The much debated and contested California Proposition 8 has been a tight race since it was placed on the ballot last June, and was a close race throughout the election Tuesday. The Proposition won 52 to 48 percent with 95 percent of precincts reporting. The proposition seeks to amend the state constitution to specify only marriages between one man and one woman would be recognized as valid in the state. The proposition has been an important issue to members of the LDS church after a letter was sent from the First Presidency to California residents, encouraging them to actively support the proposition

"We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage," the letter said.

BYU students from California were also encouraged to do all they could to support the measure. Laura Clayton, a sophomore from California has been actively involved in promoting the measure. She estimates that each week she has spent about twenty hours making phone calls and contacting people.

"I come from a very conservative area and people were very supportive," Clayton said. "A lot of people didn't understand what the proposition meant, and we had some people who felt that it didn't affect them at all."

Clayton said at first she didn't understand the significance of the proposition, but after being encouraged by the leadership of the church, she quickly became involved.

"In my area the church has had everyone hit the area hard, Clayton said. "They had 50 people at each intersection talking to people."

Arizona Proposition 102, which similarly seeks to amend the state constitution, is predicted to pass tonight as reported by CNN. The proposition is currently leading 56 to 44 percent with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

The proposition seeks to amend the Arizona constitution, just as California's. A similar measure was placed on the ballot in 2006 but lost by a narrow margin.

"In 2006, foes outspent proponents. This year backers have built a war chest in excess of $7.6 million, relying heavily on contributions of $10,000 or more from individual families," according to the Arizona Daily Star.

In contract to California's Proposition 8, Gay marriage is already illegal in Arizona by virtue of state law, a law that the state Court of Appeals upheld in a ruling and which the state Supreme Court declined to review.



Copyright Brigham Young University 5 Nov 2008