Proposition 8 is in news. It is the proposition on which the fate of same sex marriages hangs. The California Supreme Court had ruled that banning gay marriages was discriminatory. This led to a national debate over gay marriages, which was naturally politicized also.
Early Poll results show that California is not as progressive and sympathetic to same sex marriages as one would believe. The way California votes would affect a lot of couples and other states as well. Being the largest state it does affect the trend of voting. same sex marriages are however already legal in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
This approval of proposition 8 would mean that same sex marriages would not be valid. This has many gay and lesbian couples in a tizzy. Those who went in for a hurried marriage in the past months are no longer sure about the future of their marriages. They fear that they may be slammed with lawsuits.
The pre poll showed that about 54% voters would be in favor of the proposition. About 45% were against it. This is however only an approximate. It could go either way.
If this proposition goes through it there will be a lot of rejoicing in conservative camps who are against gay marriages.
The way the voting goes in California is very important.
“No one can underestimate the impact of the largest state in the nation treating all of its citizens equally,” said Lorri Jean, head of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center and a leader of the campaign to protect gay marriage rights, speaking before the polls closed. On the other hand, she said, the losing side would be “seriously wounded.”
