Changes

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.

      

      

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.  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>

The ACLU states "The California Attorney General, Equality California, and the nation's leading LGBT legal groups agree that the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June 16, 2008 and the possible passage of Proposition 8 are still valid in the state of California and must continue to be honored by the state."<ref>ACLU, ''California Will Continue to Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Who Married Before the Possible Passage of Prop. 8, Initiative Would Only Apply to Future Marriages'', 11/5/2008 [http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37701prs20081105.html]</ref>  Others disagree, including blogger Eugene Volokh, who outlines several different possible outcomes, including converting the marriages to domestic partnerships, which in California have the same rights as marriage.<ref>The Volokh Conspiracy, ''What Will Happen to California Same-Sex Marriages?'', Eugene Volokh, November 5, 2008 [http://www.volokh.com/posts/1225907782.shtml]</ref>

The ACLU states "The California Attorney General, Equality California, and the nation's leading LGBT legal groups agree that the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June 16, 2008 and the possible passage of Proposition 8 are still valid in the state of California and must continue to be honored by the state."<ref>ACLU, ''California Will Continue to Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Who Married Before the Possible Passage of Prop. 8, Initiative Would Only Apply to Future Marriages'', 11/5/2008 [http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37701prs20081105.html]</ref>  Others disagree, including blogger Eugene Volokh, who outlines several different possible outcomes, including converting the marriages to domestic partnerships, which in California have the same rights as marriage.<ref>The Volokh Conspiracy, ''What Will Happen to California Same-Sex Marriages?'', Eugene Volokh, November 5, 2008 [http://www.volokh.com/posts/1225907782.shtml]</ref>