This editorial appeared in The Sacramento Bee.
Nine days after voters approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriages in California, the raw emotions that fueled and fought this initiative remain as volatile as ever.
Angry opponents of Proposition 8 are targeting businesses and individuals who contributed money to the "yes" campaign. Vandals have hit churches that supported the initiative. Sparked by the speed and reach of the Internet, supporters of gay and lesbian rights are organizing protests from California to Salt Lake City, the home of the Mormon Church.
The charged reaction is understandable. Gays and lesbians view Proposition 8 as part of a long line of state-sanctioned discriminatory acts that feed hate and violence against homosexuals.
They are frustrated that the Proposition 8 campaign misled so many voters into thinking that, if the initiative failed, churches would be forced to marry same-sex couples and schools would have to include gay rights in their curriculum.
And they are astounded that California, a diverse state that has been a leader in extending privileges to domestic partners, would amend its constitution to deny marriage rights to a single group of people.
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