Race figures in why Prop 8 succeeded

By Danicar Mariano


In an election that has proven that race matters, race is probably one of the issues that led to the passing of proposition 8. Let me state that civil liberties and basic fundamental rights should not be put in the ballot in the first place. I think that the No on 8 has mounted a worthy and meaningful campaign. I liked the ad where no and yes where talking to each other, and sleazy yes was trying to hit on the constitution, saying "I'm totally going to amend her..Add a little discrimination, but it's fine 'cause its only for a specific group of people." I especially liked the ad featuring Samuel L Jackson, equating discrimination against sexual orientation with racial discrimination. As polls revealed however, it failed to draw many African American voters and half of the Latino voters on our side. As an Asian and Filipino lesbian, I don't think that any single ad in particular spoke to the Asian or heavily Catholic Filipino demographic as well. I know the ad spoke of Japanese internments camps, but this did not necessarily speak to Filipinos, Koreans or Chinese, who as you remember, were on the other side of the war.

Next to Latinos and the Chinese, Filipinos are the biggest ethnic migrants in California and in the US in general, and knowing the discourse of Catholicism, I could imagine why, the ads weren't convincing in their view. The second and last ads relied on the "everyone else is opposing the ban, we should too" tactic. All the major newspapers are opposing it, California Teacher's Association is opposing it, Arnold Schwartzenegger is opposing it, Barack Obama is opposing it, we should too." Although Asians are extremely social creatures, normally adjusting to their environment, these people and organizations are "abstract" to us, bearing no actual social and familial tie, and so the approach did not work. Asian LGBTs often come out last to their families of origin as well, and it's the most difficult battleground.

As studies show, immigrants especially cling to their home country's values and family traditions. Coming from a country where Catholicism permeates every aspect of social life, as well as politics, I imagine that the secular argument that "government should stay out of our lives," wasn't a very effective one for Filipinos. To get the Asian or at least the Filipino vote, the ads needed to engage with the religious debate, on why it's okay to vote for same-sex marriage and still be a good Christian. I imagine this is the case for many Latinos as well. I've read many good arguments out there on how religion should teach us to be more compassionate, to love, instead of discriminating and hating, but unfortunately it wasn't aired. I know that many religious leaders also rallied together to join the no on prop 8 fight, showing that there are more compassionate faiths out there that are not so fixated with using old testament dogma to take away people's rights.

The next time we fight this battle, as for sure we will, gay marriage advocates might consider hiring "race diplomats ," one for Asians, Latinos and Blacks. It was easier for the Yes on 8 campaign because fear and homophobia speaks in many tongues and across cultures. It is sad to have to explain ourselves to the world for who we are, and we shouldn't have to, but the next time we do it, we must do it in more culturally specific ways.