Originally published on March 9, 2000.
As many people in the community had anticipated, Proposition 22, which limited the definition of “marriage” as a union between only a man and a woman, passed with an overwhelming majority in last Tuesday’s election primary.
Last count of the ballots projected a roughly 62 percent YES vote versus a 38 percent NO vote.
Many viewed the law as a moral outrage — right up there with the miscegenation and exclusion laws of our country’s past — while others embraced the possibilities of a “yes” vote in Tuesday’s election as a way to “protect the sanctity” of marriage.
Proponents of the measure raised $10 million as opposed to nearly half that raised by anti-Proposition 22 groups. Shane Snowdon, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resources Coordinator at UCSF, told Synapse:
“There may be some folks out there who voted for Prop 22 without realizing that it’s a slap in the face to lesbians and gay men. But I think the sad fact is that most of its supporters meant to send the message that lesbian and gay relationships aren’t legitimate and don’t really matter — Prop 22 shows how many people still view lesbians and gay men as second class citizens. We’ve got to keep working to reach these people — and we’ve got to remember how many folks voted on the right side because of our hard work!”
