Prop 8

Focused beyond marriage

Prop. 8 supporters shrewdly warned of implications for schools, churches and children, analysts say.

November 06, 2008|Dan Morain and Jessica Garrison | Dan Morain and Jessica Garrison are Times staff writers.

LOS ANGELES--"The measure on the ballot was only 14 words long -- a simple statement that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

But supporters of Proposition 8, in what political analysts said was an extremely effective strategy, made the race about much more than that.

They were able to focus the debate on their assertion that without the ban, public school children would be indoctrinated into accepting gay marriage against their parents' wishes, churches would be sanctioned for not performing same-sex weddings and the institution of marriage would be irreparably harmed.

Supporters of gay marriage, along with political leaders including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco) and the state's superintendent of public instruction, denounced those messages as scare tactics, but they were not able to sway voters. Preliminary returns showed Proposition 8 passing 52% to 48%.

"It was masterful of the campaign to raise the implications of what it could mean in terms of the school system," said Republican political consultant Wayne Johnson. He said voters may have started out "thinking that as long as it doesn't affect me, do what you want" but the supporters shifted the focus to children.

In the wake of the vote, gay couples and their supporters mourned, held rallies, including one in West Hollywood on Wednesday night, filed legal challenges and, in some cases, rushed to the county recorder's office to tie the knot before the state stopped allowing it. The Los Angeles County registrar-recorder stopped issuing same-sex marriage licenses Wednesday afternoon.

At the West Hollywood rally, which drew thousands to San Vicente and Santa Monica boulevards Wednesday night, demonstrators vented their frustrations and cheered when passing cars honked in support. While officers were shutting down streets for the rally, a deputy was accidentally struck by a pickup and suffered minor injuries.

For many demonstrators who had backed Barack Obama for president, Tuesday's elections brought mixed emotions.

"I felt happy and then I felt crushed," said Chris Thurman, 24. He and another friend, 29-year-old T.J. Prokop, carried signs depicting separate straight drinking fountains and gay drinking fountains, a reference to the racially segregated South in the pre-Civil Rights era.

Demonstrator Chris Moll, 35, who was married in October and was carrying his 18-month-old daughter, Ella, in his arms, said the election did not alter his feelings about his marriage."

Opposers 'played dirty' when they brought children into the argument. Parents began to worry that the new laws would be added into the school curriculum meaning that their children would essentially learn to accept gay marriage (a step in the right direction) even though it may go against their personal and religious beliefs. Personally, I think this is ridiculous because there is supposed to be a separation between the church and state. A family or individual does not have to agree with same-sex marriages, but they should be informed and because homosexuality is not a choice, you can never be too sure what your child's future holds. That would be like saying you want your child to grow up racist because that's what you're family believes in. I also found it sad that couples felt they had to rush to get married just incase their rights were revoked. It is wrong to me that they were given the right and then it was taken away! It was an enormous feat when gay Californians were able to legitimize their marriages and a few months later, it was taken away because people were afraid of the change and the "what-ifs." In order to continue moving forward, we must continue to make changes.