.

[shireen]

1. yeah, i agree. this is only a partial victory.

a key demographic has been left out of the new American dream.

[eyesroll]

2. ..

:hug:

I'm sad, too.

[terrya]

44. Thank you, eyesroll.

I don't know if Prop 8 passing will invalidate the marriages already performed. I think of Phyllis Lyon and the late Del Martin, two pioneering lesbian activists who were the first couple to get married in San Francisco after the California Supreme Court decision. They were together 50 years.

This is so, so damned sad. :hug:

[RoccoR5955]

3. Just give it time

We won a huge battle in the war on peace and justice.
The homophobia issues has not been in the fore for much time.
Now that we have the momentum, we can turn things around for EVERYONE!

[WillParkinson]

7. Wishful thinking...

Democrats are no more likely to do something now that they are in power than they were during the election.

After all, don't want to risk their chances in 2012 do they?

[RoccoR5955]

89. If we hold their feet to the fire...

...they will have no choice in the matter. Believe me. It can be done.


Maybe people out there should be like us Yankees.
Here we say that they should legalize gay marriage, after all, why should straight people be the only ones to suffer the misery of marriage.

Governor Paterson here in NY has stated that he is determined to pass a gay marriage bill, and with the Democratic takeover of the State senate, I think he has a good chance of it.


On the other hand, if things get bad in CA, you can always come to NY. We even have all four seasons here!

[fishwax]

4. I'm sorry, terrya -- those results are ghastly

:(

:grr:

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. It did not help that Obama echoed much of that bullshit

How often in this last month has he reiterated his belief that marriage exists only between one man and one woman?

You will pardon me for being very pessimistic about Obama's future record on gay rights and equal marriage.

[olkaz]

6. The only thing I am sad about is Franken probably losing.

Other than that, celebrate good times come on!

[terrya]

13. Well, enjoy the fact that bigotry has been codified in 3 state constitutions.

You be sure and celebrate that right now. Party on and all of that shit.

Once again, someone trivializes us.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. You have a right to be angry and hurt

I'm sorry people don't recognize that right sometimes.

[olkaz]

39. Sorry.

For the record, I would have voted for gay marriage if it had been brought to vote in my state.

Forgive me if there is still a lot to be happy about today.

[ronnykmarshall]

71. Makes me ill.

[LostinVA]

103. Great -- so you want to celebrate people's civil rights being taken away?

WTF?

[bookman]

8. The low point of the night

It's incredible that so many feel so threatened by gay marriage. I'm a hetrosexual married male who never feel in any way threateded by gay marriage.

Love is a wonderful thing. Period.

We still have work to do. All Americans deserve civil rights.

[bowens43]

9. It's unbeleivable. Hateful bigots. nt

[kick-ass-bob]

10. I feel the same way.

When I saw the first vote totals on H8 (with a large chunk of votes in) I nearly threw up. To make it even worse, it is not only an overt attempt to keep people down, it is taking rights away from a group of people.

If only they would imagine an amendment to take away their guns or their God. What would be their outrage?

This is despicable.

[azmouse]

11. I'm so sorry, terrya.

I'm ashamed of my state of AZ. Two years ago a similar proposition was put before the people and it was voted down. I felt sure it be voted down this time too. Sadly, a lot of money from out of state was spent here on signs and commercials, and bigotry won.

I hope AZ will come to its senses and this will be overturned in the near future.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

12. My Heart Sunk When I Saw Some Of Those Results Last Night. It's Shameful.

I expect it from republicans. But California? A ton of Democrats had to vote for that. That's sad as hell. We've still got a long way to go with many things in this country.

[Occam Bandage]

25. Unfortunately, many African-American voters

aren't too far from Republicans when it comes to non-African-American-related social issues.

[ecstatic]

27. and far too many white voters

:eyes:

[Occam Bandage]

30. Yes, there are always many exceptions to trends. However,

the exit polling suggests that we can thank increased turnout among African-American Democrats for bigotry being enshrined in the CA Constitution.

[ecstatic]

45. wow. what a divisive post

Bob Knoke, of Mission Viejo, Amanda Stanfield, of Monrovia, Jim Domen, of Yorba Linda, and J.D. Gaddis, of Yorba Linda, celebrate returns for Proposition 8 at an Irvine hotel.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gaymarriage5-2008nov05,0,1545381.story?page=1

I scanned the article to see if blacks tipped the scale, and found nothing. Blacks are only 10% of the electorate in California.

[Occam Bandage]

48. And black Democrats voted 70-30 in favor of prop 8.

The turnout among black Democrats is the only difference in the exit polling between prop 8 passing and the two previous failed attempts to enshrine bigotry in the CA state constitution. If you think that's divisive, blame the 70% of African-American Dems who threw gays under the bus, not the people on the internet who are interested in knowing exactly who thinks discrimination is a good idea.

[ecstatic]

51. ok I was wrong

Just saw the CNN stats.

[Raineyb]

75. Lovely, another ass blaming black people for something going wrong.

It's not like there weren't plenty of white folks voting yes on Prop 8. But apparently 10% of the state is entirely responsible for the the proposition passing.

And folks wonder why black folks are wary of white folks.

Regards

[Occam Bandage]

80. That 10% is not solely responsible. They're just responsible for the difference

between prop 8's success and previous failures of similar amendments. Blacks were the most reliable pro-8 voters in the state. Closing your eyes and pretending that there isn't an epidemic of homophobia in the black community is the best way of ensuring it will continue.

[Raineyb]

106. I close my eyes to nothing. But I damn sure don't plan to say nothing while

the black community gets scapegoated when there were plenty of people in other ethnic groups who voted yes for Prop 8. I am tired of people only wanting to talk about the black community as being particularly diseased, or damaged when things don't go as expected. A lot of people voted yes but your insistence on focusing on only the black community as an object of scorn doesn't help at all and only reinforces the perception that our votes are okay as long as we vote the way a subset of white people approve of. That is no way to get anyone to change their mind. So thanks for nothing. You were most unhelpful.

Regards

[political_Dem]

116. {{{{{Standing Ovation}}}}}}

[Occam Bandage]

123. You aren't so much "closing your eyes" as you are refocusing them on

an entirely different issue whenever this problem is discussed. The problem here is homophobia. We were discussing homophobia. You, however, are not addressing homophobia. You are grasping at spectres of racism, and in doing so making the case that we cannot discuss the rampant homophobia in the African-American community, because you feel like white people are disrespectful of black people. Trying to shut down civil-rights discussions by claiming nonexistent racism is not only offensive to GLBT people, it drives a deeper and unnecessary wedge into the national discussion of race.

70% of CA blacks voted for bigotry. That is by far the highest figure of any demographic. If you don't want to confront that--if you'd rather think that's just white folks looking to bash black folks--then go right ahead. But don't you dare say *I'm* being unhelpful while you do that.

[Raineyb]

124. I'm not refocusing anything. I'm pointing out the scapegoating.

You don't like it? Stop doing it.

There is no specter of racism here. When you don't ask the same question of other groups that you're asking of black people, when you can't manage to discuss something about the black community without the implication of some kind of inherent dysfunction how exactly do you expect it to be interpreted? Then when the complaint is made instead of taking it into consideration you accuse me of ignoring homophobia while continuing with the same demonization that I'd pointed out? You are being unhelpful and you sound like any other racist. You are being disrespectful. That is driving the wedge. Because if you manage to turn off someone who actually agrees with you on Prop 8 you damn sure won't get through to someone who disagrees with you.

But if your need to be right and have a high horse from which to preach is more important than fixing what's gone wrong then go ahead with your current path. You'll see lots of failure in your future.

Regards

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

100. Did you attribute Bush winning in 2004 to Hispanics?

I'm guessing you didn't, though that would be a reasonable conclusion from your argument.

[Raineyb]

104. I'm not the one blaming black people for the passing so the answer would be no

Perhaps you might want to talk to the people doing the scapegoating since that's what a lot of posts are implying today.

Regards

[SweetieD]

81. Dude Blacks made up 10% of the vote. If more whites and hispanics who made up the 90% had voted

against prop 8, then you would have what you wanted.

[Occam Bandage]

85. What's with the impulse to

leap to the defense of a bloc that voted 70%-30% in favor of bigotry? There is an enormous problem here, and one that people seem very reluctant to discuss.

[bkcc]

110. I don't think there's any justification for people voting in favor of Prop 8.

But, to be fair, if you want to blame one specific group (as it seems you are), then of course there's going to be an argument from others here.

African-Americans voted 70-30 in favor of the proposition, but that is just a small percentage of the YES vote.

Consider this:
*There were about 10 million votes cast on this horrible proposition.

*African-American voters make up 10% of all voters. That means that about 700,000 YES votes came from this group.

*The Latino voters (who make up 19% of all voters) voted 51-49 in favor of YES. That means that about 1 million YES votes came from this group.

*If you look at age as the deciding factor, all groups over the age of 30 (which makes up 80% of the vote) voted YES in higher percentages. Does that mean that all people over 30 should be held responsible?


I'm not trying to defend how this came out. I think the result is disgusting, but placing blame on one group is not productive. This outcome cannot be attributed to race alone.

(btw, in case you want to check me on any of the data to which I've referred, here's the link: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1)

[political_Dem]

86. Thank you, SweetieD.

Where's the outrage for all the other folks who voted against this horrible proposition?

[Raineyb]

105. I guess it's easier to blame black people

Aren't we responsible for the financial crisis as well?

Regards

[political_Dem]

113. Tell me about it. :(

As sad as I am about all the anti-GLBT legislation, I am equally distressed at all the scapegoating.

[goodgd_yall]

125. Stop the divisive posts

It doesn't help.

[Starry Messenger]

14. terrya

:hug: I woke up 2 hours ago to check on the prop 8 results and I too am disappointed. It's definitely damped down my joy.

[msongs]

15. lots of obama lovers get their man AND dump the gays at the same time

many in the very same coalition that delivered the election to obama worked very hard to pass prop 8 - that's payback
from the "we got ours now screw you" crowd.

Once again the toxic dominant religion has been shoved down everybody's throats like it or not.

Msongs

[lonestarnot]

38. Who's doing that?

[Occam Bandage]

82. 70% of African-American voters and 74% of African-American women, according to exit polls. nt

[Raineyb]

122. Who make up 10% of the population. n/t

But why dwell on what is appear to be a mere technicality eh?

Regards

[NorthernSpy]

128. Blacks are just 6% of California's population; and 14.1% nationally.

FWIW...

[Raineyb]

129. I was referring to California

But the CNN numbers had it at 10%.

Either way we are talking about a small portion of the electorate considering the amount of blame being placed.

Regards

[Hamlette]

16. what blows me away is the black vote in California

black certainly put us over the top in the presidential race but according to exit polls may be largely responsible for defeating gay rights in California.

Maybe Obama can work on their homophobia (not all of them/you mind you but a higher percentage than any other racial group)

It blows my mind.

That's our next step America.

Oh, yeah, and now I expect to life to see a woman, a gay person and an atheist in the white house.

damn it.

[ecstatic]

46. link? nt

[Hamlette]

49. sorry, here it is

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1

[NashVegas]

55. Maybe Jesse Jackson Jr Can Come Help Campaign

to overturn it, you think?

[RubyDuby in GA]

91. That's what happened in Georgia in 2004

The republicans put the gay marriage ban on the ballot to get their rabid base out and the black democratic vote pushed them way over. It was nearly 70% in favor. I was so disappointed that year, so I share in y'alls extreme disappointment for this vote and we know how you guys feel.

[ikojo]

17. I agree...one community who has been kept from

the seat of power for centuries now has it but gays and lesbians are reminded of their second class status.

[Richardo]

18. You don't need forgiveness, terrya

Every thinking person should be disappointed, if not downright angry.

The passage of these amendments diminish all that was accomplished last night. I can only hope that with our new, more enlightened leadership, and the model of the Obama campaign, we (and I do mean WE) fight to get these laws repealed in short order.

We have the White House. The GLBT community was told to 'pipe down' to accomplish that. Now that the federal government is secure, we should ALL fight to get you the rights the rest of us take for granted.

:hug: to all my GLBT brothers and sisters.

[Lorien]

19. I'm with you. I'm straight, but I was stunned by America's bigotry

towards the gay and lesbian community last night. It was a harsh reminder that there is still a LOT of work to be done!

[PermanentRevolution]

20. I'm sorry, from Florida

I didn't do enough to defeat Amendment 2. I thought that there were enough of us who would surely stand up and say no, and I was wrong.

It's a sad reminder, on the night when America finally shattered one long-standing entrenched prejudice, of just how deep-rooted discrimination still runs in this country. My heart goes out to you, though I don't expect that to serve as much consolation.

[PFunk]

21. Hey I feel the same as you do.

Especially since it was primary african-americans who greatly helped pushed this thru. And as one african-american male busts thru the bigotry barrier, A group of african-americans help impose bigotry on others. And as a I'm a straight african-american male liberal this bothers me greatly. Bigotry is Bigotry. Period.

Damn.

[Sulawesi]

22. I understand and agree...I am an atheist, and if this makes any sense, we deal with similar pressure

...mine being less central to my happiness...

...you have allies...

[JVS]

23. Don't forget Arkansas. They voted to ban gay people from adopting kids.

[kick-ass-bob]

26. Are you fucking kidding me?

:mad:

[JVS]

37. Seriously

Arkansas Initiative 1:
Ban on Gay Couples Adopting Children
Updated 25 minutes ago
County Results | Map
| Exit Poll
Yes
573,774
57%
No
434,344
43%
96% of precincts reporting

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/ballot.measures/

[nam78_two]

102. No its true

http://www.365gay.com/news/082508-arkansas-adoption-ban/

Last month the socially conservative group that spearheaded Arkansas’ constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, handed in its petitions prior to the state deadline for getting issues on the November ballot. But the secretary of state validated only 57,888 signatures. Since the number fell within a state “grace” guideline the group was given another 30 days to get the additional signatures.

Arkansas Families First, the group fighting the measure said it is preparing to take the issue to court. Spokesperson Debbie Willhite said the group will ask the Arkansas Supreme Court to enjoin the initiative.

The adoption referendum is similar to a bill that died in the Legislature earlier this year.

That legislation failed after Gov. Mike Beebe suggested that there were constitutional problems with the bill, although he would not say if he intended to veto it if it were passed.

The bill was introduced following a state Supreme Court ruling last year.

Arkansas’s Child Welfare Agency Review Board had established a policy in 1999 that banned gay people from serving as foster parents, and the Arkansas Supreme Court struck it down after a seven-year legal battle between the state and the ACLU.

Several state and national child welfare groups filed friend-of-the-court briefs urging the court to strike down the exclusion because it worked against the best interests of foster children.

In its unanimous ruling, the court said testimony in the state’s appeal demonstrated that “the driving force behind adoption of the regulations was not to promote the health, safety and welfare of foster children but rather based upon the board’s views of morality and its bias against homosexuals.”

This could possibly be the sleaziest ballot proposal that was voted on last night :thumbsdown:.

[terrya]

29. I didn't hear about that last night.

An untimigated disaster for gay and lesbian people last night. :cry:

[Starry Messenger]

32. Holy Fuck!!

What century is this!!? Sick.

[frickaline]

28. I'm very sorry.

Know that we in Massachusetts will keep the light on until the others come home. At least, this straight, married woman will. I'm sorry for your sadness and loss.

[southpaw]

31. Yes... it sucks out loud!

I wasn't all that surprised by Arizona or even Florida, but California really, really disappointed me.

As a member of the HRC and Equality Alabama, I will do all that I can to keep this fight going. My goal is to see GLBT marraige rights in all 50 states during my lifetime.

I'm 42.

[Beausoir]

33. Basic human rights for ALL people must be priority #1.

[InvisibleTouch]

34. That's a shadow on the sun, to be sure.

I was shaking my head in disbelief last night over this. How we could, as a country, take such a huge positive step on the one hand, and then enshrine discrimination and biggotry on the other - it just doesn't fit. I'm convinced that time inevitably moves toward equality for all, and the holdouts from the dark ages are slowly being chiselled away - but that doesn't help today. It sounds trite for me to say "hang in there," but know that we are working toward moving the country in the right direction. It happened with every other disenfranchised group, and it will happen for you. Awareness can only grow, not shrink. The next few years, I'm certain, will see lots of positive changes as people cast aside the old fossilized ways.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

35. I understand

It's so terrible that people would vote to rescind rights rather than confer and affirm them. I don't blame you at all for being sad, and as a straight person, I am very sad too.

I know my sister Bullwinkle925 and her family all voted no on 8 in California - she is sickened by this vote.

[Shine]

36. I'm in CA and I'm in total agreement with you. I stunned Prop 8 actually passed.

I'm sad, I'm angry, I'm confused....

:(

[Liberal Mommy]

40. I'm so sorry

:cry: :hug:

[msanthrope]

41. We must crawl before we walk--the fight never ends, will not

end, and we will not stop until my gay and lesbian fellow humans are treated fairly.

'Straight...not Narrow..'

[ComtesseDeSpair]

42. I'm with you...

It saddens me that my old home of California is allowing bigotry to be written into their constitution. But I can't say I'm surprised. Something needs to be changed to make it harder to change the constitution there. It's ridiculous that it doesn't at least require a super majority.

[political_Dem]

43. I am very sad with you. :(

You'd think that people should be more enlightened now, but the "isms" remain no matter how much people try to play it down this morning.

And worst of all, when there is a hurdle forward, there are always two steps back. :(

:hug:

The fight now is in the courts. I hope they take it all the way and finally fight for what is right in this country.

We all should have equal rights, no matter who we are.

People should deserve to love and marry who they want. And damn those who want to control the rest of us. I'm sickened that there are nasty people out there so selfish and prejudiced.

[PVnRT]

47. It is bittersweet, and we need to start holding some feet to the fire over it

Start organizing now to get these reversed during the midterms in two years.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

50. That sucks...

I'm so sorry, Terrya. I wish I could instantaneously change the twisted minds of those who voted for these amendments and proposals.
I really do wish I could.

But I can promise you that I will not stop working to end bigotry...I promise to continue the fight until these laws that deny human rights.

I promise. :hug::hug::hug:

[freestyle]

52. I share your sadness and anger.

I'm extremely happy about Obama's victory and feel that the hard work of lots of people over generations paid off. But, discrimination remains and there are still too many people who relish the chance to hurt people not like themselves.

We keep fighting anyway, knowing that the ultimate victory may not be for ourselves, but for children yet unborn who will enjoy full citizenship in all parts of our country.

[Aeval]

53. There are quite a few other discriminatory ballot questions that seem to have passed...

Arkansas has banned gay (and unmarried heterosexual) couples from adopting children or serving as foster parents.

Nebraska voted to end affirmative action in stat government hiring practices. Colorado had a similar measure but it's still undecided.

Thinking about California makes me feel so despondent, despite my elation over Obama's win. I can only hope his presidency will usher in a new era of understanding and growth that will bring these kinds of discriminatory actions to an end.

deep sigh.

[NashVegas]

54. {{{ Hugs }}}

It's a little bittersweet for me, too, but for different reasons.

Take the time to be bummed, until you're ready to kick some ass, you know?

[Hepburn]

56. Heya, Terrya, I am really, really sad ~~ like totally upset ~~ about Prop 8.

I cannot for the life of me understand HOW one can vote for Obama AND "yes" on Prop 8. Just makes NO sense.

For all my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in California...:cry: What happened yesterday with the Prop 8 bullshit is NOT right. I am hoping that the Cal Supremes will make things right. EVERYONE deserves to be equal...Prop 8 simply is WRONG.

To those who were directly hurt or who have friends or family who are effected by the horrifically and totally immoral act done by the California voters in passing Prop 8, I apologize and I offer to each of you my sympathy and what little understanding that I have as a straight person of what it must truly be like to be discriminated against because I love and want to legally be with the "wrong" person.

I am soooooooo hoping that the courts correct this mistake by the bigot voters in California. Today, I am not very proud of the state I love.

:hug: <------- to anyone and everyone who is hurting over Prop 8 ~~ let's find a way to make things right for EVERYONE who loves someone and who lives in Calif!

[jacksonian]

94. i understand this, but i dont accept it

Let me just toss out one fact here people are ignoring.

The civil rights for African Americans has been going on for a long time. It has been pressed for in some of the most backward-looking parts of the country, in the face of some of the most viciously reactionary people you'd ever deal with.

The true rank and file in the civil rights movement - not the leaders so much, the ordinary folks and not all of them, of course - have long had to defend themselves from the attack "well, if we give you rights and justice, we're going to have to give the same to gays and the godless" in situations where the right thing - equal justice for all - was directly in the way of getting any justice for any.

To a lot of people the black civil rights movement is their sacred thing, and they won't have it denied by "side issues" and false "reducto ad absurdum" (pardon my latin) arguments. People who need to overcome racism accept black civil rights because it is about them. Gay rights are not directly "about who they are" and defending these rights with the same ideological brush can be seen as threatening to the "real" issue that affects who they are in society. Whitey will use any smear to win this fight, that is known.

Black does not equal homophobic by any stretch. But i think the rest of us should appreciate how for many in that movement, adding orientation rights to racial rights was a tactic for the other side that moved the bar they needed to get over higher, and that bar was plenty high already.

[Left Is Write]

57. I am so shocked that proposition passed in California.

No one need "preserve the sanctity" of my marriage by denying others the rights to their marriages.

I'm sorry.

[No Elephants]

I am sad as well. We need a game plan and some specific requests. We can do this.

[southpaw]

58. Blame it on whatever demographic you want, but the common thread

is religion.

Most of the lingering homophobia in America is attributable to religious belief.

[depakid]

64. America is chock full of fundies, anti-intellectualism and intolerance

Nothing has changed AT ALL in that respect, though at least they're not going to be in control of the federal agencies.

[Midlodemocrat]

59. Son of a bitch. This is the first I heard about Prop 8 passing.

Terrya, I'm so sorry. :hug:

[Maven]

60. This should be a wake-up call to every fuckface who blamed us for "losing" 2004 for the Dems

because a lot of the people who voted for Obama also voted to make us second-class citizens.

Maybe Dems need to look themselves in the mirror when it comes to bigotry.

[codjh9]

61. I agree - and I'll never understand why so many people - even (obviously) a lot of Dems -

are against gay marriage... but we won just about everything else. And maybe that'll change too.

[No Elephants]

62. am sad as well. We need a game plan and some specific requests. We raised over 1.5 million for

Tinklenberg, whom I'd never heard of before a few weeks ago, simply bc Michelle Bachman ran her nasty mouth. We got an African American elected President of the most powerful country ever on the planet. We can do this. We need a game plan with some specific requests to the posters here. None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something. Sign online petitions, contribute to good organizations that are working on this. I can do something and I promise I will. but we need a game plan from our GLBT posters.

I will carry this on my heart until you ask for help. Blessings.

[SmokingJacket]

63. It is a real step backward.

And extremely disappointing. I don't understand it.

I hope these next four years will give us a chance to become less terrified of gay and lesbian love.

[sohndrsmith]

65. this hurts

"But the voters in 3 states, California, Florida and Arizona, have apparently voted for bigotry and hate last night."

This voter in AZ didn't,

As someone who voted for Obama joyfully, and as someone who chose to care for my 65 year old gay father (who died at 69, with a great degree of additional - and undeserved - shame and secrecy because society couldn't acknowledge his love, either) instead of a promotion when he contracted AIDS from his long term partner, it stings a little to be lumped together in this category that I (and many people in these three states) do not belong. But I understand the anger because I have it too. My father died nearly 15 years ago, and on that day I never would have imagined that things would be as they are today... my dad did nothing wrong, but he sure was punished because he didn't fit into someone else's idea of right and wrong. It was bad enough to suffer through a terminal illness for several years, he should not have had this pain forced on him as well. There is no way I would vote against him and I'm sad that so many in this state did.

I have to say that I am shocked, personally, that this happened, particularly in CA and FL - 2 states with arguably higher numbers of gblt residents of many, many other states (I guess it wasn't on the ballot elsewhere, but still).

Our ballot here was long, and I remember the night my partner and I filled our ballots out, and the two priorities were voting for Obama and the marriage issue. Neither of us are stupid or illiterate or uneducated (one of us has a doctorate from UC Irvine, and it isn't me), but the wording on the ballot was so odd that it is easy to imagine how anyone, educated or not - could potentially vote the wrong way without realizing it - including someone with a doctorate, if he or she was in a hurry or distracted. I found it very troubling, and I wouldn't doubt that a lot of people with good intentions may have voted against their intentions. I don't get it, otherwise.

No bigotry and hate in this desert household, or on these AZ ballots...

[SurfingAtWork]

66. Well, for what its worth, I did my best out here in AZ on 102

I went out of my way to tell any friends or coworkers who were voting dem specifically to vote no on that prop.

Unfortunatley, it seems that the mouth-breathers out number us here.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

67. I'm sorry Terrya

In the midst of all my joy and euphoria yesterday, I could not believe that those propositions were passed even as Obama won California and Florida. As a straight hetrosexual male, I just cannot believe the double standards that were evident in the results in California and Florida -breaking down the barriers of prejudice and discrimination on the one hand and yet endorsing them on the other. How very, very sad

I know the time will come for our GLBT brothers and sisters but, heck, I had hoped we were on the verge of a new dawn. Obviously not:cry:

[The Wielding Truth]

68. This will change. It will just need a little more time. Forgive those

who have not yet learned to not fear giving respect to those who deserve it.

[grace0418]

69. I'm right there with you terrya.

I was hoping the ignorant fuckers in this country would lose across the board, but they still managed to win a few battles. We'll win the war, we must, it'll just take longer than I hoped.

[Heidi]

70. Further evidence that electing Obama is just ONE necessary change.

As long as there are disenfranchised Americans among us, we've got work to do. :hug:

[immoderate]

72. It is against the first amendment to declare the "sanctity" of anything.

Sanctity means holiness or godliness. Government should stay out of the marriage business. Civil union contracts should be available to all. I have spoken. :)

--IMM

[ellie]

73. Me too.

[skygazer]

74. Obama's win is a bittersweet victory for me

The spite and bitterness fueling Prop 8 and others like it makes me sick. I am so sorry my state didn't do the right thing.

[YvonneCa]

76. From one in Ca. who voted 'no'...

...I am sorry for your sadness. The California Initiative process doesn't work. It's giving California a lot of bad laws.Sometimes, the people pushing an initiative are from outside our state (like T.Boone Pickens and his energy initiative). We are all getting used.

I hope you will focus on our Obama win. Our country has been lost without leadership. And they've had eight years to build up fear. It may take a little time, but we WILL work out the rest.:grouphug:

[Pithlet]

95. I've always thought it was a silly way of doing things.

It certainly seems like California got used with Prop 8. It's a real shame.

[YvonneCa]

119. The intent was okay. Give Californians more say in...

...their government. In practice...it doesn't work. Too many initiatives, out-of-state rich guys start initiative and fund them, mis-leading language to throw people off the real intent, and citizens either oblivious or overwhelmed who don't know what their vote will do.

It's another time when an informed citizenry is needed...and we don't have one.

[nichomachus]

77. I was taking steps to leave the country if McCain won

With the passage of proposition Hate in CA and other measures around the country, I am still seriously considering it. There are countries where gays and lesbians are not legally discriminated against.

[StreetKnowledge]

108. Go North, My friend

Canada has same sex marriage legal, and even our right-wing Prime Minister knows to leave that alone. Equal rights for homosexuals are enshrined in Canada's national constitution, which means all of the US initiatives would be struck down in Canada.

[deadparrot]

112. While I fully support your efforts,

I want to chime in that, based on personal experience, it's *extremely* difficult to live permanently, much less gain citizenship, in a foreign country (particularly those that offer these rights), short of already possessing foreign citizenship rights or marrying a citizen. In most fields, it's near impossible to get a work visa, since companies/institutions by and large (1) have to prove that there's literally no citizen that could do the job sufficiently, and (2) pay a lot of money to simply obtain a visa. I wish you the best in your endeavors, whatever you choose, but it's definitely one of those processes that is long, expensive, draining, and oftentimes fruitless.

[scorpiogirl]

78. I'm with you.

I feel like I should be on cloud nine, but all I feel is sick. How can citizens do this to other citizens? And they're so happy about it too. Sick fuckers.

[Ozma]

79. I hope Obama will do something about this...he knows what prejudice

and bigotry is all about.

He will do it in his first term, early.... give us 4 years for America to learn that gay people are Americans with rights, too!

[CTyankee]

83. Everyone in CT benefitted by voting down a Constitutional Convention

aimed precisely to get a reversal of our gay marriage court ruling, altho they tried to portray it as an exercise in "democracy."

This is one reason I love CT and love living here. I know my daughter and son in law in CA are terribly disappointed with the outcome there.

We all suffer when one group's rights are taken away. History has proven that over and over again.

[Captiosus]

84. I am VERY disappointed with the results on Prop 8.

Not only because it promotes bigotry but because it now gives anti-gay marriage/anti-gay rights crusaders a huge stockpile of ammunition. In future contests around the country, they will point at California and say, "Even one of the most liberal states in the Union banned gay marriage!"

:(

Defeating Prop 8 and other homophobic ballot proposals needed to happen last night to actively begin working on a national gay rights/equality agenda. Now with California banning gay marriage, I have no hope that a state like Virginia, even if it went blue this election, will ever repeal their own state version of DOMA and the gay marriage ban.

[Lisa0825]

87. I'm sorry. (((HUGS)))

I'm really sorry. It's shameful. I hope that after the Supreme Court swings back to the left, it will take on this issue and make it right finally.

[mr poe]

88. It hurts greatly, but...

look at this night as the first step in a new direction. :)

[pink-o]

90. Unfortunately, that brain-washing starts early in the pews

Most "church-going" people really believe homosexuality is morally wrong, even those who've experienced bigotry in their own lives. Such is the mind-control power of religion.

The sooner we quit programming children to believe in religious mythology, the better off we'll be. If you're from out of state, you really can't imagine the advertising, smear and fear campaign the Catholic Church, the Mormons and the Knights of Columbus did re Prop H8.

Rip those fuckers' tax-exempt status right out from under them!

[kwolf68]

92. Does this type of thing take time?

Look at how long it took to get women the right to vote...look how long before civil rights legislation was passed after slavery? ... gay and lesbian issues are still sorta in their genesis politically, it takes time.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

93. I was so proud of my fellow Latinos yesterday. Until I saw the Prop 8 results come in.

I'm horribly embarrassed and ashamed of all democrats who voted for Prop 8 and I cannot believe so many voted for bigotry on the same ticket they voted for change.

[Liberalboy]

96. I agree

Im happy for the country, but I feel like I just got punched in the stomach

[lonestarnot]

97. Fucking Arizona sucks ass!

[Arugula Latte]

98. I just can't understand it. I can't.

I can't understand how so many people can be so ignorant and hateful and mean-spirited and irrational.

On the other hand, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Religion is at the root of most evil and stupidity, including this B.S., and I can't understand how so many people can buy into that crap, either.

:grr:

[nam78_two]

99. Ugh-I also have dear friends who will personally be affected by the Arkansas adoption ban

I still can't believe prop 8 passed (or is leading) :puke:.
California no less...

That adoption ban is also a particularly nasty one. They tried to camouflage it as about "unmarried" couples...real fucking clever :puke:.

[yowzayowzayowza]

101. Sad, indeed. A last ignorant gasp.

The tide of history is inevitably headed the other way. :hi:

[StreetKnowledge]

107. You're totally forgiven, Terriya

I don't think there is any homophobes here. Stay strong, we'll get things sorted out for you. :hug:

As for those who voted for Prop 8, and other such anti-homosexual garbage across the nation, do you truly believe in equality for all, or just some? Racism is no longer acceptable, is it? So tell me then, how is homophobia?

[SteppingRazor]

109. Stunningly, here in Florida, even Broward County, the most Democratic county in the state...

voted for Amendment 2 by a margin of 52 to 48. That, of course, paved the way for the Amendment to get the required 60 percent of the vote after more-lopsided votes for the amendment in other areas of the state.

[totodeinhere]

111. Time is on our side.

The younger the voter is, the more likely they are to support gay rights. It's older voters who voted for bigotry. And of course as time goes by, these older voters will leave the scene and be replaced by more enlightened younger voters.

[Nye Bevan]

114. The irony is horrible

It's the same thing as if we had just elected the first openly gay president, while simultaneously passing constitutional amendments to prevent blacks from marrying whites. This casts a huge pall over Obama's victory.

[AuntPatsy]

115. This is no time to give up....they are at end and they know it....the issue

didn't even deserve a vote...how can one make a law taking away one's civil rights simply because they do not agree they should have them? It was illegal to even have one's rights be put up for a vote that would take such away..

As many stated yesterday, the fight has just begun....and this time, we take no prisoners..

[jane_pippin]

117. It's shameful.

I can't believe it.

:hug:

[Generator]

118. At the least, Obama said the word GAY in his acceptance speech

Has anyone mentioned that? Did Bill Clinton ever do that? I doubt it.

It's not enough, I know. It's so damn tiring. And this board was like a fundamentalist tent revival in November 2004-at least that is over with an Obama president. NO, the Gays didn't cost us victory-and they never have. I HATED that line of thinking and am still pissed thinking about four years ago.

[bmartello]

120. it definitely made things bittersweet.

I believe in my heart that this is not a done deal... this issue will be revisited and you will be vindicated. I am so sorry this is happening to you. I can't believe people can't just put the shoe on the other foot... 'how would I feel if people wanted me stripped of my rights..' so sad.

candle lit for you!

b

[GreenPartyVoter]

121. Hang in there, hon. *hugs* We will find a way to fix it. I asked earlier about

starting a DU collection drive for a legal defense fund. Not sure if it will get taken up or not.

[goodgd_yall]

126. The only real group we can blame

are religious voters, and then not all of them. THe fundies, yes, but many Catholics (even though they may have been pressured by clergy to vote Yes), Episcopalians, UCC (of course), non-Orthodox Jews, and even Baptists (!) voted "No." We need to stop blaming racial and ethnic groups.

[Jed Dilligan]

127. They are only running these campaigns because they are LOSING

if you look at the long term and big picture. Each age group of voters in CA was less likely to support the proposition than the age group directly ahead of them. I don't think this is one of those "Oh you'll be more conservative about this when you get older and have kids" issues like drug decriminalization. The older bigots will die off and we can expect the next generation of young voters to be even more accepting of LGBT people. Obama could not have won if the old racists who voted Reagan and Bush I into office were alive today. We the non-bigots are reproducing ourselves faster than the bigots can.