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Added a section about the controversy surrounding the events leading up to the election.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown believes that the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed before Proposition 8 passed are still valid.<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 have postulated the marriages may be converted to domestic partnerships <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>, which in California have the same rights as marriage.<ref>Concurring Opinions, ''A small wrinkle regarding the Volokh proposal on Prop 8 retroactivity'', by Kaimipono D. Wenger, November 05, 2008 [http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/11/the_odd_legal_g.html] Marriage is not exactly the same as domestic partnership in California. For example, both partners must have a common residence in order to enter a domestic partnership, and both partners must be over 18; neither of these are required for marriage. </ref> The leaders of the Proposition 8 petition have not taken a position in this matter.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown believes that the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed before Proposition 8 passed are still valid.<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 have postulated the marriages may be converted to domestic partnerships <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>, which in California have the same rights as marriage.<ref>Concurring Opinions, ''A small wrinkle regarding the Volokh proposal on Prop 8 retroactivity'', by Kaimipono D. Wenger, November 05, 2008 [http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/11/the_odd_legal_g.html] Marriage is not exactly the same as domestic partnership in California. For example, both partners must have a common residence in order to enter a domestic partnership, and both partners must be over 18; neither of these are required for marriage. </ref> The leaders of the Proposition 8 petition have not taken a position in this matter.
==Controversy==
Both the campaigns for and against Proposition 8 were very controversial because of the means and practices associated with both campaigns. Overall it was the most expensive proposition ever on a ballot in the country's history and some believe that it was one of the major factors resulting in California's record high voter turnout.
A large point of criticism of Proposition 8 came up after a series of television ads were placed that depicted a child coming home from school and telling her mother that she learned about "a prince who married a prince." The ads implied that if Proposition 8 failed, children would be forced to learn that a same-sex marriage is the same as a traditional marriage, which isn't technically true because it's up to the public school board what children should be taught. Activists against Proposition 8 took advantage of the misleading advertising to criticize proponents of Proposition 8 for lying to voters. Eventually the controversial ads were pulled, but the No on 8 campaign continued to broadcast ads criticizing the controversial ones.
Another point of controversy was brought up when one of the heads of the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign allegedly sent a letter to several major corporate contributors to the No on 8 campaign threatening them if they didn't donate equal amounts to the Yes on 8 campaign as well.
==References==
==References==