About Prop. 8

On November 4, 2008, California voters approved Proposition 8 by a margin of almost 600,000 votes. Proposition 8 placed into the California Constitution the same language that voters already passed by 61% of the vote in 2000. This action was necessary to overturn an outrageous California Supreme Court decision that overturned Proposition 22 and had legalized same sex marriage in California.

Why Did Proposition 8 Win?

Proposition 8 won because it was simple and straightforward. It contained the same 14 words that were previously approved in 2000 by over 61% of California voters: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Because four activist judges in San Francisco had wrongly overturned the people’s vote, we needed to pass Proposition 8 as a constitutional amendment to restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

In the campaign, voters were told clearly that voting YES on Proposition 8 would do 3 simple things:
  • It would restore the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and what Californians agree should be supported, not undermined.
  • It would overturn the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.
  • It would protect our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and would prevent other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs.