Two thirds of Californians believe in either marriage or partnership rights for gays and lesbians, according to the latest Field Poll.
Public approval for gay and lesbian rights, along with overall acceptance of homosexuality, is on the rise in California, according to the latest Field Poll survey released today.
In the last nine years, the percentage of people who disapprove of gay and lesbian relations and those who approve has reversed, with 43 percent of the state’s residents now saying they do not believe homosexuality is wrong and 32 percent who do. In 1997, the last time a survey was taken on this issue, 45 percent did not approve and 38 percent did.
“It’s not surprising,” said Greg Gandrud, a Carpinteria city councilman who is openly gay. “I think young people tend to see (homosexuality) as a nonissue. It’s just not a big deal.”
More Californians than ever know somebody who is gay or lesbian, and 67 percent believe they should be allowed to serve in the military, compared to 58 percent in 1997. A little over half of respondents said homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children, the poll showed, and about two-thirds believe employers should be prohibited from discriminating against gay and lesbian couples.
Half of Californians oppose the idea of amending the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as being only between a man and a woman, a politically charged issue here and across the country. Only 40 percent of respondents said they approve of the idea.
Of course, marriage and military service will be important issues at the upcoming Log Cabin Convention, so be sure to attend.
Survey finds rise in gay acceptance [SBNP]
Gays in the Coachelle Valley will have to choose between gay and gay-friendly as Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden takes on sitting Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia this November.
Education. Economic opportunities. Environment. Equality.
Those are the four things Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden will bring to his campaign for the 80th Assembly District.
On Thursday, Oden, mostly reading from a prepared speech, formally announced his bid for the seat currently occupied by two-time incumbent Rep. Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City. The news was reported Tuesday on thedesertsun.com.
“We need a representative in Sacramento to look at the issues and not go down the party line,” said Oden, standing in front of a large fountain at Palm Springs International Airport. “I am in it to win.”
Ironically, Garcia is one of the least likely Assemblymembers to follow the party line of the GOP–especially when it comes to gay rights issues.
‘I’m in it to win,’ Oden says in making Assembly bid official [Desert Sun]
As we move forward into a state election year, it is becoming evident that we must all begin to prioritize our concerns and our goals. Should our personal concerns come first; and then the concerns of our community? Should our concerns for our own cities come before those for the state as a whole; and followed then by those concerns of our nation? When it comes right down to it, all of our concerns are interconnected, since everything that affects us as individuals affects the whole of the state and the nation; just as everything from national and state levels affects ourselves as individuals. As members of the GLBT Community, should the issue of gay marriage be a priority? Or should a more important priority be the protection of our borders? Perhaps the protection of our ports is a major priority for others? How about the protection of our citizens? All of these are valid concerns, to name a few, so what must our priorities be… as members of the GLBT community, as Republicans, as citizens of California and of the United States? By asking his question, I am appealing to all of our readers to send in your thoughts about what we must do to have our voices effectively heard. (more…)