Many California gays and lesbians have voiced anger toward black voters who supported Proposition 8. The measure amended California’s constitution to define marriage in heterosexual terms and reversed a state supreme court ruling which held that prohibiting same-sex marriage denied equal protection to gays and lesbians.
According to exit polls, the measure passed by a vote of 52-48. President-elect Barack Obama, however, won the state by a 20-point margin. 70% of black voters supported the ban. The disproportionate black support for Proposition 8 has led many people to target black voters for criticism. A standard line of critique condemns blacks for favoring a law that discriminates against another vulnerable social group. Holding aside the merits of engaging in such a line of analysis (I have made similar arguments in the past), the exit polls do not provide a rational basis for isolating black voters for disdain. The fact that white gays and lesbians have chosen to fixate upon blacks suggests that their criticism stems from strained relations between white gays and blacks and from distorted expectations about the commitment of blacks to liberal issues.
Although black voters supported Proposition 8 more than any other racial group, polling data do not justify isolating them for a public scolding. First, a majority of voters across the state supported the ban, so targeting one particular group at all is unwarranted. Nevertheless, blacks have received the bulk of public criticism for supporting Proposition 8, even though a majority or near-majority of every other racial group in the state also voted for the measure. 49% of whites, 53% of Latinos, and 49% of Asian Americans voted for Proposition 8. And, except for Asian Americans, these groups represent a much larger share of the California electorate than blacks. In fact, if the share of black votes for the amendment were subtracted from the total number of votes, the measure would still have passed due to the volume of support among other racial groups..
The public outcry likely stems from already strained relations between white gays and lesbians and blacks and from a misunderstanding of blacks’ commitment to progressive and liberal causes. White gay racism and homophobia among black heterosexuals prevent these groups from forming meaningful political alliances. The immediate victims of this problem are black gays and lesbians, who have frequently described their isolation from both communities. While black homophobia is inexcusable and ultimately detrimental to blacks (see Same-Sex Marriage and Racial Justice), blacks and gays will only form viable coalitions if both groups begin to engage in healthy self-criticism and to seek avenues for inter-group understanding. Black gays and lesbians could facilitate this reflection and outreach. According to media accounts, however, the campaign to defeat Proposition 8 failed to draw upon the important resources of black gay and lesbian activists in order to persuade blacks to vote against the measure. The lack of diversity among mainstream gay and lesbian organizations probably explains their failure to engage in necessary community-based advocacy. By contrast, when Senator Obama sought to draw angry (and potentially racially biased) white women back to the Democratic ticket after the divisive primaries, he dispatched prominent female political leaders, including Hillary Clinton, to do the job. Targeted campaigning is a basic dimension of effective political strategies.
Finally, the public criticism of black voters likely rests upon a gross misunderstanding of their political ideology. While black voters tend to support liberal political candidates, they often compromise and prioritize their values to do so. Blacks (and Latinos) are more religious than most voters, and many of them embrace social conservatism; they are anti-choice, anti-gay, and they believe in traditional family relations. Blacks support Democrats, however, due to the party’s relatively stronger record on race-based civil rights and economic justice. As a community, blacks view these issues as more central to their well being than the passage of socially conservative agendas. White evangelicals, by contrast, tend to place social conservatism above economic issues, which explains why they widely embrace Republican candidates. Many other social groups vote in this manner. A large number of white women, for example, support conservative Republicans, and a significant number of white gays and lesbians vote for Democratic candidates but oppose liberal causes such as affirmative action. The passage of Proposition 8 in deeply blue California proves that the recent Democratic surge does not represent an extreme change in the nation's political ideology. Even blue-state voters remain committed to socially conservative politics.
Until white gays and lesbians and black heterosexuals develop sustained political ties and mutual support, they will continue to clash on important social issues. Their respective racism and homophobia, however, form powerful barriers to their political collaboration. Black gay and lesbian political groups, which tend to lack the funding of mainstream organizations, could help to expand black support for pro-gay initiatives. Singling out black heterosexuals for public rebuke, however, will only exacerbate the already delicate relationship between blacks and gays.
Related articles on Dissenting Justice:
Anti-Gay Group Thanks Obama, Seeks to Exploit Black Homophobia to Constitutionalize Bigotry
Split Ticket? What California's Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage Means for U.S. Liberals
Strong Support for California Anti-Gay Measure Proves That Many Blue-State Voters Embrace Red Agendas
According to exit polls, the measure passed by a vote of 52-48. President-elect Barack Obama, however, won the state by a 20-point margin. 70% of black voters supported the ban. The disproportionate black support for Proposition 8 has led many people to target black voters for criticism. A standard line of critique condemns blacks for favoring a law that discriminates against another vulnerable social group. Holding aside the merits of engaging in such a line of analysis (I have made similar arguments in the past), the exit polls do not provide a rational basis for isolating black voters for disdain. The fact that white gays and lesbians have chosen to fixate upon blacks suggests that their criticism stems from strained relations between white gays and blacks and from distorted expectations about the commitment of blacks to liberal issues.
Although black voters supported Proposition 8 more than any other racial group, polling data do not justify isolating them for a public scolding. First, a majority of voters across the state supported the ban, so targeting one particular group at all is unwarranted. Nevertheless, blacks have received the bulk of public criticism for supporting Proposition 8, even though a majority or near-majority of every other racial group in the state also voted for the measure. 49% of whites, 53% of Latinos, and 49% of Asian Americans voted for Proposition 8. And, except for Asian Americans, these groups represent a much larger share of the California electorate than blacks. In fact, if the share of black votes for the amendment were subtracted from the total number of votes, the measure would still have passed due to the volume of support among other racial groups..
The public outcry likely stems from already strained relations between white gays and lesbians and blacks and from a misunderstanding of blacks’ commitment to progressive and liberal causes. White gay racism and homophobia among black heterosexuals prevent these groups from forming meaningful political alliances. The immediate victims of this problem are black gays and lesbians, who have frequently described their isolation from both communities. While black homophobia is inexcusable and ultimately detrimental to blacks (see Same-Sex Marriage and Racial Justice), blacks and gays will only form viable coalitions if both groups begin to engage in healthy self-criticism and to seek avenues for inter-group understanding. Black gays and lesbians could facilitate this reflection and outreach. According to media accounts, however, the campaign to defeat Proposition 8 failed to draw upon the important resources of black gay and lesbian activists in order to persuade blacks to vote against the measure. The lack of diversity among mainstream gay and lesbian organizations probably explains their failure to engage in necessary community-based advocacy. By contrast, when Senator Obama sought to draw angry (and potentially racially biased) white women back to the Democratic ticket after the divisive primaries, he dispatched prominent female political leaders, including Hillary Clinton, to do the job. Targeted campaigning is a basic dimension of effective political strategies.
Finally, the public criticism of black voters likely rests upon a gross misunderstanding of their political ideology. While black voters tend to support liberal political candidates, they often compromise and prioritize their values to do so. Blacks (and Latinos) are more religious than most voters, and many of them embrace social conservatism; they are anti-choice, anti-gay, and they believe in traditional family relations. Blacks support Democrats, however, due to the party’s relatively stronger record on race-based civil rights and economic justice. As a community, blacks view these issues as more central to their well being than the passage of socially conservative agendas. White evangelicals, by contrast, tend to place social conservatism above economic issues, which explains why they widely embrace Republican candidates. Many other social groups vote in this manner. A large number of white women, for example, support conservative Republicans, and a significant number of white gays and lesbians vote for Democratic candidates but oppose liberal causes such as affirmative action. The passage of Proposition 8 in deeply blue California proves that the recent Democratic surge does not represent an extreme change in the nation's political ideology. Even blue-state voters remain committed to socially conservative politics.
Until white gays and lesbians and black heterosexuals develop sustained political ties and mutual support, they will continue to clash on important social issues. Their respective racism and homophobia, however, form powerful barriers to their political collaboration. Black gay and lesbian political groups, which tend to lack the funding of mainstream organizations, could help to expand black support for pro-gay initiatives. Singling out black heterosexuals for public rebuke, however, will only exacerbate the already delicate relationship between blacks and gays.
Related articles on Dissenting Justice:
Anti-Gay Group Thanks Obama, Seeks to Exploit Black Homophobia to Constitutionalize Bigotry
Split Ticket? What California's Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage Means for U.S. Liberals
Strong Support for California Anti-Gay Measure Proves That Many Blue-State Voters Embrace Red Agendas
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