Nov 5, 2008 3:15 am US/Central
Nation Watches As Calif. Votes On Gay Marriage Ban
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
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Bob Sodervick holds a gay pride flag outside of San Francisco City Hall June 17, 2008, in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California, took an early lead Tuesday night with absentee ballot returns showing the measure with 56 percent of the vote with 14.8 percent of precincts reporting statewide, according to the Secretary of State's Office.
Proposition 8 Voters under 30 heavily opposed Proposition 8, while voters 65 and over supported the initiative. Age groups in between were split.
The nation has watched California's campaign for and against the measure as a sign of new public attitudes about sexual orientation ans civil rights.
Supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 rallied voters to the polls with prayer services, recorded appeals from celebrities and what was said to be an unprecedented door-knocking campaign on both sides.
The measure seeks to overturn the California Supreme Court decision in June that legalized same-sex marriage. It would change the state Constitution to limit marriage to a woman and a man.
It marks the first time voters have had the chance to ban gay marriage retroactively.
Spending for and against the amendment has surpassed $70 million, making it the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history and the most expensive campaign this year outside the race for the White House.
The election has pitched a coalition of Roman Catholic, Mormon and evangelical Christians against gay rights activists and their allies. The No on 8 campaign has received key endorsements, including those of California's major newspapers, its two U.S. senators and the League of Women Voters. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also opposes Proposition 8.
The Yes side has responded with the organizational might of the state's churches.
Proposition 8's sponsors said they planned to have 100,000 people staffing phone banks and working near polling places on Election Day, compared with 10,000 volunteers working to get out the vote for the No side.
Both campaigns were making extra efforts to court Hispanic and black voters, who are expected to turn out in large numbers for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Polls show they are more inclined than whites and Asians to support Proposition 8.
The vote comes eight years after California voters passed Proposition 22, which amended state law to limit marriage to a man and a woman. The state Supreme Court overturned that law in June, prompting same-sex opponents to seek a constitutional ban.
Thirty years ago, California voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have prohibited gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. The so-called Briggs Initiative failed 58 percent to 42 percent.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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