Jennifer told us earlier about Proposition 8 in California passing. Well, as I’ve been surfing around looking for updates, I found information on other anti-gay ballot measures that have also passed in Florida and Arizona–and it’s not surprise in this Macha’s mind that those measures passed with alarming ease.
What’s also been interesting is the speculation about what happened that has come with these disappointing loses. TIME has a really interesting albeit somewhat infuriating article in that speculates on the culpability of various populations of people in the measures passing. The article starts off with a population that makes sense to look at:
A symbolic low point for the gay side came on Oct. 13, when the Sacramento Bee ran a remarkable story about Rick and Pam Patterson, a Mormon couple of modest means — he drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic, she raises their five boys — who had withdrawn $50,000 from their savings account and given it to the pro-8 campaign. “It was a decision we made very prayerfully,” Pam Patterson, 48, told the Bee’s Jennifer Garza. “Was it an easy decision? No. But it was a clear decision, one that had so much potential to benefit our children and their children.”
Ok, a religious couple praying to donate 50 grand to a ballot that limits marriage as a way to ‘benefit’ their children–that’s a problem that I think deserves some investigating into. But then later on, the article gets a little more sweeping:
Part of the reason for that is that Obama inspired unprecedented numbers of African-Americans to vote. Polls show that black voters are more likely to attend church than whites and less likely to be comfortable with equality for gay people. According to CNN, African-Americans voted against marriage equality by a wide margin, 69% to 31%. High turnout of African-Americans in Florida will also probably help explain that state’s lopsided vote to ban same-sex weddings.
So in the same article where there is a story about a white Morman family donating 50 thousand dollars to “the cause,” this author argues in all seriousness that The Blacks also had something to do with the stunning losses.
Which makes me wonder, if this is true (and I don’t necessarily think it is)–the question must be asked–why haven’t The Gay’s been out organizing and mobilizing the in The Black communities? I mean, if it’s such a forgone conclusion that The Blacks have problems voting pro-gay, why haven’t The Gay’s been targeting black communities with education programs, mobilization measures, discussion groups, etc?
Why does it seem to be a problem that The Blacks voted in huge numbers as opposed to the big time problems with racism The Gays seem to have in their organizing models (such as, queers of color are never considered in outreach efforts, the needs of queers of color [as in murder, poverty, police brutality, etc] are rarely/never prioritized over the desires of middle class white folks etc)?
I really hope that gay organizations take some time to do some deep introspection–it’s too easy to blame The Blacks and Obama. It’s also too easy to blame extreme far right folks. Many times, things are as simple as never really explaining, not even to your own folks, why a certain goal is so important.
- Tags: elections 2008, gay rights, lgbt, marriage
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1 Response to Update on Prop 8
Thelea Draganic
November 10th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I am upset about this erroneous finger pointing at African-Americans regarding Proposition 8. Why are you so quick to believe whatever you hear? If someone told me 70 percent of gay people voted against Obama my first thought would be, excuse me Jesus, that is crap! I don’t believe it! This political year was fraught with right wing lies. Bear that in mind.
“Religious organizations that support Proposition 8 include the Roman Catholic Church], Knights of Columbus, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) a group of Evangelical Christians led by Jim Garlow and Miles McPherson, American Family Association, Focus on the Family[and the National Organization for Marriage Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, California’s largest, has also endorsed the measure. The Bishops of the California Catholic Conference released a statement supporting the proposition. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) has publicly supported the proposition and encouraged their membership to support it, by asking its members to donate money and volunteer time. The First Presidency of the church announced its support for Proposition 8 in a letter read in every congregation. Latter-day Saints have provided a significant source for financial donations in support of the proposition, both inside and outside the State of California. About 45% of out-of-state contributions to Protect Marriage.com has come from Utah, over three times more than any other state.”
This is your real enemy. Don’t trust exit polls. I think they are pitting one group against the other. African-Americans are less than 7% of the state population, do the math. Many more Whites voted and they put this over, not Blacks. What are the total numbers of each group that voted. Someone dug into the data and found that we’re just now learning is that the exit poll was based on less than 2,300 people. If you take into account that blacks in California only make up about 6.2%, we get roughly 224 blacks who were polled. 224 blacks to blame an entire race! The original percentage of black voters who were expected to say yes to Prop 8 was only around 52-58%. Anytime you get a vote that much higher over the projected vote, something went wrong.
I know someone who watches C-Span and they said most Blacks did not even address the question at all. And they do not have the money to fund a tens of millions of dollars Proposition 8 campaign. Note that they also targeted affirmative action for eradication in another state.
I cannot believe that these groups get a pass and Blacks are being targeted for the blame game. Rather than be upset at the phantom African-American menace, fight like hell. There is no right wing black conspiracy against gay Americans. When you tried to align your struggle with that of Blacks you inherited their enemies. These same enemies are now trying to pit one against the other because they fear the combined numbers of both.
How many gay activists supported the civil rights movement in the 1960’s? Then how do you automatically expect support in return? Have you asked Blacks to support you or did you just assume?
No one gave Obama anything and they will not give gays anything either. Obama stands on the shoulders of a lot of brave people who gave their lives for him to stand on that podium last night.
Never trust exits polls because in all my years of life, no one has ever been seen at a polling place asking anyone anything when they left.
Don’t fall for the lies.