Index--->USA---->Gay rights ballot initiatives--->2000-2002

2000

California Proposition 22 (Knight Amendment)
California (statewide) Date: March 7, 2000 Result: Antigay
Remarks: Sponsored by William J. "Pete" Knight, state senator from Palmdale.
Ballot question: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 4,567,844 61.4%
No 2,878,034 38.6%

Maine Question 6 (PL 629)
Maine (statewide) Date: November 7, 2000 Result: Antigay
Remarks: Maine voters again rejected a law passed by the legislature which prohibited employment and housing discrimination.
Ballot question: Do you favor ratifying the action of the 119th Legislature whereby it passed an act extending to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation the same basic rights to protection against discrimination now guaranteed to citizens on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodation and credit and where the act expressly states that nothing in the act confers legislative approval of, or special rights to, any person or group of persons?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 314,012 49.6%
No 318,846 50.4%

Nebraska Initiative Measure 416
Nebraska (Statewide) Date: November 7, 2000 Result: Antigay
Remarks: Called the mini-DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act, the measure was a reaction to the Vermont Civil Union laws passed earlier in 2000. No county in the state had more than a 40% support for the no option.
Ballot question: To add a new section 29 to Article I:
Shall the Nebraska Constitution be amended to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska, and to provide further that the uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 477,571 70.1%
No 203,667 29.9%

Nevada Question 2
Nevada (statewide) Date: November 7, 2000 Result:Antigay
Remarks:
Ballot question: Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to provide that: "Only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state?"
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 412,654 69.6%
No 180,057 30.4%

Oregon Measure 9
Oregon (statewide) Date: November 7, 2000 Result: Pro-gay
Remarks: Oregon again established itself as the state which favors gay rights (or at least frowns upon anti-gay sentiments), albeit in a close race.
Ballot question: Prohibits Public School Instruction Encouraging, Promoting, Sanctioning Homosexual, Bisexual Behaviors.
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 702,572 47.1%
No 788,691 52.9%

2001

Houston Proposition 2
Houston, TX Date: November 8, 2001 Result: Antigay
Remarks:
Ballot question: Shall the charter of the city of Houston be amended to deny health care and other employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners of city employees and to address other matters of city employment and contracting practices based on sexual orientation?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 130,310 51.5%
No 123,592 48.5%

Huntington Woods Ordinance 454
Huntington Woods, MI Date: November 8, 2001 Result: Pro-gay
Remarks:
Ballot question: Should Ordinance 454, the Human Rights Ordinance unanimously adopted by the city commission April 24, 2001, become effective immediately?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 1,982 68.9%
No 896 31.1%

Kalamazoo Anti-Discrimination Ammendment
Kalamazoo, MI Date: November 8, 2001 Result: Pro-gay
Remarks:
Ballot question: Shall the Kalamazoo City Charter be amended by the addition of a new section entitled Adoption of Special Class Status Based on Sexual Orientation, Conduct, or Relationship Prohibited, which shall provide that no special class status shall be granted based upon sexual orientation, conduct or relationships, and that the City of Kalamazoo and its various boards and commissions shall not adopt and enforce any ordinance or regulation which will afford protected status based on sexual orientation, conduct or relationships, and that any ordinance or regulation enacted before this amendment that violates this provision shall be null and void?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 5,211 46.1%
No 6,085 53.9%

Traverse City Proposal 1
Traverse City, MI Date: November 8, 2001 Result: Pro-gay
Remarks: Proposal would have prohibited any city body from adopting policies or rules to protect gay, lesbian and bisexual people from discrimination.
Ballot question: N/A
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 2,152 42.2%
No 2,944 57.8%

2002

Miami-Dade repeal campaign (click here for more information)
Miami-Dade County, FL Date: September 10, 2002 Result: Pro-gay
Remarks: The pro-gay ordinance squeaked by the county commission on December 1, 1998. Four years later, Take Back Miami-Dade raised enough signatures to put it on the ballot. After some election-night jitters, Miami-Dade County came through.
Ballot question: Shall County Ordinance 98-170, entitled "Ordinance amending Articles I, II, III and IV of Chapter 11A of the Code of Miami-Dade County to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, credit and finance, public accommodations, and employment; amending Article VI relating to the office of Fair Employment Practices to require Miami-Dade County to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to sexual orientation," be repealed?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes- Repeal gay rights 134,500 47.1%
No- Against repeal 151,064 52.9%

Nevada Question No. 2
Nevada (statewide) Date: November 5, 2002 Result: antigay
Remarks: This is the second election cycle for this constitutional ammendment. It was already approved in 2000 by Nevada voters.
Ballot question: Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to provide that: "Only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state?"
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 337,187 67.1%
No 164,555 32.9%

Tacoma initiative No. 1
Tacoma, WA Date: November 5, 2002 Result: Pro-igay
Remarks: Third time was the charm for the Washington city.
Ballot question: Initiative No. 1 amends Tacoma’s anti-discrimination law. Initiative No. 1 removes those provisions of the Tacoma Municipal Code which prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, and lending based on sexual orientation or gender identity. A yes vote enacts the Initiative. A no vote defeats the Initiative. Should this Initiative become law?
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 15,303 41.2%
No 21,834 58.8%

City of Sarasota Charter Ammendment
Sarasota, FL Date: November 5, 2002 Result: Pro- gay
Remarks:
Ballot question: Amendment to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accomodations. Summary: Discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or veterans status in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations shall be prohibited in the City.
Answer
Votes
%
No 4,170 27.1%
Yes 11,209 72.9%

Westbrook initiative
Westbrook, ME Date: November 5, 2002 Result: Pro gay
Remarks: A heartening triumph in Maine.
Ballot question: Unavailable
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 3316 51.5%
No 3126 48.5%

Ypsilanti City Proposal
Ypsilanti, MI Date: November 5, 2002 Result: Pro-igay
Remarks: A whopping victory in the Ann Arbor suburb.
Ballot question:
Answer
Votes
%
Yes 1,739 36.1%
No 3,080 63.9%

 

Please visit Bill Myers' wonderful Gay Rights info page for the complete lowdown on GLBT politicians and their records.