The election of Barack Obama brought hope to many Americans across the country. Unfortunately, Gay Americans weren't able to celebrate for too long as many ballot measures to ban gay marriage were passed in California, Arizona and Florida. Voters approved constitutional amendments recognizing marriage only as a union between one man and one woman. In Arkansas, a ballot measure to ban gay couple from adopting was also passed.
Ellen Degeneres said in a a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press that she, "like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step toward equality" by electing Barack Obama as president. DeGeneres says that with the passage of California's Proposition 8, "we took a giant step away."
Arizona Proposition 102: YES 1,063,937 56%
Ban on Gay Marriage NO 820,654 44%
Arkansas Initiative 1: YES 579,695 57%
Ban on Gay Couples NO 437,720 43%
Adopting Children
California Proposition 8: YES 5,424,916 52%
Ban on Gay Marriage NO 4,932,086 48%
Florida Amendment 2: YES 4,745,322 62%
Ban on Gay Marriage NO 2,903,562 38%