39-61. 61-39.

[Jed Dilligan]

Those were the margins by which the youngest voters in California voted no on Prop 8, and by which the oldest voters voted for it.

Hang tight, everyone. Change is coming. We will be burying those bigots soon enough. We just have to make sure that the next generation continues to become more and more accepting of gays.

It's a tough blow, but remember that there wasn't even a gay rights movement 65 years ago, when that 61% yes demographic was born. People black and white have been fighting for African-American equality since the 1700s. I'm only 34, and even I can remember a time when straight people simply did not care about or fight for the rights of gays. This legislative setback (which will be struck down in court) comes in the midst of the greatest advances toward acceptance of LGBT people in American history. It is not a victory at all, but a vicious rearguard effort by people who know they are dying out. Their attempts to capture the youth are pathetic, desperate, and ultimately doomed.

The kids get it. They will keep getting it no matter how much hot air gets blown in the churches.

[Whalestoe]

1. Fuck those older voters.

This is bullshit. I'm gonna write a Prop so they can't be married anymore. I'm 19 and my friends and I find the fact that CA voted YES offensive.

[Jed Dilligan]

3. Just breathe. Give them time, and they will die.

Time is always on the side of progress.

[Le Taz Hot]

23. Jesus fucking christ!

You did not just say that!

God damn that was ugly!!!!!

[FiveGoodMen]

25. Ugly as denying people their rights for no reason?

People who would do that can't die soon enough for me!

[Jed Dilligan]

26. It's just true--accept it. If it wasn't for death,

Congress would still be full of slaveowners.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. "I'm gonna write a Prop so they can't be married anymore."

I feel better knowing there are people like you and your friends involved in politics!

Thank you!

[Whalestoe]

11. That's how I try and explain to EVERYONE why they

shouldn't have voted for Prop 8. It's a disgusting, dangerous line we're walking on to vote against another person's rights in my opinion.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. I agree, which is why I think Prop Hate will be overturned by a court ...

... not swayed by a barrage of hateful commercials or unduly influenced by a rich church.

[Whalestoe]

13. I really hope you're right.

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Think about it.

taxpayers--citizens--of CA have already been married.

What will Prop Hate do regarding their marriages? It cannot retroactively take that right away from them! And what about someone else who also now wants that right? Prop Hate cannot deny it for them, when the state has already given it to others.

Prop Hate has opened a can of worms.

[Whalestoe]

17. HEY! Good point.

You rock.

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Have faith. CA's justice system has not yet been fully tainted by the Federalist Society. n/t

[Bicoastal]

2. I sometimes forget how big an influence California is on the rest of the country...

People are talking about this Proposition like its a national referendum. Personally, I think the California Justice Dept, or perhaps the US Supreme Court (with new judges appointed by President Obama) will strike it down.

[Jed Dilligan]

4. Since it is an issue of the California constitution,

the California Supreme Court will lay it to rest shortly. I don't know if they can appeal it to SCOTUS, since they didn't last time.

[Jane Austin]

5. Maria Teresa Petersen said yesterday on MSNBC

that 50,000 young Latinos turn 18 every month in America.

That change is coming and those young Latinos were crucial in our vicory yesterday.

[Arugula Latte]

7. There is a conflict, though, because many of them are Catholic ...

I'm not saying all Catholics are anti-gay (and gawd knows most of the priests are gay), but if they're traditional Catholics they're likely to vote against gay rights, no?

[Celeborn Skywalker]

29. I don't think it works that way.

I could be wrong, but in my experience even religious young people are relatively supportive of gay rights. I have a few fundie acquaintances that are 21 and while they are batshit insane on most issues, they don't seem to have an issue with gay equality.

Also,I hang out mostly with Hispanic Catholics that are in the 18-25 year old age range, and I would say about 75% are pro gay equality. On the issue of choice, it's much more divided.

[Arugula Latte]

30. Okay, that's good that the young ones seem open to gay rights.

Hopefully we'll start to see many reversals of this horrible legislation after some time has passed...I hope it is not decades.

[JVS]

6. It isn't just the oldest voters that made it pass. 30-44 went for prop8.

[Jed Dilligan]

8. True, but as the oldest bigots die, a less bigoted cohort replaces them.

Every age group showed less support than the age group directly ahead of it. There's no reason to assume that the next generation of 18-29 year olds will be more bigoted, or that the current crop will become bigots as they age. So, like I said, time is on our side.

[GreenFiles]

10. I'm saddened by the results.

But I am more resolute than ever. This must be undone.

[kestrel91316]

18. We passed a constitutional amendment - we can repeal that amendment.

And so we have our task cut out for us each and every election until it is repealed.

[Greg K]

27. And THEN California needs to make it so that it takes more than a simple majority vote

to amend the Constitution.

[uppityperson]

14. My "elder" friends/family in CA are appalled that it is even an issue.

New bigots are born all the time, old bigots die all the time. Not all of the "oldest" are bigots. Only 60% of the youngest aren't.

This should not be an issue, keep working and eventually we will get there.

[Jed Dilligan]

15. It's all about the numbers. I'm not one of those who believe in

redemption for racists or bigots. If the bigots die off faster than they can be reproduced, one day... no more bigots.

[Le Taz Hot]

20. Link?

[Jed Dilligan]

21. Here

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1

[Le Taz Hot]

22. Thanks!

They're not available from the S.O.S. site yet.

[Jed Dilligan]

24. I don't know if S.O.S. reports exit polls.

[Le Taz Hot]

28. They don't.