bad news for gay marriage; good news for abortion rights

On such a historic day, one on which so many barriers and prejudices have been broken down, it is sobering to remember that this is also the day when one minority group in America has had significant rights revoked. Three states (Arizona, California, and Florida) had proposals to ban gay marriage on the ballot this year. All three passed. Arkansas residents also approveda proposition prohibiting gay couples from adopting children. The most depressing one, of course, is California where so recently the California Supreme Court passed a ruling to extend equal marriage rights to gay couples. Just a few days ago, LaDoris Cordell, a black lesbian contributor for Salon, wrote a column expressing faith that, despite historic levels of homophobia (and hope on the part of the pro-Proposition 8 movement that the "Obama Effect" would help pass the measure), "black voters, I predict, view same-sex marriage as the constitutional guarantee that it is." This does not appear to have been the case. 70% of black voters in California voted to ban gay marriages compared to 49% of white voters. Homophobia runs rampant in this country regardless of race, but it still appears to run stronger still in many minority communities. These are prejudices that leaders, both black and white, must work to change in the coming months and years.

On a brighter note, Roe v. Wade had a better time of it last night. Both refernda proposing to ban abortion (one in Colorado and one in South Dakota) were (relatively) soundly defeated. And the proposition in California to require parental notification (although not consent) 48-hours prior to performing an abortion on a minor was also rejected by voters.

The case for euthanasia was also advanced last night; Washington passed (59% to 41%) a proposition permitting doctor-assisted suicide which would allow terminally ill, adult residents to request and self-administer lethal medications prescribed by a physicain as long as the person is deemed to have six months or less left to live.