Gay Marriage Bans Pass In CA, FL, AZ

Three states voted to officially ban gay marriage yesterday. The most well-publicized of the bans was California's Proposition 8, which according to the LA Times "was the most expensive proposition on the ballot in any state this year, with more than $74 million spent by both sides." Prop 8 passed yesterday with 52% of the vote.

Exit polls indicate that African-Americans overwhelmingly supported Proposition 8, leading to speculation that high black turnout inspired by Barack Obama's historic candidacy may have contributed to the referendum's passage.

Florida and Arizona -- the other two states whose voters approved constitutional bans -- already had laws on the books defining marriage as between a man and a woman. But California had legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year when the state Supreme Court overturned the ban California voters approved back in 2000. During the five months same-sex marriage was legal in the state, thousands of gay couples, including celebs Ellen DeGeneres and George "Mr. Sulu" Takei, availed themselves of their newfound right. State Attorney General Jerry Brown has said those marriages will remain legally valid despite yesterday's vote.

A coalition of activist groups has already filed suit challenging the validity of the ballot initiative.

-- Evie Stone

5:27 PM ET | 11- 5-2008 | permalink

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