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Loading ...Polls Show Anti-Gay Amendments Gaining In FL, CA
10.09.2008 5:33pm EDT
(Washington) New polls in both Florida and California show that support for constitutional amendments barring same-sex marriage is gaining strength.
In Florida, a Mason-Dixon poll found that 55 percent of likely voters supported the gay-marriage amendment, while 34 percent were against it. Eleven percent were undecided.The poll indicates that support comes close to the 60 percent threshold needed to pass, indicating it will be those voters who currently are undecided who will tip the balance.
"There just seems to be the trend where the undecided voters just sort of fall down on the anti-gay side," Mason-Dixon polling director Brad Coker told the Orlando Sentinel which sponsored the survey.
Florida already has a law restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples, but supporters of the amendment say the law could be overturned in court.
Opponents say in addition to barring gay marriage it would bar civil unions and would be used to deny partner benefits not only to same-sex couples but also to unmarried couples who live together.
Yes2Marriage, the group backing the amendment, called the assertion it would impact opposite-sex unmarried couples a red herring.
The Mason-Dixon poll of 625 registered voters had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
In California, a Survey USA poll taken for four TV stations across the state, showed that there has been a shift to support for a similar amendment. The survey found that 47 percent of likely voters would support the measure, known as Prop. 8, with 42 percent opposing it.
The poll is the first in California — one of two states which allow same-sex marriage — to show there is enough support to pass the amendment.
The survey, however, used what is regarded as a small sampling and was taken shortly after supporters of the proposed amendment launched a major ad campaign in the state.
Nevertheless, opponents of the amendment said they were being outspent in advertising and launched a major appeal for money.
A considerable amount of support on both sides is coming from outside California.
This week senior elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a televised appeal from Salt Lake City for 30 members from each California congregation to donate four hours a week to the anti-gay marriage campaign.
They also called on young married couples and single Mormons to use the Internet by text messaging and blogging to help pass the initiative.
The third state where a proposed amendment to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples is on the November ballot is Arizona.
A poll earlier this month found that 49 percent of those polled support the amendment while 42 percent are opposed. Ten percent are undecided.
Robert,
The court did not actually reject the claim regarding constitutionality of the amendment only not to consider it at the time because of the following previous key ruling of the court:
* The courts will not intervene prior to an election to settle the issue of constitutionality (Brosnahan v. Eu, 1982).
Hope that clears it up.
Thanks Babs. Glad you didn’t wait until there were 3 weeks before the vote to hold a fundraiser.
…. Oh wait, she did.
NEW: Barbra Streisand is honorary chair of Oct. 21 fundraiser in Beverly Hills to gather funds for “No. on 8″. Melissa Etheridge will perform.
Morgan,
For those who can afford it, I would recommend Cape Town as well. Physically, it has been compared to Sydney and San Francisco. But I think the “Mother City” has a unique energy you just don’t find in the West. Due to the efforts of Mandela and Tutu, the legal situation for gays is comparable to Western Europe. And Cape Town, in particular, is very liberal.
Besides, South Africa is basically your only chance to see this fascinating continent without being harassed by small-minded dictators and their homophobic minions. I’ve always wanted to see Egypt, for example, but the creepy Islamic fundamentalism has kept me away.
John, I have been to Canada any number of times adn I won’t hesitate to take my vacation dollars there or elsewhere. I have good friends in Nova Scotia and I’ve beeen to Victoria and Vancouver Island in British Columbia. These are great places to vacation and I recommend them. I have been to Iceland and to Scandinavia and Finland, Switzerland and Germany. Nice, advanced and officially gay-friendly countries.
If USA goes totally sour, I’ll take my vacation dollars out of the USA when I have time and money to do so.
Connecticut just bacame the 3rd gay marriage state in the USA this morning, way to go Connecticut! (my birthsate)
JManSF…
Thank you for your post. It gave me hope. But then I remembered that a gay group in CA already tried to get the Supreme Court to throw the amendment out, claiming that it was a constitutional revision, and the court rejected that claim.
The Governator did speak publically about the decision the following day after the California State Supreme Court issued it’s ruling on same-gender marriage. Here’s a quote from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Not too bad, considering.
California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Forget Obama making comments… what about Arnold Schwartzenneger? For months I’ve read that he pledged himself to fight this amendment, and to date I have not heard or read of him making a single statement against the amendment. Where is he?
How would you heterosexuals feel if WE were voting YOUR rights away? Such a simple thing, humanity. Why must we make anyone different the “bad other” … so childish. “Tick tock, the game is locked, no one else can play but us. If they do, we’ll take off our shoe. …” ha!
If you don’t believe in gay marriage, DON’T HAVE ONE! Leave the rest of us in peace. It is hard to understand that the so-called churches are teaching such terrible lessons to their sheep – but I guess it keeps them under control – right where the church wants them. Makes things so much easier when someone tells you how to think, eh? Baaaaaaa.