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Loading ...Poll: Calif. voters oppose gay marriage ban
08.28.2008 9:20am EDT
(Sacramento, California) A majority of California voters oppose a ballot initiative to ban gay marriage, though they are evenly split on the practice itself, according to a poll.
The ballot question essentially will ask voters to prohibit the practice of same-sex marriage, which was approved this year by the California Supreme Court.The discrepancy between voters’ general attitudes against gay marriage and their position on banning it could be explained by a hesitancy to remove a constitutional right, said Mark Baldassare, president and chief executive of the Public Policy Institute of California, which conducted the poll.
A majority of likely voters, 54 percent, oppose ending gay marriage, compared with 40 percent who support it, the poll said. The result is similar to the findings of a Field Poll in July, which found that 51 percent of likely California voters opposed ending gay marriage, while 42 percent said they supported it.
But when it comes to general attitudes about gay marriage, voters in the Public Policy Institute poll are evenly split, at 47 percent for and against – as they have been for the past three years.
“It’s early in the campaign season, and in the end the vote on this measure…could be hard to predict,” Baldassare said. “Overall views on gay marriage have not budged.”
The Public Policy Institute began asking voters how they feel about gay marriage in 2000, the year voters approved an initiative to ban same-sex marriage but did not enshrine it in the Constitution. That year, the poll found 55 percent opposed to gay marriage and 38 percent in favor.
In May, the state Supreme Court ruled the 2000 initiative unconstitutional, opening the door to same-sex weddings throughout the state.
The new poll indicates that those opposed to gay marriage will have to mobilize voters if they are to be successful in November, Baldassare said.
“The burden is always on the yes side to convince people there is good reason to vote for the measure,” he said.
The institute surveyed 2,001 California residents, including 1,047 likely voters, in English and Spanish from Aug. 12 to 19. The poll has a margin of error of 2 percentage points for all residents and 3 percentage points for likely voters.
SW you are correct that trapping opposite-sex couples in legal relationships would not help recognize same-sex relationships. But, if opposite-sex couples had to wait for 10, 20 or 55 years before their relationships would be recognized, they might understand the life long commitment of marriage. A 50%+ divorce rate doesn’t speak highly of their understanding of commitment.
If the straights are going to tell me that I can’t get married, I want to tell them they can’t get divorced; what’s good for the goose is good for the gander
Guy, Theo,
Trapping people in legal relationships will not help our relationships be legally recognized. It will help theocratic Christian restorationists (Christian Nationalists) advance their agenda against us.
Divorce is clearly against biblical principals; Jesus did make that clear; I’m willing to get petitions signed to outlaw divorce if Prop 8 passes
If Proposition 8 is approved by the California electorate I would support a constitutional amendment to make divorce illegal and divorces performed in other states would not be recognized in California. Isn’t until death do we part part of marriage vows?
La Cage aux Folles in real life!!
“…Drop your Bibles and step away from the religion.”
Memorize that phrase. Rrepeat it to your friends and enemies. The only chance we have of ridding society of Religions ‘political’ influence is by exposing it bare for the fraud that it is.
I promise not to step in their houses of ‘war-ship’ so they must promise to stay out of the governance of my country
I agree with Jeff. If the religious right is successful with going after the rights of gays, who will become the next target? Will you be included in their campaign to install a “sense of morality” to government? Will you be a member of the next group singled out for “saving ” their souls? Will you be the next person in their crosshairs? Will you be the next to suffer the “tyranny of the majority”?
It is unfortunate that many people don’t have a problem taking away the rights of others when they themselves are not affected. Of course that attitute is a slippery slope because some day someone will try to take away a right that they enjoy and they will be at the mercy of the ignorant and the bigoted. People in California need to be reminded of how the right-wing demagogues and the republicans in power tried to take away the right of Terry Schiavo to die with dignity in Florida. They tried to take away the right of a husband to make the incredibly personal family decision for his wife and substitute the right of the government to interfere in private family matters. That failed attempt, if successful would have affected every living person in this country eventually.
The pious will never stop at taking away just one group’s rights. If they are successful at taking away one groups’ rights they will then move on to the next group and try to take away their rights. People in California need to seriously ask themselves what if this were happending to me ? What if this were happening to my son ? my daughter ? my grandchild ? my friend ? The right-wing will never stop in the pursuit of attempting to subtitute their moral law for the law of the land and the wisdom of our founding fathers. It is hard for the ignorant and the bigots to empathize with others and they are a lost cause. But the fair minded can be presented with a logical and emotional argument and be swayed. It would be wise for those in California who do not wish to see their rights taken away to focus on those voters. Gays and lesbians in the rest of the country would also be affected by a loss in California. It is absolutely critical for California to defeat this awful, mean-spirited, anti-American amendment.
Well not to rain on anyone’s Gay Pride Parade but you really can’t have any confidence in this poll for the reasons stated in the article. The respondents who answered ‘opposed’ were lying to the pollsters because they didn’t want to seem like the Ogres they really are. California will likely pass the Amendment by 55-60%. Sorry kids, homophobia is built into the minds of straight idiots. Unfortunately they are also the majority of Californian and US voters. Say ‘bye-bye’ to your rights.
This is good news. People are not going to readily take away someone’s rights. Religious right voters certainly are eager to but a cool head and sound reasoning should hopefully win this day come November. Remember: Arizona needs your help, too. Vote No on Prop 102!
http://www.votenoprop102.com/web/index.php