70% of African Americans backed Prop. 8, exit poll finds

A lot of Obama/Yes-on-8 voters? The Associated Press exit polls show that African Americans and Latinos backed Proposition 8 in good numbers. Details here from AP:

California's black and Latino voters, who turned out in droves for Barack Obama, also provided key support in favor of the state's same-sex marriage ban. Seven in 10 black voters backed a successful ballot measure to overturn the California Supreme Court's May decision allowing same-sex marriage, according to exit polls for The Associated Press.

More than half of Latino voters supported Proposition 8, while whites were split. Religious groups led the tightly organized campaign for the measure, and religious voters were decisive in getting it passed. Of the seven in 10 voters who described themselves as Christian, two-thirds backed the initiative. Married voters and voters with children strongly supported Proposition 8. Unmarried voters were heavily opposed.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Dana]

I find it ironic that a population that has a 70% out of wedlock birth rate votes that other people who actually want to get married can't. Blacks have decided that that they need someone to be better than. Most Blacks voted yesterday and the overwhelming number of them think that they are the only ones who have ever been discriminated against.

[Amy]

I am sorry for you that you did not find justice. Think with your brain next time before you vote. I am a republican and if we would have had a gays rights bill in my state I would have voted for you to have some respect and rights. Stop judging people for the party that they belong to. You all were thrown under the bus. It''s really sad that so many of you dranked the kool-aid. You fell for it hook, line and sinker!

[Amy]

I am a black man and am ashamed to see, but not surprised, that so many blacks do not favor same-sex marriage. Blacks, as a racial minority, have been discriminated against and continue to be in 2008.
----------------------
You're JOKING? Can't play the race card anymore!! That went out the window on November 4, 2008!

[Amy]

I am a black man and am ashamed to see, but not surprised, that so many blacks do not favor same-sex marriage. Blacks, as a racial minority, have been discriminated against and continue to be in 2008.
------------------------------
You're JOKING? Can't play the race card anymore. That went out the window on November 4, 2008!

[letsmoveon]

there are 1,184 federal rights that are forbidden to same-sex couples. these include unalienable civil rights and protections like healthcare, social security, parental rights, taxation etc. there are a measly handful of states that offer the bare minimum rights as of today november 7, 2008. there are gay people who are harassed, discriminated against, intimidated and killed everyday in this country. this is unquestionably a civil rights struggle involving a protected group that has been subjugated and discriminated against for centuries. the hate is insidious. the judiciary and legislature is there to protect over a simple majority, precisely as was done in 1967 banning anti-miscegenation laws. homosexuality exists in almost every animal species innately, including humans. the bible can not reverse this. if homosexuality were a badge, like the color of one's skin, you had better believe people would step up and acknowledge that the current struggles of these people are very akin to those of all other protected groups, including "minority" ethnicities.
progress to the people, we shall all be free eventually

[Elena Ong]

I'm glad that Asian American Pacific Islanders stood up for equality, and that the majority, 51% of AAPIs, voted to defeat Prop 8!

[Surprised]

After all of the “change”, “hope”, and “progress” rhetoric from the Obama camp, the support for Proposition 8 is surprising. While I don’t believe that any particular group was responsible for passing the initiative, I am sad to know that 70% of the African American community voted in favor. Given that this is a group has been historically marginalized, one would imagine a more sympathetic position. Ironically, the marriage and out-of-wedlock birth rate statistics for blacks is dismal.

Statistics on Marriage, Divorce, and Living Arrangements

On the whole, Blacks or African Americans (hereafter called Blacks) have lower rates of marriage and marital stability than all other ethnic groups. They also have higher rates of single-headed families than other groups.

* Black males and females are more likely to be unmarried than Whites, Hispanics, or American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AIAN) (42.2% for males, 40.8% for females, compared to 27.5% and 21.2% respectively for Whites, 38.2% and 30.3% for Hispanics, and 35.7% ad 29.9% for AIAN ).(ACS 2002)
* Black individuals are far more likely than Whites and Hispanics to be divorced (in 2002, 9.4% of Black males were divorced, and 13.3% of Black females versus 9.1 % and 11.3% respectively for Whites and 5.9% and 9.3% for Hispanics). (ACS 2002)
* Among married Black individuals, a greater percentage is living apart from their spouses than among married White and AIAN individuals (15.7% for Black males, 24.1% for Black females, versus 5.3% and 6.3% respectively for Whites and 11.1% and 12.8% for AIAN). Only Hispanics have a higher rate of living apart from their spouse than do Blacks – 16.2% for males and 16.9% for females (in many cases this may be due to immigration complications). (ACS 2002)
* Black families are less likely to contain a married couple than all other groups (46.0% versus 81.0%). White families have an 81% chance of containing a married couple, AIAN families have a 67% chance, and Hispanics have a 67.4% chance. (Census 2000)
* Single male-headed families are slightly more likely in Black homes than in White family homes (about 8.5% versus 5.3% for whites.). Hispanics and AIANs have a higher rate of single male headed families (10.3% and 10.4% respectively). (Census 2000)
* Single female-headed families are far more likely in Black homes than in all other groups' homes (45.4% versus 13.7%). By contrast, Whites have a 13.7% rate, AIANs have a 28.8% rate, and Hispanics have a 22.3% rate of single female headed families. (Census 2000)
* Only 44.9% of Black householders in family households live with a spouse. This compares with 80.6% for Whites, 60.1% for AIAN, and 70.2% for Hispanics.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/about/aami_marriage_statistics.htm

It’s interesting that this group has such opinions about who should have the right to marry. What happened to change, hope and progress?

Lastly, this argument about teaching children to be gay is ridiculous. I have a child in the Los Angeles public school system and we’re lucky if his teachers mention spelling, math or history. They’re certainly not talking about marriage. People don’t “learn” sexuality anyway, enough with that nonsense!

[MJ]

I don't understand why anyone thinks it is alright to put civil rights to a popular vote. Regardless of your beliefs, it IS a question of civil rights when discussing the legal implications of marriage and the myriad benefits/protections.

I wonder where we would be today if we had allowed the civil rights of African Americans to be legislated by popular vote?

[Verballistic]

This historic vote to reject the concept of gay marriage confirms one deep, abiding principle...that a large majority of black folks do not feel the kindred spirit with the gay rights movement that gay activists have been trying to project on them for many decades!! Most African-Americans believe that homosexuality is a choice, not a biological imperative and therefore do not personally equate the gay rights movement with the civil rights movement that has advanced the cause of those who are black by birth!!

[No Obama for 2012]

We gave all our best to support Barack Obama but his AA surrogates voted heavily for support of Prop 8, trust me I will not ever vote for Obama unless other Democrat or Hillary on the ticket or i will vote Republican now. I hope they realize that we are all people who deserve to be loved and happy as a couple. What a shame for them. Very very disappointed on Obama's surrogate. We will get this overturn soon.

[Diepiriye S. Kuk-Siemons]

When the Fairness Campaign advocating for local ordinances to protect queer people hate crimes against rose in my hometown, Black evangelicals were the loudest voices against us. And as a queer man of color, the racism within gay communities- ranging from sheer ignorance and typical America hatred/fear to exoticism- is just as painful. Black people understand the language of Civil Rights, and when I think of Pro 8, I serious wonder how well queers of color were active in grass roots leadership and efforts to educate voters, who, upon hearing this framed from our perspective, may have never voted this way! Get it! We're so tired of the assimilationist tune in gay ghettos, and THAT's at least part of the issue here.

[Tanya]

As an African-American lesbian, I am outraged by all the ignorant, straight African Americans that voted for this Proposition. No, it was not just blacks. I am peeved at all ignorant, straight people that voted for this proposition. It is not well covered in the news that issues of sexuality does not get a lot of dialogue in the black community or its churches. I think white gays and lesbians were surprised because of their lack of understanding of the influence of religion on the black community as a whole. It is NOT a progressive religious community, not withstanding all the popular footage of Dr. Martin Luther King's surmons.

All issues of oppression are a civil rights issue. One does not get to choose who to protect from discrimination. I think a lot of African-Americans did not see this as a civil rights issue because, frankly, they do not see gays and lesbians as rightous, moral people deserving of the same God's love as they are. When gays and lesbians are referenced in black churches, in my experience, it is with a condescending tone as if we were some freakish side show that just deserve to be 'prayed for.' Obviously, we would be 'prayed for' because we are gay and lesbian. So, the underlying assumption is that something is wrong with you and the bible is used as back-up.

Of course, we all know the bible has been used for back-up for slavery, oppression of women, and other forms of oppression that are no longer tolerated. But that is almost never discussed at the black churces I've attended. Its a shame really. But, hopefully, what is happening now will expose the ugliness of homophobia within the black church, and other churches. It is not now, nor has it ever been, right to hide behind the bible as a pretext for oppression and intolerance. I wonder if enough theologians of color will have the courage and conviction to step up to the plate on this issue. Or will they dangerously approve seperate treatment of a minority group they do not understand because it is the popular sentiment?

[Britton]

First, the civil rights movement is not the same as the gay and lesbian rights movement. not to say that there is anything wrong with the gay and lesbian movement(because i think it is valid), but to equate it with the civil rights movement is a little ludacris. while i personally do not believe in gay marriage, i don't think it should've been put up to a vote by the population. If all the civil rights laws were put up to public votes, i'm sure many of them would never have been passed into law. often times progression HAS to be mandated before the masses will accept it. i also do not believe it should be banned by the government either. if they want to get married, they should be able to get married. doesn't mean i agree with it, but it's not my life.

secondly, i think this is put up to a public vote purposely because the majortiy of people that are indifferent to the issue won't vote on it, and since the demographic of the gay community is much smaller then the anti-gay marriage, they will never have enough votes to defeat any measure such as proposition 8.

lastly, i feel saddened that the vast majortiy of the posters on this board are blaming the black community(i am black) for prop 8 being passed into law. blacks make up only 6.9 percent of a population of over 38 million. to contrast that, hispanics make up over 35%, whites make up around 58%. so in actuality, if 100% of blacks in california voted yes on the proposition, it would be still be less then if only 1/3 of hispanics and whites had voted for the prop. also if 100% of the black voters voted no on this measure, it still would have passed.
the only thing that this "70% of blacks voting for the measure" shows is that there is still large stigma in our community about homosexuality. but plain and simple the black vote is NOT the reason that this measure passed. just as obama was not elected strictly on the black vote. for any politician, bill, measure, proposition to pass, it HAS to have a majority of the white vote(or hispanic in places such as california, texas, arizona, etc.) to be successfull. posters, please stop blaming the black community for the passing of the proposition. it's a false claim.

[Jay]

@Adam

Today I'm going to choose to be white. Are you going to be a Hispanic today?

"Gay people choose to be gay just as much as you choose your skin to be black."

I choose to be black?!?! I WAS BORN BLACK YOU FREAKIN' IDIOT!!!

I am not going to waste my time with you, or the other stupid people
on this board, because it is a WASTE OF MY PRECIOUS TIME.

LONG LIVE PROP 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAY OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ian]

As someone who has spent a great deal of time studying history, I have to say this -

@Drew and all the rest of you who continue to use the "marriage has been 1 man + 1 women throughout all humanity since the beginning of time" argument to prevent gay marriage: THIS IS FACTUALLY COMPLETELY INCORRECT! Marriage is just a word that we apply to concepts of union that are vaguely similar in other cultures. In fact, the vast majority of cultures throughout history practiced some form of polygamy! That is to say, one man, multiple wives. And even in cultures where monogamous marriage was the norm, it in no way whatsoever resembled today's American concept of marriage. In China, for example, concubines were used to produce children when couple could not. And in Europe, since that is the cultural ancestor of the US, marriage was nothing more than a political tool for the upper class, men were generally at least 15 years older than their teen brides, and went through several wives, as many women died in childbirth. The main point of marriage was to produce children (to work and support the family, if you were lower class, and to inherit, if you were upper class) and gain societal connections. My point is that the modern idea of a monogamous marriage based on romantic love similar to the current Western ideal is something that, at the latest, began in the 1600s-1700s. Furthermore, as in those days, marriage meant a woman's complete subservience to the man, our concept of marriage has further changed. I could go on and on in this vein, but basically the idea that marriage is some sacred unchanged concept that has been upheld by humanity throughout history is completely, utterly false, no matter how many times conservatives say it. Blue, above, says that voters were merely reaffirming "the concept of marriage that has been a cornerstone of our society for eons." Well, maybe they thought they were. But they only thought so because they are told that by conservative pundits, who are completely factually wrong in that claim. Yes, there has been some general concept of a formalized sexual union throughout history. But the idea that that concept has always been one man and one woman marrying for romantic love in the way that Americans currently understand it, is just not correct, factually speaking.

[chris]

So much for coalition building.

Gays will have an opportunity to repay this insult from the African American community as more anti-affirmative action initiatives find their way onto state ballots in the future. Nebraska joined several other states in banning affirmative action. The same ban was narrowly defeated in Colorado.

I bet if it were put to a vote today, the ban in Colorado would pass - I guarantee you that white gays would vote FOR the ban in droves.

I look for more of these anti-affirmative action initiatives to appear on future ballots, and this gay man is planning to ACTIVELY campaign for the ban. Four states currently ban affirmative action. Let's work together to get the number up to 50. Affirmative action does not help White or Asian gays, so there's no reason for us to support this tired old policy that does nothing except promote mediocrity at the expense of competence and excellence.

[B.D.]

I do find this all so ironic. I am a white, straight California male who voted FOR McCain and did NOT vote for Prop 8. What was the title of Michael Moore's bestseller again????

[North Carolinian]

Religious sacraments such as marriage should have no standing in our secular society. The State should only get involved in legal contracts tailored to various needs. One of more of these could deal with household sharing, taxation, power of attorney, estate sharing, children responsibility, social security, etc. Marriage as a religious sacrament should gain no sanction in civil contexts. State-sponsored contracts should be blind to sexual orientation or sex of the individuals involved. Religious contracts would not be the province of the State. This solves everyone's problem.

[reluctantcougar]

In my very humble opinion, the angry comments and emotion directed toward the Black (and Latino to some extent) community herein is misguided. I see the future and the future is the Mormons (United Church of Latter Day Saints). Face it, the Mormons did a better job than the Gay and Lesbian community at reaching the demographic groups blamed for passage of Prop 8, via money and time spent in Black and Latino communities and churches.

I get the sense that the G&L community did not do enough outreach or campaigning in the communities that presented the most resistance to their cause. The Obama campaign did not turn the formerly Red states of PA, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico Blue by accident. Furthermore, since the election of Obama, the Republican Party is desperately looking back in hindsight at where it went wrong and how to regroup and present itself in 2012. The Republicans understand that preaching to the choir (via Sarah Palin) was simply not enough to keep them in power (i'ts the economy, stupid and Bush/Cheney, Iraq and so on...). Having zero strategy plus poor management/planning plus lack of foresight equaled defeat. Raw unbridled emotion, although expressive of our humanity, can cloud sound judgment, logic and clarity of focus. Also, be advised that Mitt Romney may be the face of the Repubs in 2012. You will face even greater challenges should he succeed.

I do not live in Cali so what do I know anyway!? I live in New Jersey and work in a Manhattan (10 minutes away) in a corporate law firm (lowly temp attorney) that is well represented by Gays and Lesbians. I am heterosexual, female, Black, single with no kids and oh yeah--Roman Catholic and a Democrat. I also really like Spin class. Based on all of this, can you, in the words of the eloquent Rachel Maddow, "talk me down?"

[B.D.]

Obviously the blacks and Latinos changed the outcome: The religious right who hyped Prop 8 would STILL have hyped it EVEN IF OBAMA HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING. The "extra" black and Latino voters only voted BECAUSE OBAMA WAS RUNNING. So they and Obama definitely tipped things. To pass the blame is to ignore that blatant reality.

[Dane]

Blacks were denied their rights and the some bad people misused the Bible against them too.

I am sure that the scripture " Slaves, obey your masters..." was used plenty of times as a justification that slavery was okay. But we ALL know slavery IS NOT okay.
Civil rights are civil rights. Gays deserve the exact same protections as straight people in America.
Gays getting married does NOT defile marriage, Divorce does. And I don't see anyone quoting Jesus about that topic!

If the Church and the State are separate, yet share the same powers of GRANTING marriage, one civil, the other religious: then we MUST allow for civil marriage. The Church shall not dictate to the Government nor vice versa.
The Church should never be required to marry gays, True! BUT the State still must be impartial when it comes to civil rights.

The fact is that our government grants favor to people who are married, but will not grant marriage to some because of religious reasons. Civil power is being wielded by misguided religious beliefs. Freedom should not be preferential.

If the government will not recognize marriage for everyone, then it should NOT recognize marriage for anyone!

[Danny L]

And how many of the 70% have friends or family members who are gay. Blacks have gay relationships too. Some say it is black bigotry that passed Prop 8. I say it is black denial.

[Not an Obama lemming]

Shame on the Black+ Hispanic community.
I'm curious how many black voters on the "Down Low" voted for Prop. 8. That would be an interesting poll. I suspect the percentage was high.

[Allan]

To all the people of faith that voted yes, what if I was to say to you that G-d created me as I am, gay and that being gay is not a choice, anymore that having dark skin is the choice of an African American...Sort of undercuts your whole argument, and thus the reason that the religious community always pushes this as a choice, agenda, etc..To all the heterosexuals out there, please define for me that moment in time when you decided to be heterosexual? Perhaps I missed something...

[Dane]

One more question I have for everyone?

Why do we argue that homosexuality is or is not a choice when we discuss marriage rights?
It does NOT matter if being gay is a choice or not in order to deserve equal rights.

It is Against the Law to discriminate on the basis of religion, and what is religion?
Religion is a CHOICE that is protected. So if something is a choice, it does NOT disqualify itself from being a civil right. So please STOP using "gay by choice" as an excuse to deny my rights. Your religious belief is a protected right of choice too.
So many glass houses!

Homosexuals are crying out for equal rights. Blacks sang that song before. Women know that freedom song too.
If a group of individuals are crying out for civil liberties, it is a SURE indicator that injustice is taking place. America has a mandate to answer the cry for "LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL"..

Government needs to stop blurring the lines between religious terms and legal tax status. True Christians need to discern this and pray about it. Ask Jesus why straight couples' taxes and health insurance premiums are lower than ours.
Also ask Him about that scripture concerning the Rapture. You know the one about "...two men will be lying in a bed, one will be taken, the other left." He was talking about the future, was He not? Could it be that God loves His gay children too OR at least 1 out of 2 of them?

And by the way, Jesus didn't busy Himself legislating against the prostitutes and tax collectors of His day.
You modern day Pharisees!

He opened His arms to all, but He was crucified by His own Church for His liberal stance on "Sinners".

True religion is this: "...that you act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." (Book of Micah)
The rest is just filthy rags.