Black Vote Leads to the Passage of Proposition 2

Civil Rights & Human Rights
Black Vote Leads to the Passage of Proposition 2
By Scott O. Shaffer
Dec 1, 2005, 10:35

The Harris County vote on Proposition 2 was not as lopsided as reported. City voters and 80 county precincts actually favored gay rights.

The mainstream media reported widespread support across the state where the proposition passed with 76 percent of the vote. In Harris County the measure received 72 percent of the voters.

But according to a political consultant and analyst specializing in voter research, Max Beauregard, the outcome in Harris County was not quite as lopsided as reported.

“There were 80 precincts out of the total 913 precincts that make up Harris County where proposition 2 was defeated by at least a 50 percent margin and 33 of those voted against it by at least a two-thirds majority," said Beauregard."The ‘against’ votes in those precincts represented 24 perecent of all the votes ‘Against’ the proposition in Harris County.”

It was in white suburban areas in the county and in the African-American community in the city where Proposition 2 found overwhelming support and won the race.

The Director of the Universtiy of Houston Center for Public Policy, Dr. Richard Murray, has done an analysis of a sample of eight suburban, “white” precincts that are considered representative of Harris County. In that area, 77 percent of the voters supported the proposition. Within the City in 122 predominantly African-American precincts, 73 percent of the voters supported the measure.

How could this happen? How could one miniorty vote to restrict the rights of another minority?

“Two men being lovers-that’s just nasty to me. Two women being lovers, that’s just nasty to me. I’m sorry. I love my sisters and brothers dearly, but I don’t want to be with another woman.”

That is the sentiment of Andreanette Ray, a registered African-American voter who did not vote because she was out of town. But Ray says if the proposition was to come up for a vote again, she would be the first in line to support it.

In the African-American community, Dr. Murray says the issue was framed using the word marriage.

“On this issue, the gay and lesbian community could not convince the African-American community that it was a civil rights issue, said Murray. "They would not compare this struggle with their own.”

If the image of gay sex wasn’t enough to turn voters out in support of Proposition 2, Kelly Shackelford’s Free Market Foundation has turned to sociology.

According to Jonathan Saenz, staff attorney for the Foundation, there is sociological evidence that clearly indicates societies that allow gays and lesbians to marry will destroy themselves. However, Saenz was unable to cite any specific sociological research report.

When asked he answered tartly, “I’m not going to do your research for you.”

“He’s probably talking about the “Functional Theory of the Family” proposed by Talcott Parsons that was popular in the 1940s and ‘50s," said Dr. Jon Lorence, professor of sociology at the University of Houston. "We no longer consider that theory an acceptable depiction of families.”

Dr. Tracey Karner, also a UH professor of sociology, agrees with Parsons.

“There is no peer-reviewed, academically rigorous research that supports any claim that societies fail if they allow gays and lesbians to marry," said Karner."I am not aware of even a theory of such a thing."

“Black voices must come out and educate the black community. It is very difficult, culturally and historically, for blacks to talk about this issue," said Tammy Wallace, President of the Houston Equal Rights Alliance and a board member of the Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual Political Caucus."They have preferred to not talk about homosexuality. If we don’t talk about, we won’t have to deal with it has been their thinking. But they need to talk about it. Denying civil rights to tax paying citizens on the basis of their sexual preferences is wrong.”

“There is an informal group of very concerned attorneys who think this new amendment is wrong under the U.S. Constitution for many reasons and something needs to be done to correct it,” said attorney Jerry Simoneaux, adjunct professor of law at South Texas Law School.

Simoneaux is a former chair of the “Sexual Orientation & Gender Description Issues” sector of the Texas State Bar, which may file a law suit to halt the state from enforcing Proposition 2 as unconstitutional.

“Proposition 2 also hits hard on one of our most sacred rights as citizens and that sacred right is to ask our government to protect us," said Simoneaux."That comes from the First Amendment.”

“Everybody has their own life," said Glenda Anderson, an African-American voter who voted against Proposition 2. "I don’t have a problem with it. That’s your business, so everybody needs to mind their own business and live their own life. I can’t judge nobody. I’m not here to judge anyone.”