California wasn't the only state dealing with the gay marriage debate.  Florida's ammendment 2 which defined marriage as one man and one woman passed by 62%.  Crazy. 

 I know other states had ammendments to block gays from adopting anyone know what the results where?

...you can't imagine how glad I am at the way this election turned out. I know I speak for many, many fellow Canadians. I'm still anxiously awaiting to hear the outcome of Prop 8. I'm with you all the way.

I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.

He's stated many times in many speeches that he's pro gay rights. I think if prop 8 fails to pass then Obama should get partial credit since he's likely influenced many african americans to be pro gay rights as well and against homophobic legislation. :D

God if prop 8 passes there will be many stunned people across the nation.  Not as bad as McCain winning but close.

.... I didn't believe it would happen even with all the polls and the momentum or what not.  I felt the other side would find another way to steal the election.    But I guess they couldn't overcome that many votes.

It's not just awesome because finally the White House is rid of the scourge of the past 8 years, but we did something historic in the process. 

I hear things aren't looking so great for the NO on 8 side.....

really dissapointing. hopefully it will change in a few hours or something.....

Sadly the U.S. Congress could pass a comprehensive civil rights law covering sexual orientation and enact marriage equality in this next session, but even with Democrats in full control it will never happen - too many of them have repeatedly voted for anti-gay legislation. I don't expect anything positive to pass at the federal level for two or more decades, if ever.

As far as Arizona and Florida, these two states have two of the most corrupt judicial systems on Earth - gay Americans were never going to receive and have never received any justice under these two state governments - with or without the state constitutional amendments.

Also, if Prop. 8 passes in California, it immediately goes to the California Supreme Court, which then has to determine whether the proposition needed to first pass the legislature before being presented to the people for a vote. I know it sounds ucked-up but that is the order in which things go in California when it comes to actually changing the state constitution. So the final say remains with the California Supreme Court.

I think Vermont and New Jersey will pass marriage equality laws next year - and perhaps Maine too.

It's not surprising large sections of the USA cannot sustain Equal Protection under Law, a required element of any democracy. America was considered an experiment in democracy, and it is the nature of most experiments to fail. But at least a few states have been able to maintain the elements of a democracy, including Equal Protection Under Law and a Fair & Impartial Judiciary.

Forty years ago, tonight would have been unthinkable.

Gay marriage isn't a matter of never, but when. . .

Congratulations, Barack Obama & Joe Biden; now make the change reality. 

afhickman

"The mountain has wings."

In real terms, Barack has two years to make good.  It would have helped had the Democrats been able to win a filibuster-proof majority, but he should enjoy at least a brief honeymoon.  The press appear to be behind him.  The election proves that there is no longer a racist majority in this country, but there remain pockets of reistance, espeically in the so-called red states.  The big question for gays, however, is, what has changed for us?  Nothing much from the look of it.  If we can't win in California, where can we win?  Our only hope may be that Barack will hand us more than platitutdes in the next two years.  There are several things he can do, including striking down don't ask don't tell.  But will he?  Stay tuned...

I'm french but I am really really happy that Obama is the new president, I really hope he will change things.

I was wondering something (I don't understand most of the French politic so the American politic is just too obscure for me), I checked on CNN's website and I saw that there is still 3 States that are processing votes, why isn't it over yet ? 

And I'm still hoping that it'll change for prop 8 !

" It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America"

It may seem like a little thing, but it means a great deal for a president-elect to acknowledge us as part of the American body politic in a positive way.

I also thought it was striking the visual difference between the crowds at the McCain and Obama events.  McCain's crowd was very white (and very blonde, it could have been mistaken for an Aryan Nation rally).  Obama's crowd was very multiracial and I saw at least one Pride flag being waved in the crowd.

Any political progress in the future of America will require assembling broad coalitions across different groups.  That includes progress on gay equality. I think Obama's audience was the face of what is needed to improve the future.