Today is a very sad day for gay rights in this country. Although the Democratic coalition has held together to elect Democratic majorities in the Senate and House, and placed a Black president in the White House, in California a significant part of this coalition turned on another part and voted to strip away its rights.
According to exit polls, Black Californians voted 2-to-1 to strip fellow liberal-Democrats of same-sex marriage rights, while Hispanics, Asians and Whites voted down the middle. I am appalled at this. I am furious. And I am seething.
Before the election, I had read reports that if Obama were to win, conservatives would use it as a reason to end affirmative action. I did not and still do not agree with this. I don't think just because a Black man is president means that we should end affirmative action.
But I do think that what the 2/3 of blacks did to the gay segment of the liberal-Democratic coalition is absolutely inexcusable. America has always been about coalition politics. Groups of different interests band together to mutually support one another's interests. Environmentalists, ethnic minorities, gays, unions, teachers, religious moderates, secularists and myriad other groups form a grand coalition. Protecting polar bears is not my main reason for interest in politics, but I am willing to protect them and have environmentalists protect me from religious nutcases who want to take away my rights. We need to work together. That is a major tenet of coalition politics. It has been proven in this election that when we work together, we can achieve so much.
But now the first shot has been fired. If Blacks will not play in the sandbox of coalition politics, then it is time for gays also to walk away.
As of today, I cease all support for affirmative action. I also cease support for analogous federal minority-business-promotion programs. I will resume my support for these programs when and if Blacks get back in the sandbox.