| | Proposition 8 was in response to the four California Supreme Court Justices overturning the will of the people who voted in 2000 on Proposition 22 that marriage was between a man and a woman. Proposition 22 passed easily with 61% of the vote. It was overturned by the Court and in May of 2008 [[gay marriage]] was legalized by judicial degree, not by the will of the voters or the legislature. | | Proposition 8 was in response to the four California Supreme Court Justices overturning the will of the people who voted in 2000 on Proposition 22 that marriage was between a man and a woman. Proposition 22 passed easily with 61% of the vote. It was overturned by the Court and in May of 2008 [[gay marriage]] was legalized by judicial degree, not by the will of the voters or the legislature. |
| − | With over 70 million dollars being spent by both sides, it became one of the most expensive campaigns on a single issue in history. | + | With over 70 million dollars being spent by both sides, it became one of the most expensive campaign on a social proposition in history. |
| − | With 99% of the precincts in, the measure apparently was passed 52% to 48%. While much was made of the fact that it was losing in the polls up until the time of the election, proponents pointed out that similar measures were often reported as polling poorly, but the actual vote was different. For instance Proposition 22 was supposed to be too close to call in 2000. | + | With 99% of the precincts in, the measure apparently was passed 52% to 48%. While much was made of the fact that it was losing in the polls up until the time of the election, proponents pointed out that similar measures were often reported as polling poorly, but the actual vote was different. For instance Proposition 22 was supposed to be too close to call in 2000. Although it had been claimed that minority voters were against the message, exit polling on election day showed that latinos favored it overall while blacks favored it with a 70% yes vote. The large number of blacks who came out to vote for [[Barack Obama]] helped to tip the scale for Proposition 8's passing, even though Obama himself said to vote against it.<ref>http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20081106/news_1n6exit.html</ref> |
| | Unfortunately the Democratic process alone is not sufficient to some. Supporters of gay marriage vandalized Yes on 8 signs, delivered hate mail, and ultimately death threats, causing at least one top supporter of Proposition 8 to hire a bodyguard.<ref>ABC 30HD, Fresno, CA. "[http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6479879 Prop 8 Threat: Fresno Police close to Arrest]"</ref> Ultimately the realization that the people had spoken led to protests and arrests.<ref>FoxNews.com, ''Several Gay Marriage Ban Protesters Arrested in Clashes With Police in California'', Thursday, November 06, 2008 [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,447744,00.html]</ref> | | Unfortunately the Democratic process alone is not sufficient to some. Supporters of gay marriage vandalized Yes on 8 signs, delivered hate mail, and ultimately death threats, causing at least one top supporter of Proposition 8 to hire a bodyguard.<ref>ABC 30HD, Fresno, CA. "[http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6479879 Prop 8 Threat: Fresno Police close to Arrest]"</ref> Ultimately the realization that the people had spoken led to protests and arrests.<ref>FoxNews.com, ''Several Gay Marriage Ban Protesters Arrested in Clashes With Police in California'', Thursday, November 06, 2008 [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,447744,00.html]</ref> |