Proposition 8 analysis shows fear ads worked on parents
”Among the array of untrue ideas that parents could easily take away: that impressionable kids would be indoctrinated; that they would learn about gay sex; that they would be more likely to become gay; and that they might choose to be gay. California voters, depending on where they lived in the state, were exposed to the Yes on 8 ads 20 to 40 times.”
David Fleisher, of the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, writing for the LA Times about an analysis of voters choices on the anti-gay marriage initiative “Proposition 8.” He concludes several things: while most black voters were consistently opposed, white parents with children switched in big numbers during the final weeks; there were not enough televised ads refuting the hateful ads that claimed children would be taught how to be gay at school; and had the “no/yes” portion of the Prop8 ballot been more clear, the loss would have been even bigger. Aside from this opinion piece, there has been a couple of polls released this year that show voters favoring marriage in California by a very slim margin. (51-42% in favor according to a Field Poll) If this analysis is correct, it shows that the small, pro-marriage advantage could be easily lost again, primarily due to parents succumbing to fear-based misinformation. (LA Times)
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