African American voters in California voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8, writing anti-gay discrimination into California’s constitution and banning same-sex marriage in that state. Seventy percent of African American voters approved Prop 8, according to exit polls, compared to 53% of Latino voters, 49% of white voters, 49% of Asian voters.
I’m not sure what to do with this. I’m thrilled that we’ve just elected our first African-American president. I wept last night. I wept reading the papers this morning. But I can’t help but feeling hurt that the love and support aren’t mutual.
I do know this, though: I’m done pretending that the handful of racist gay white men out there — and they’re out there, and I think they’re scum — are a bigger problem for African Americans, gay and straight, than the huge numbers of homophobic African Americans are for gay Americans, whatever their color.
This will get my name scratched of the invite list of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which is famous for its anti-racist-training seminars, but whatever.
Finally, I’m searching for some exit poll data from California. I’ll eat my shorts if gay and lesbian voters went for McCain at anything approaching the rate that black voters went for Prop 8.
Dan, take a look at the numbers. African American votes make up 6.2 percent of the electorate in Cali, so that means there were a LOT of pro-discrimination white voters. And the Yes on 8 fuckwads were funded by the famously white Mormon Church. Let’s put the blame where it belongs — squarely on the Mormons and the Catholics (and I know we both grew up with the latter, but … yeah).
Also, I don’t agree with your premise that there are only a handful of racist white gay men (or dykes, or bi folks, or trans people) in the country. Come on, now. I’m pissed as hell as well at most of our states (and Clinton, for signing that clusterfuck called DOMA) for their discriminatory ways, but I’m not blaming Teh Black People for it.
Please don’t eat your shorts. But if you do, I want video posted on the Slog and Blogtown (and we’ll link to it at the Weekly’s blog too).
Say it brother Dan! I agree – the gay plight, in its modern incarnation, is not totally dissimilar to the black plight 10 or 20 years ago. California is a pit regardless…Hopefully they all stay down there and keep Oregon an oasis.
Also of note, the Bush Sewage Plant and legalizing prostitution measure in San Fran lost handily… *Cancels planned flight to San Francisco*
there’s still many many absentee ballots yet to be counted
Prop 8 is a GREAT thing! All of you people need a fricken reality check! SINNERS!
And for gays to compare themselves to blacks is disgusting! YOU CHOOSE TO BE GAY, blacks don’t choose to be black, but are proud to be!
Atleast all of you disgusting gays are going to HELL!
I love trollage as much as the next troll, but could we please delete the last few messages? I don’t think any of us really need hate-speech in our blog-town.
Hate speech? Nope, just stating the FACTS! It’s funny how anything that goes against “gays” is automatically “hate” speech.
And all this time society has made me think that being a hetrosexual white male, I am responsible for all racism and biggotry in the world.
Also, “suzi”. Please… learn to read:
“African American voters in California voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8, writing anti-gay discrimination into California’s constitution and banning same-sex marriage in that state. Seventy percent of African American voters approved Prop 8, according to exit polls, compared to 53% of Latino voters, 49% of white voters, 49% of Asian voters.”
The whole point is, 70% of all black voters voted for it. While only 49% of white voters did… so, be it whether there are more white/black/green/blue.. the point being… even if you had the exact same amount of black v white voters, you’d likely have the same outcome.
Stop pushing white guilt on everyone.