Voters Deceived Regarding Prop. 8 in California

QWB received this e-mail from our friends over at the HGLHC, who received it from Lori Jean of the Los Angles LGBT Center. This is one view of what happened in California where voters approved a “gay”-marriage ban. 

From Lori Jean, dated 11/5/2008 

I had hoped never to have to write this email.

Sadly, fueled by misinformation, distortions and lies, millions of voters went to the polls yesterday and said YES to bigotry, YES to discrimination, YES to second-class status for same-sex couples.

As of this morning, more people had voted for Proposition 8 than against it. The Secretary of State’s office has yet to call the race as millions of votes remain to be counted. Thus, the No on 8 Campaign is not calling the race. 

While we do not know what the exact margin will be, we do know that millions of people voted to eliminate the fundamental rights of their neighbors, colleagues, families and friends. 

Yesterday will be judged as a shameful chapter in the history of our state and our nation. While hope overcame fear in the Presidential election, fear reigned supreme for millions of California voters. 

The Yes campaign engaged in the most immoral and reprehensible tactics imaginable. They took $40 million dollars–most of it funded by Mormons at the direction of their Church President–and subjected people in our state to a constant barrage of lies and distortions. The Mormon Church was not alone, however, organizations like Focus on the Family, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Family Association also supported this hateful initiative.

They couldn’t win with the truth so they resorted to something far more sinister. They even stooped so low as to distribute a campaign mailer fraudulently suggesting that President-elect Obama supported their efforts, when they knew for a fact that he had come out in opposition to Proposition 8. 
 
That is clearly the only way these anti-gay extremists could advance their agenda of discrimination and exclusion. Most fair-minded people find such tactics and concepts absolutely repugnant and more would have voted “no” were it not for such a deceptive campaign of scare tactics and lies. 

I am angry and enormously sad. And I’ll have more to say once the No on 8 Campaign calls this race. For now, our legal eagles have filed suit against Proposition 8, which should never have been on the ballot in the first place.

Amidst all the emotions I am feeling today, I am taking heart in the fact that no matter the result of this particular battle, the war is far from over. Of one thing I am certain, the freedom to marry will one day be the law of the land. Our success is inevitable in time. We will work ceaselessly to see that this day comes as soon as humanly possible. 

Sincerely,
Lorri L. Jean
Chief Executive Officer

Also check out, “Prop 8 Should teach “Progressives” A Lesson,” by Mark D. Snyder.