morning after

[jaina]

I woke up this morning, and my first thought wasn't that Obama had won. It was that Prop 8 had passed. Last night, I was so hopeful about the election; today I just feel sick.

I'm sick because 52% of Californians voted to specifically *take away* rights from their fellow citizens, rights that our state Supreme Court said we are *all* entitled to.

(I'm sick because we *can* take away rights with a simple majority vote. What the hell, California? At least Florida had to get to 60%.)

I'm sick because the Yes on 8 campaign was a disgusting, shameful pack of lies and scare tactics, and it WORKED. It worked.

I don't want to hear anything about how we're just "not ready" for it. No. Fuck that. Should we have waited until the South was "ready" for desegregation?

I know that the fight isn't over; I know there are other paths to pursue. I know that minds change slowly, and that we *will* get there someday. But today, I'm sad, sick, and disappointed.

Comments

[blusurfer.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way. What do I say to Jason and Jim? As ecstatic as I was last night over Obama's win, all I want to do right now is cry.

[hollywdliz.livejournal.com]

It makes me ill. But I'm trying to cling to the fact that 48% of Californians voted in favor of same-sex marriage by voting no on Prop. 8. 48%. A few years ago, that would have blown my mind.

We may have lost this battle, but we're going to win the war. They can't hold out forever.

That said, I'm still sick at heart.

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

Agreed on Prop 8.

[aelfsciene.livejournal.com]

I was so elated, so excited when the presidency was called for Obama last night. And then a friend called me to talk about it, and mentioned that 8 was currently passing, and my tears of pride and joy turned into stunned disbelief and despair. I've been reloading results pages over and over again, watching the margin shrink, but the wrong side is still ahead.

I am still tearing up with pride and happiness when I think about Obama and his decisive victory. But I'm tearing up even more about Prop 8, just so shocked and sick that this could happen here, of all places. CA, full of the liberal, gay-loving crazies, right.

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

I think what I was feeling was disgust. I count on California for pushing this country forward and they pushed us back. And it breaks my heart for my friends in California who have to go through it all over again.

But I know this will happen, someday. We just have to keep fighting.

[tristmasjedi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Prop 8 was where we turned our attention after the presidential race was called. Definitely an unpleasant surprise.

[remba24.livejournal.com]

AMEN!!!! This is exactly how I felt! Very bitter-sweet. Like we won but we lost. And while the parts of Obama's acceptance speech I hearch was amazing, I couldn't stop inserting scarcastic comments to myself that what he is saying obviously isn't true if your "different from the majority".
I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this way.

[slyvermont.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about this. What a shame. It's hard to imagine that so many who voted for Obama voted to pass Prop 8. It's a sad sad day when something like this happens.

[rhynndavrie.livejournal.com]

I was flying back last night, as soon as we landed in San Diego I heard that our new President was Barak Obama! Such elation, I've never been quite as proud of my country. Next I immediately asked about Prop 8. *crash* I should have not asked and savored the progress of our nation a bit longer before looking back at the reality of our current situation. However, we are one step further down the road and if we can finally elect a black president we will eventually realize that all people are just people, and there should never be a second class of people with different rights. So I guess celebrate the victories and hope that our judges and lawyers can make headways legally until we can take another attempt at doing the correct thing.

[anomilygrace.livejournal.com]

God, yes. I can't work my mind around how it's Constitutional for a simply majority to take away basic rights.

We're farther than we were - like someone else said, the fact that 48% voted for same sex marriage in the face of such a disgusting campaign is heartening. But we have so, so much farther to go.

It'll be interesting to see the legal battles that result.

[portnoyslp.livejournal.com]

I agree totally. But looking at the exit polls, I can't help but note that voters under 30 were voting no by a large margin...so maybe it's just a matter of time.

[portnoyslp.livejournal.com]

Although I'm a bit more annoyed now that I've found out that more Californians think farm animals should have rights than gay people.

[sirrogue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I find that particularly obnoxious that we get to spend a bazillion dollars on making sure food is comfortable while stripping sentient citizens of their rights.

There is still brief hope; turns out it's not quite over. Per the No on 8 stie, Prop 8 leads by 400K votes, but ~3-4M ballots still haven't been counted, so there's a chance we could still defeat it.

[remba24.livejournal.com]

and there's always the next election where they can vote to repel the amendment also.Although the fact that may be needed is reprehensible. As well as the legal battles, although they may be waiting for a couple of my Supremee court retirements now before bringing it up to that level

[raykel.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. And I'm sad about Arizona, of course, but mostly CA for all the reasons you state.

But what everyone else said about hope, too. Like elbogen and I put in replies to <a href="this post in my journal</a>, change IS coming, and these small wins for their side can't stop it.

[hollywdliz.livejournal.com]

HA!

That "HA!" is bitterly amused. Or amusedly bitter. Or something. Excellent point, at any rate. That's crazy.

[peddler-creates.livejournal.com]

I agree. The yes on 8 campaign was the most shameful thing I have seen in a long time. Using children to help spread a lie is the most reprehensible tactic imaginable.

Get your shit together, California.

[kay-dee70.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was also disappointed in prop 8. It shows people really were easily scared that no on 8 (leaving the law and constitutional as is) would mean their kids would be taught about gay marriage in school.

I hope this gets challenged, because it's friggin unconstitutional, no matter what people feel 'ready' for - as you said.

[kay-dee70.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think my mail-in ballot that was dropped off at about 7:00pm last night has been counted ;) It's not looking good for prop 8 though.

LOL - it is pretty ironic that people are so concerned about their food being comfortable, but screw the basic constitutional rights of PEOPLE.

[mcgregorkenobi.livejournal.com]

And what's so disgusting is that as a teacher we are forbidden by federal law to even DISCUSS marriage, let alone politics, same sex anything, etc. Here in the Central Valley, it came out that our local TV/Radio Station owners only showed the "No on 8" commercials during times with the least amount of viewers...

The California Teacher's Association AND the State Superintendent filmed an amazing commercial stating how we can't say anything, and even pointing out that the person in the commercial is not a teacher, but a professional actress on a set. But, unfortunately it never saw it's targeted audience. I swear... I'm getting out of this area and moving to Santa Cruz.

[mcgregorkenobi.livejournal.com]

Raykel, I hope you don't mind if I use your avatar...because that is EXACTLY what I've been doing all day. (And feel like).

[kay-dee70.livejournal.com]

Yup, I was really happy to see the rebuttal ads with the State Superintendent pretty much point blank stating that the proposition has nothing to do with what is taught in schools. I hoped people would see these ads and have their 'fear' put to rest. I guess not. I was talking this over with my hairdresser a few weeks ago and I was saying 'since when did they start talking about marriage in school in California? Let alone what it means to be gay? I was never taught any of that in school...' Duh, because it's not allowed!

I do think there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not sure how long the tunnel is though.

[raykel.livejournal.com]

I didn't make it. I'm not even sure I remember who did at this point. I think I got it from knitress, but I don't think she made it, either.