I am going to make this blunt and to the point. I am not going to argue as a Black Evangelical Native of Southern California who knows that California has a long and successful history of intentionally wording Propositions that are placed on California ballots in such a confusing manner that many who vote for them think they are voting against them , with those who are blaming my community for the passing of Prop 8.
I am not even going to be discouraged or offended by the outright racist attacks against Blacks and Latinos as a result of one retarded Exit Poll on Daily Kos recced up by many angry Progressives because I know their knee jerk reaction is 95% pure pain and they don't realize they are being racist right now. But what I will do is point out a few FACTS that those who are blinded by their anger and shock right now that one of our most Liberal states in the Union would reject the rights of Gays to be married, are not considering.
I will not respond in anger because I understand their pain ironically because I am an Evangelical African American. But I will remind those who have rationalized losing one small battle in the fight to obtain equality for all Americans , that blaming African Americans and Latinos based on one retarded exit poll designed to destroy the unity that was achieved during this entire campaign is a dangerous attempt at scape goating. Blacks and Latinos did not put Prop 8 on the ballot.
Blacks and Latinos did not fund Prop 8. As a matter of fact according to record, in "2000, voters passed a law stating that marriage between a man and a woman was the only legal kind of marriage in California. In a May 2008 ruling, the California Supreme Court said the State Constitution gives same-sex couples the right to marry." The origins of Prop 8 began 8 friggen years ago. Before Barack Obama was known. Before Barack Obama "galvanized the Blacks" to come to the polls. How did it pass the first time ?
Here's some more history:
On May 15, 2008 the California Supreme Court, by a vote of 4-3, ruled in that case to strike down Proposition 22 and all other prohibitions on same sex marriage as of June 17, 2008. The court subsequently refused to issue a stay of its order. While the case was underway, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed two legislative bills approving same sex marriage. Anticipating that either the courts or the legislature might overturn Prop 22, opponents of same sex marriages introduced several attempts to place a constitutional amendment before voters that would prohibit same sex marriages and, in some cases, domestic partnerships as well. Prior to 2008, none had made it to the ballot.
The TRUTH is that the battle for Equal rights for the GLBT Community has been a war that this state has been fighting for YEARS. This is not new. This is not the end of the story. This is nothing to do with Blacks and Latinos. This battle will continue to be fought in the state of California for a long time and it will take ALL Progressives in that state working together. I have always maintained that when it comes to Equality, I am PRO-BIG FEDERAL Government because I don't trust individual states to do the right thing on this particular subject. And this is just another reason why.
I will say one last thing. I do not and will not ever blame White Americans for any Propositions or Ballot Measure that strike down Affirmative Action such as the one in Nebraska that just passed. I will not accuse Whites of being racist because of the choices of California, Washington State and Michigan to ban Affirmative Action. I'm upset, but I wont lash out at Whites over it. I've been in the battle for Equality long enough to know full well that you don't attack people who you want on the battlefield with you. It kind of f***s up the overall troop moral.
Ya know ?
SOURCE FOR QUOTES