Measure to repeal anti-same-sex-marriage law fails to qualify for November ballot

A measure to repeal Proposition 8, the anti-gay-marriage initiative, has failed to qualify for the November ballot.

John Henning, who heads a group that sponsored the repeal effort, declined to say how many signatures were gathered since the all-volunteer campaign got underway in late November. He said 694,000 valid signatures were required by Monday.

"There comes a point where the intake of signatures isn't rapid enough to make up your deficit," Henning said. "We started to realize last week that we weren't going to make it."

He said his group, Love Honor Cherish, will work with other activists to put a repeal measure on the November 2012 ballot.

The effort to repeal Proposition 8 this year relied heavily on the Internet. Supporters could download signature-gathering forms and watch videos about how to approach voters.

Henning said he did not regret the effort, despite its failure.

"We have kept this issue in the public's eye for the better part of a year, and the signature gathering in itself was a huge opportunity to talk to the public," he said.

A constitutional challenge of Proposition 8 is pending in federal court in San Francisco. Closing arguments in the case, expected last month, have been delayed because of disputes over the production of documents sought by proponents of the initiative.

Even if the federal challenge succeeds in the lower courts, a repeal measure should be placed on the 2012 ballot, Henning said.

"We have a conservative U.S. Supreme Court, and it is going to be very hard to win that case in the Supreme Court," he said.

-- Maura Dolan

Comments

[MS]

California has already decided on this. Why should we pay for another election on this topic?

[A Concerned American]

GET OVER IT!!! WE the Citizens of have California have already VOTED on this MULTIPLE times......

[uncle_vito]

Gays do not know when they have lost. Just accept it and move to Massachusetts if you want gay marriage. Californians do not want it.

[sanfranciscan]

Good! Californians have already spoken. There's no need to revisit this issue with another proposition battle.

[lcb]

this is, yet, another example of the gay community not really wanting to help themselves achieve equal rights. since the passage of prop 8 the gay community has organized media-savvy, cry-on-cue rallies and talking point sound byte interviews. they've blamed everyone from the Mormons to Black churches for this injustice. but try and get them to sign a petition to get this on the ballot? forget about it.

[Mott]

No surprise that they fail. The pro homosexual movement may be hard at work but we who support the ban are working just as hard to keep it in place. Understand we who support the ban will not give up the fight and we do have the majority on our side who are willing to sign petitions to keep this fight going for as long as it takes to save our country.

[Dave A]

From the article: ""We have kept this issue in the public's eye for the better part of a year, and the signature gathering in itself was a huge opportunity to talk to the public," he said."

This petition was in the public eye? Really? This is the first I've ever heard of their effort to gather signatures. I'd have gladly signed the thing, and I know several others who would have as well. Seems like they didn't try all that hard to me.

[Rebecca]

I think the gay community should stop focusing on being allowed to marry and work on doing to the religious community what they've done to the gay community: if it's not right for one person it's not right for anyone. Make the institution of marriage illegal. You people who claim the gay community will ruin this institution need to take a long hard look at the statistics on marriage. The institution of marriage within the straight community is a joke and it has nothing to do with the gay community!

[Chris]

The thing gays don't get is that they can't have children. Married people get married to form families and that means...voila! children. Gays can only have children via gov't intrusion. Then, you have the spector of straight children being adopted by gays and that's just a bad situation all around. Common sense is what's being attacked here. On the other hand, if gays want to get married, I say...welcome to our misery! You don't know what a good thing you've got!

[Gary Larand Hammontree]

What is the big deal? What difference would it make if to guys married or two women? IT WILL NOT AFFECT MY LIFE IN THE LEAST. I cannot see the controversy. Forty years ago, it was illegal for Whites and Blacks to marry. (Loving v. Virginia) Further, what is equally sad is that of the black population that voted originally, 70% of those voters, voted against the measure. Have Blacks in this country forgotten their struggle for Civil Rights? I am a straight, Caucasian, male. I would never feel threatened, nor resentful for having the intelligence, compassion and moral awareness, to attest to my commitment to Freedom for All. That is why we live in the United States of America, isn't it?

[Chloe]

The civil rights movement was for naught. The Constitution of the United States gives certain inalienable rights which have been thrown to the wayside in favor of fearmongers who wallow in their own interpretation of the good book. All the religious and uneducated people out there that want to exclude a certain group because it makes them uncomfortable should go all the way and take away simple rights for all those that make them uncomfortable. Stop being hypocrites and show your true colors!

[Tamie Arcos]

Wow, it's sad to see so many people against social progress and allowing the same rights to everyone. You think the homosexual community has no will power? You're wrong to be so ignorant as to follow what only the media portrays. They have not given up. It feels as if America is not moving forward and we cant when we still have social inequality existing. And why should homosexuals do anything for the religious community when they're the ones that are making these people feel oppressed and like outcasts? I'm sorry to tell you but same-sex marriage will be allowed one day, so those of you who oppose it will have to move, which would be better for everyone. We need more open-minded, tolerant people in this country.

[wendel]

love is strong as death jeolosy crule as the grave if a man tried to purchase love threre house would be utterly condemed

[STEVE]

POOR LOST SOULS.. VERY SAD HURTING PEOPLE..BIG HOLE IN THEIR HEARTS.

[sadtruth]

Amen...Nothing happens in this day and age without the consent of the Almighty. Those who know of what I speak can agree on this one. There's is a spiritual warfare out there and this time we won. Not that we won but God put HIS hand against this ruling. We already spoke that we didn't want homosexual marriages here in California and many christians prayed about it since the first time it was overturned even after we voted no on this measure. So praise be to God for not allowing gay marriages in California as well as other states....

[t]

MS.... because your obligated to by california law.

Its honestly a generational thing... all the current generation has to do is wait for the older generation to die off, and gay marraige will happen.

Don't like it... well tough ..... start looking for an immortality drug that'll keep your opinions alive.

[Adam]

MS: Because it's unconstitutional, that's why. The Founders of this country made it very clear that individual rights should not hinge on a popular vote.

[Honestrob]

I am so disappointed in God's followers.

How many of you so called "religious" folk actually follow the good book's teachings?

Remember - do unto others.
Those who support discrimination in any name shall reap what they sow.

I pray to God this comes back to you on judgment day.

[rmh]

Good! It's Un-American to go against the majority and keep voting until you get your way. Can you imagine if McCain could have kept revoting until he was President? The people have spoken. Californians are moral after all! ;)

[Zach]

RMH, you needn't imagine, people CAN keep revoting on McCain, like gay marriage, if someone puts him on the ballot for the next election cycle. Obvious oversights in facts and logic like this make me really worry about this country. People don't actually ask themselves whether what they think is true or whether it makes sense. "If it feels good, believe it," seems to be the new mantra of the American voter. Sad.

[kuruc]

the gays better start having children, otherwise they face extinction.

[Lucy]

Deport the Mormons from California! Problem solved.

[Jim Glass]

Kuruc, how ignorant can you be? A certain percentage of the population will always be gay....it's not a choice, you are born that way. I knew when I was 5 years old that I had a certain feeling for men I didn't have for women. It depresses me to read the comments made here, but I know that in the end, same-sex marriage will be allowed some day, just as we have made progress on other civil rights issues. And keep God out of the argument; you can believe whatever you want privately, but religious arguments have no place in what is a civil law issue. If it did, we would ban divorce.

[God's Child]

Stop It, Californian has spoken twice already. Just leave California and give us a quite State.

[Gary L. Hammontree]

Where in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights or the Constitution, does it say that we should deny civil rights to anyone? The very idea that one would, negates our country, our way of life and our heritage. I am a straight, caucasian male, who has no problem with allowing ANY citizen the civil rights freely enjoyed by every other citizen in this country. That by the way, IS ILLEGAL and abhorent, in the supposed "land of the free. Worry about your own life, treat everone with the respect that you, yourself expect, or admit your bigotry to all.