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African Americans and Prop 8
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/70-of-african-a.html
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.
As a Californian who voted for Obama and against Prop 8, this really saddens me. At the same time the country was voting and exorcising some of the demons of racism, bigotry seems to have been exacerbated by a group of people who themselves have been the greatest victims of descrimination: African Americans. By a more than 2-to-1 margin African Americans favored the gay marriage ban.
I see a paradox here that I can't fully reconcile. Those who have been the victims of bigotry now support bigotry in another form. It doesn't make sense.
My heart soars with the victory of President-elect Obama but yet it is tempered by this spectre of descrimination against a group of people who simply want to be accepted.
Can anyone help me to understand this? I have friends and loved ones who are really hurt by this and I can't give them an answer.
-R.L.
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.
As a Californian who voted for Obama and against Prop 8, this really saddens me. At the same time the country was voting and exorcising some of the demons of racism, bigotry seems to have been exacerbated by a group of people who themselves have been the greatest victims of descrimination: African Americans. By a more than 2-to-1 margin African Americans favored the gay marriage ban.
I see a paradox here that I can't fully reconcile. Those who have been the victims of bigotry now support bigotry in another form. It doesn't make sense.
My heart soars with the victory of President-elect Obama but yet it is tempered by this spectre of descrimination against a group of people who simply want to be accepted.
Can anyone help me to understand this? I have friends and loved ones who are really hurt by this and I can't give them an answer.
-R.L.
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Yeah, it's perplexing. As I said in a comment earlier, it's like those people tore down one barrier with one hand while erecting another barrier with the other. It's so backwards, I can't understand it.
These voters are quite literally voting away the oppression of their own people while voting for the oppression of another set of people?! It's so freaking weird. I blame religion.
November 5, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't blame religion exclusively. It's too dismissive and too easy of a cop-out. Lots of white people are religious, too. And they voted 55%-45% against Prop 8.
I'm not naive to think that there isn't an effect from religion, but 70% - 30%? Religious intolerance can't possibly be that deep rooted.
November 5, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sad, perhaps, but not surprising to me.
See Condition, human.
November 5, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of the less appealing things about Obama's victory is his opposition to same-sex marriage. With his statement of opposition during the debate, he sealed his deal with middle-of-the-road Christians (and especially latino Catholics and black Evangelicals)who have harbored visceral repulsion to homosexuality. Arguably, that deal was essential to his victory.
November 5, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
This revelation certainly added much bitterness to an otherwise sweet day for me. Obama himself has not shied away from chastising African-Americans for the considerable homophobia in their communities. As president, I suspect he will continue to do so. Regardless of the underlying reasons for such homophobia, it must be confronted and denounced.
November 5, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
As an Black women who voted for Obama and for Prop 8 I would like to offer a few viewpoints as to why I voted the way I did.
1. Voting for Obama because he is black and so am I was not a main factor in my decision. Sure, I was elated to have that choice but I voted for him because of what he stood for. I voted for him because I am not and have not been for years in agreement with many of Bush's policies.McCain being the Republican he is would continue most of the same policies and Im basically just sick and tired of what is going on. Whites are always quick to say that we (Black Americans) voted for Obama JUST because of his race HOWEVER we have also always voted for whites because that was the only option. To me Obama is just as black as he is white! Whites made up the insane rule that if you have some percentage of black blood you are black! False, you are a product of your parents which makes him black and white.
2. Marriage has always been between a man and a women. Its purpose it to pro-create. You can not pro-create with two people of the same sex. I have nothing against gay relationships. I know people who are gay and I wish them well. We are all entitled to be happy and if that's with two men or two women than that's it. I don't agree that we should alter the meaning of marriage for this purpose. Gays should have some type of recognized union and have the protections that they wish HOWEVER it should NOT be called marriage. I hope that they can come up with something that will allow them equal rights while in a relationship and grant them benefits to support their union BUT it needs to be called something else. If it were called something else, different than marriage ( a union between a man and a woman) then I would have voted No on Prop 8.
November 21, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink