Some areas of S.F. voted to ban same-sex marriage

[cboy4]

Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, November 14, 2008

For all the talk of San Francisco values, a Chronicle analysis of how the city voted on the state's same-sex marriage ban shows a city geographically divided on the issue - and voting trends that turn San Francisco's typical political spectrum on its head.

One in 4 San Franciscans voted in favor of Proposition 8, far fewer than the 52 percent who voted to ban same-sex marriage statewide. But a closer look shows race, age and education influenced voters more than anything else - even among those living in one of the world's most gay-friendly cities.

Voters in 54 of San Francisco's 580 precincts supported the ban, with a high of 65 percent of voters favoring it in parts of Chinatown and downtown. More than half of voters in large swaths of Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, the Excelsior and areas around Lake Merced also voted to ban same-sex marriage.

Neighborhoods including the Marina, Laurel Heights and Mission Bay - which almost always vote more conservatively than neighborhoods such as Bayview and Chinatown - voted overwhelmingly against Prop. 8.

"With the racial and religious overprint that we're seeing, the standard San Francisco politics get thrown out the window on this one," said political consultant David Latterman, who further crunched the precinct-by-precinct voting results that The Chronicle obtained this week from the Department of Elections.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/13/MNIQ144185.DTL&type=politics&tsp=1

[slackmaster]

1. Well now there's a big shocker for you

San Francisco has a diversity of age, race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education level, and political opinion.

Who woulda thunk it?

[iamahaingttta]

2. Not surprising...

There were even a few people in the Castro who voted Yes.

[cboy4]

3. Yea, it's the equivalent of Jews supporting the Nazi Party.

Probably a bunch of those dumb ass Log Cabin homos.

[iamahaingttta]

4. Or maybe just some old ladies...

..who don't like their neighbors.

[yardwork]

5. It's eye-opening to me to realize that a lot of supposed "gay supporters" aren't.

If a majority of voters supported Prop 8 in California, imagine how many voters would do so in North Carolina! In Florida, even with its famous "gay-friendly" communities, 63% of voters stripped the rights of gay people to get married or have civil unions.

I don't know the figures in Arkansas and Arizona, but I can imagine.

That guy who owns the ice cream store in Sacramento attended gay pride events. Most of his gay customers probably assumed he wasn't a bigot. I'm sure he smiled and was friendly. But he contributed $20,000 to take away marriage rights from every gay person in his state. Not much of a friend.

It's very discouraging to know that in my day-to-day life there are probably lots of "nice" people who never say anything rude to me, but would deny my rights in a heartbeat.

[bluedawg12]

6. That's why out reach as the answer

or the main answer is just bull sh*t.

If out reach were the answer Dick Cheney would have come out for justice for all people long ago.

And Newt Gingrich.

The worst are the crypto bigots - like the ice cream shop owner. He is so busted.

[yardwork]

8. I agree.

Blaming gay people for not being nice enough to people taking away our rights is like blaming the victim of domestic violence for not being a good enough partner. It's just the excuse that the abuser uses to justify his or her behavior.

"You made me hit you because you're always running your mouth!"

"If dinner had been on the table on time I wouldn't have lost my temper - this is your fault."

"Shut up or I'll hit you again."

"If you just tried to get to know people better they wouldn't vote to take away your rights."

"If you're going to be rude I'll stop supporting your rights."

[NMMNG]

9. I'm sick to death

of this notion that we have to suck up to bigots and beg them to please, please, please give us our rights. If we stop being so...gay..will you give us a few crumbs? Maybe if I dress in a suit (or a floral print dress and heels for women) and pretend I'm straight will you give me my rights pretty please Mr. Bigot?

They haven't the authority to withhold them from us in the first place. We shouldn't be reduced to groveling at their feet like dogs to get them.

[gaspee]

7. Ahhh, my city

I lived in San Francisco from '90 until 00 -- anyone who has lived there or knows San Francisco could probably have predicted which precincts voted yes.

I think people forget sometimes just how expensive San Francisco is to live in. There are a lot more conservative voters In SF than people who don't know The City would expect there to be.

But money conservatism had nothing to do with this vote. Or am I not supposed to mention that?

[EFerrari]

10. Seniors. There are a bunch of residence hotels in the purple areas

by Market and by Columbus. Not sure about Visitation Valley. I think there are a lot of older voters in that Sea Cliff dot, too.