Ya know how everyone blamed The Blacks for the passage of Prop 8 in California? Maybe it’d be wiser to blame The Dumbs. Or, to be fair, The Less Educateds.
Because it’s a person’s education level that’s the best identifier to predict if someone supports same-sex marriage. Just how much better is education versus race in this matter? A whopping 500 percent better, according to a new University of Florida study that polled Florida residents.
The conclusions is valuable no matter what state you live in. In Florida, the research gets tied to Amendment 2, where 62 percent of Florida voters chose to amend the state constitution limiting marriage to one man and one woman. Relays the Gainesville Times:
Controlling for political and socioeconomic factors [Ed: Whatever this means!], the study found each additional 1 percent of a county’s population with bachelor’s degrees correlated with a 1 percent decrease in support for the amendment. In comparison, each 1 percent increase in a county’s black population led to two-tenths of a percent increase in support.
[…] After the 2008 election, exit polls done for CNN lent credence to the belief that newly registered Obama voters helped pass Amendment 2. The polls found 71 percent of black voters supported the ban, compared with 60 percent of white voters. The disparity was even more pronounced between young black and white voters.
[The study’s co-author Dan Smith, a political science professor,] questioned those results, saying the polls had a margin of error of more than 10 percent.
“They’re not sampling enough,” he said.
Daniel
Um… 18% of Americans think the Sun goes around the Earth… it is not surprising that dumb people cannot uphold Equal Protection under Law, a requirement of sustaining a democracy. Most cannot even explain the concept. The Founders said this would happen; the country would forget the “sacred principle” of equal rights for all, as Founding Father Thomas Jefferson put it.
daftpunkydavid
in answer to “Controlling for political and socioeconomic factors [Ed: Whatever this means!]”… idk if you meant this in the usual snark i’ve come to like, but this means that you don’t compare two people who don’t have comparable political and socioeconomic factors, i.e you can only compare such pairings as educated & poor vs poor & less educated; or republican & educated vs republican & less educated…
Lloyd Baltazar
The bad thing about this argument is an OVERWHELMINGLY amount of Blacks supported the proposition 8… if that is an education-level issue among the blacks, the blame does not easily get taken away from them.
no i am not being racist. I am just pointing out the statistics that DO SHOW an overwhelmingly amount of Black people that voted against proposition 8. that fact CANNOT be ignored.
Yes, I do recognize that people with a lower-level of formal education and strong ties to the Christian religions also support prop 8
dgz
“US Americans can’t find America on a map, because many Americans don’t *have* maps.”
our public education system is very, very important.
Mark Snyder
@Lloyd Baltazar: You’re wrong. Those initial numbers were wrong. The newer poll analyzations show that religion played the biggest role. And that blacks were just a little over 50% for the ban.
Chitown Kev
@Lloyd Baltazar:
But is the color of someone’s skin the best correlation of how someone voted. Or is it age and education?
After all, percentage wise, the black population in California is older than all other demographics.
But I have a feeling that you’re so stuck on your racist bullshit that you don’t want to hear that!
Lloyd Baltazar
No you’re wrong. I don’t know what “new” polls you are talking about.
The polls released in California are CLEAR. The numbers speak for themselves, and they were neither reversed or altered by the State of California. I should know because I live in California and I followed it quite often.
NO, I am NOT racist. So quit with the labels. The numbers speak for themselves. I am not putting the SOLE blame on Black people—but you CANNOT deny the statistic fact (provided by the State of CA) that Black people DID OVERWHELMINGLY vote for Prop 8.
If you think I’m racist, then I hope you get some help.
Lloyd Baltazar
I DID NOT say Black demographics played the bigger role. I do agree that it was Mormons and Roman Catholics that clearly paved the way for the Prop 8 campaign to win in California.
But I will not revert back my statement (which is backed by the State of California) that a HUGE OVERWHELMING percentage of Black people supported Prop 8—-which eliminated Same-gender couples from the rights of marriage.
I am not racist and I am not seeking to blame Black people. I am just being assertive about the statistical poll and facts yet I do believe that more tolerance and respect can be gained from the Black community with frequent education and more common dialogue.
Chitown Kev
@Lloyd Baltazar:
Then you have election returns, since that’s the ONLY official data that the state of California would provide and not polls…the county with the highest density of blacks (Alameda) voted NO On 8 by 25% points.
Lloyd Baltazar
Black people should not hate gay people. Especially since many blacks are also practicing homosexuals.
Chitown Kev
@Lloyd Baltazar:
Some straight black people do hate gay people. Just like some straight white people hate gay people.
Again, what pisses me off about this is that you apply a different (and racist) standard to black people. Why would you expect a black straight person not to act like…well a straight person?
Dave
@Lloyd Baltazar: They don’t consider themselves homosexuals since they are on the “down low”
Chitown Kev
@Dave:
Who the fuck is “they”? Im black and I’ve probably been out of the closet longer than you’ve lived.
Dave
I agree that education is a MAJOR factor for hate and ignorance. My mom would always say to me “Oh now you think you are better because you have a college degree”. Strictly catholic upbrining. Latin. Blah Blah. I studied religion and cultures and all of a sudden all my morals went out the window…according to her. LOL
Poor people rely more on faith and fear to survive. They fear the gays and the god and education itself. It doesn’t matter what color or creed they are. Ignorance in their case is bliss and are comfortable in it. It just sucks when their vote can affect the rights of citizens that deserve equal treatment. HELLO! THE TEA PARTY BUS TOUR IS STILL GOING…have you all seen the people interviewed on that damn train wreck!?!
Oh and many blacks are VERY racist…why doesn’t anyone ever do that study.
Chitown Kev
@Dave:
Are you latin?
Darrien
@Lloyd Baltazar: You do realise that given the actual numbers of voters, it didn’t matter a damn which way the black population voted. Prop 8 would have passed either way no matter what the black population voted. Using your argument, the most homophobic people were the Whites, followed by the Latinos and then the Blacks.
The second one breaks down the numbers on how demographic groups voted, the education demographics make a lot more sense than the racial demographics.
But, of course, that’s a far more difficult case to make because it’s far easier to blame a person on the colour of their skin than the level of education they’ve received.
me
Ok so blacks didn’t overwhelmingly support Prop 8 because they’re black, it’s because they’re stupid. Good to know.
J. Clarence
@Daniel:
I absolutely agree with what you are saying, but lets be clear about something…”The Founders said this would happen; the country would forget the “sacred principle” of equal rights for all, as Founding Father Thomas Jefferson put it.”
Are you talking about the same Founding Fathers that owned slaves and considered women property. It’s true they were wise men in some respects, but they never lived up to the sacred principle they talked about it.
That aside, Queerty is correct, these people are not stupid because that implies they purposely chose to reject the facts. Our education system is spotty and as a result we end with people simply not knowing better.
jason
The problem for the black community is that it has marketed itself as “black” and “victims of prejudice”. While it is undeniably true that they have been victims of prejudice, it rings hollow when you see how blacks themselves are prejudiced towards gay people.
Itzli
Well, I know white gay men that hate black people and Asian gay men that hate gay black men, and the mix goes on and on. We’re left with everyone claiming to be a victim, a big mess of hate and finger pointing, but no one wanting to take credit for our/their “group” or “community.” Does that leave us all screwed?
Lex
All of these ignorant comments are really helping things to change.
Some of you need to pull your heads out of your asses.
mulletkitty
Moving onto another subject…
This seems challenging for strategizing the next steps. It is easier to target “the black community” for outreach, despite the heterogeneous nature of this community.
But how do you target “the less educated”? What does a campaign strategy and outreach look like that directly reaches out to those will less education??
OK, bring on “go to walmart’ jokes, but I think the implications of this are kind of challenging!
The Gay Numbers
@Lex: Well, but it illustrates perfectly that education is the factor that defines bigotry, right? I mean why should gays be any better? in fact, I w ould say the level of ignorance I see amongst gay people is often quite high.
The Gay Numbers
@mulletkitty: You are the first person to make a really powerful observation about strategy along this thread. I don’t have an answer. Maybe the approach is to show more people of diffrent backgrounds without regard to education, and hope that sinks in? I mean hollywood does movies that people of all educational levels like. If there is a will here, perhaps someone can think of how to market gay rights to lower education people too. BUt that bring sup the other element- the will to address the problem. Do you see that happening based on the comments here?
Daniel
I’m saying from the get-go that the Founders knew it would end. The Founding Fathers could not stop slavery because they would have been killed in the attempt by wealthy businessmen invested in slavery. The Founders weren’t stupid; they were practical. Their messages were for the future, in hopes that future generations would learn and grow from their shortcomings. Lo and behold, we have a Civil War and as Abraham Lincoln said “No outside force will ever destroy America. If we lose our freedoms it is because we destroyed ourselves.” Each generation hoped the next would learn from their mistakes, but the generations alive today are unfortunately dominated by the stupid people. Thoughtful people are outnumbered in America 2-to-1 by dumb people.
Dennis
I question this search for the exact right “why” there is homophobia…Homophobia has MANY causes, and must be recognized, addressed, and defended against using multiple strategies.
Homophobia can be caused, yes, by a lack of education, and of course, by evangelical or ‘traditional’ religious affiliation, but also by someone’s own conflicts about their personal sexual orientation, by being abused or assaulted in a same-sex violation, by familial ‘training’ or peer-group pressure, and many other reasons.
There are homophobes with PhD’s, and homophobes who are borderline illiterate…black, white, religious and non-religious…we’re not going to find a ‘magic bullet’ people, ALL forms of gay discrimination are about as equally harmful as the next…
Address each form of homophobia according to it’s own cause, and fight it with education, bridge building, a demand for respect and equal treatment, embrace our straight allies, and create broad-based alliances which showcase our worth to the collective society.
Lloyd Baltazar
You can make all the arguments you want—-you can label me racist—but remember that I AM also a minority myself. I am a minority in my race, and I am a minority as a gay person.
That DOES NOT change the statistic facts that Blacks DID OVERWHELMINGLY vote for Prop 8 in California. I know because I live in California.
The numbers released by the state of California speak for themselves. Hopefully, in 2010—-as we attempt to repeal Prop 8—-more Black people will be educated and vote towards marriage equality in this country.
The rampant epidemic crisis of “DOWNLOW” in the Black community is shameful and disgusting. It shows how hypocritical Black people can be towards being homosexual and black at the same time. TRUE.
Lloyd Baltazar
It DOES matter that Black people DID OVERWHELMINGLY vote for Prop 8 to pass in California. DO NOT divert the issue. This is the topic of this article. That is why Black people should be addressed for their overwhelmingly support for Prop 8—which eliminated the rights of Same-Gender couples to legal marriage.
Why do I(among many others) apply a “different” standard to Black people when it comes to Prop 8?
BECAUSE Black people have experienced a great deal of discrimination, bigotry and hatred in this country. “THEY”—-of all minority groups (among women) SHOULD know what its like to be discriminated against and have compassion and sympathy to Gays & Lesbians who are fighting for fair treatment, equal protection and marriage equality in this country.
UP YOURS.
Lex
@Lloyd Baltazar: White people voted overwhelmingly in favor of Prop 8. Cry about that for a little bit.
Oh wait they’re exempt because they didn’t enslave themselves…?
Every group of people has been enslaved at some point. That’s no excuse and you sound like a total idiot singling out any one group for their ignorance.
Homophobes, just like racists, come in a myriad of colors. So stop focusing on color, and focus on the fact that hate is wrong in any flavor.
Pull your head out of your ass.
Lloyd Baltazar
Hate IS wrong for any flavor. You are pissed and fairy-hurt because I am singling out Black homophobes and not addressing the White homophobes, Latin Homophobes, Asian homophobes.
I am aware and realize that other races are also homophobic. But the NUMBERS in California speak for themselves. Black people DID OVERWHELMINGLY vote for Prop 8—-which eliminated same-gender couples from rights to legal marriage.
If Black people could not show compassion and sympathy towards Gays & Lesbians who are fighting for equal protection, fair treatment and marriage equality in this country—-what does that say about their own past history as discriminated groups of people?
Get over yourself. The numbers speak for themselves.
hyhybt
@Daniel: Technically, objects in space orbit each other 🙂
Chitown Kev
@Lex:
Co-sign@Lloyd Baltazar: There’s really nosense in debating with your ig’nant ass, but why would you expect black straight people not to behaveor to think…well, like straight people. As far as being straight, they are in the majority
Annoyed
@Lloyd Baltazar:
What do you want to accomplish with your repetitive regurgitation of a one-dimensional fact? Do you want us to be more pissed at blacks rather than homophobes in general for the passing of Prop. 8? Because that is what your comments are insinuating, and you are being a RACIST, which is as worse, if not even more worse than the HOMOPHOBES we are trying to educate.
David
Well that clears up how we asian were the only non-white ethnicity to vote out prop.8 . =] Go asians !
Greg
this is so twisted
something this ridiculous just HAD to come from a homosexual
reminds me of Anakin in Star Wars III where he killed little innocent kids and turns around and says “In my eyes, the Jedi are evil”
no, you have to be very stupid, or rather mentally retarded, to not realize that homosexuality is akin to coprophagia
both are DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIORS! behaviors that are seen in lesser animals
Black Guy
Look. I’m black. My mom is black. My dad is black. They fucked. Hence, I am black. Alright. So. This is awkward. Because you, are white. And very confused. Black people have absolutely nothing against gays. Perhaps this is some inbred southern or something like that, I don’t pretend to know how you take it. The point is, there is a very minute percentage of us blacks in California who disapprove of gay marriage. Actually, for some reason, we feel we have something in common with the gays. Perhaps it is elevated fashion sense, or maybe it’s the feeling of being unjustly prosecuted. We blacks stick together. We are a collective, a group, a whole people. Right now, gays are going through something similar to what we went through. There was a time where blacks could not marry whites, and, there was a time when could not marry anybody. Who’s fault was this? I’ll leave you to ponder that on your own time. The blacks are not responsible for the furthering of this unjust reich of the whites. If your white, and your reading this, then it’s best that you hear this from me. White people: you need to settle down. If your a white Christian, there is nothing on this world that you have to be upset about. Except for that nigga president. He gonna cut you.
Black Guy
There aren’t even that many of us. How could we do something like that?
Black Guy
@Lex is that right? Is that how i address it to you? Anyway, i just wanted to say that you serious ass, be it the ass of white people or the ass of asians, you kick it. With much proficiency. I wish you the best of luck.
Black Guy
aw shit. stupid technology. you KICK ass. your not as ass. i love you. im sorry