Schwarzenegger Won’t Waver on Prop. 8, Aide Says

With California’s antigay Proposition 8 gaining support thanks to a distorted but effective ad campaign, LGBT voters find ourselves worrying: Will politicians continue to stand with us against the proposed amendment?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance. After all, before California’s supreme court cleared the way, the Republican governor twice vetoed marriage equality against the will of the state legislature. Yes, he stated at the Log Cabin Republicans convention on April 11 that he’s against Prop. 8, a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to rescind same-sex marriage rights. But is he still feeling the love?

No worries, says Schwarzenegger political spokeswoman Julie Soderlund. Asked several times about any changes in the governor’s position, Soderlund genially repeated the same sentence: “The governor does not support Proposition 8.” By way of illustration she re-sent the transcript of Schwarzenegger’s statement to Log Cabin.

In his Q&A with Log Cabin president Patrick Sammon at the convention, here’s what the governor said.

Sammon: [In November] there very well could be a ballot initiative that's meant to forever ban same-sex couples from having the same responsibilities, a true marriage, that other couples do. Can we count on your opposition to this effort to ban gay people from having marriages always?

Schwarzenegger: Well, first of all, I think that it will never happen in California, because I think that California people are much further along with that issue. And number 2, I will always be there to fight against that, because it should never happen. [Applause]

But if Proposition 8 should pass, what then? Will Schwarzenegger support legal appeals to overturn it? Will he uphold the validity of same-sex marriages already performed in California?

In an e-mail, Soderlund responded, “The questions are hypothetical at this point since we do not yet know the outcome of the election.”

We hope Schwarzenegger will note the example of Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who’s not waiting to test the hypotheses. Over the weekend the mayor contributed $25,000 to the No on Prop. 8 campaign. (The Advocate)

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. Page 1 of 1

READ COMMENTS (11) MORE \ EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: Ken Pflueger
Date posted: 10/23/2008 5:28:00 PM
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Comment:
If our Governator is truly opposed to Prop why is he so totally silent on the matter. He made one statement, essentially behind closed doors to a gay Republican group. What kind of support is that. He claims to be a leader, but I believe this is yet on more example of a huge failure on his part. I don't care if he donates money, I want him to make a public statement on television.
Back to top
Name: anthony newsome
Date posted: 10/22/2008 8:33:00 AM
Hometown: dublin

Comment:
If people encourage their friends/family to vote against Prop 8 that would be an amazing help, lobby your local politicans and representitives for their support also, and you can also let your very homophobic Govener know you will be voting against him in the next election, please do not get lost in the idea that the Republican Party is somehow ok to support, it is not, the Republican Party base their agenda on confusing people with very direct fear mongering to confuse the electrot, smear campaigns, racism and homophobia are indemic to the central core of Republican politics, a
Back to top
Name: James
Date posted: 10/15/2008 8:54:00 PM
Hometown: Spokane, WA

Comment:
I have been following Prop 8 for a while now and am adamantly against it. I was very hopeful at one point that it would be voted down, but now it doesn't look so promising. Now is the time to fight. EVERYONE in the GLBT community, friends, and family members have to stand up and say enough is enough! I do not live in CA, but felt it is EXTREMELY important to show support. I have contributed what I can at this time...the other 970,000 GLBT people in CA need to pitch in...anything will help....This is to important to just sit back, watch and do nothing!!! STAND UP AND FIGHT, WE DESERVE IT!
Back to top
Name: Michael
Date posted: 10/15/2008 7:06:00 PM
Hometown: San Jose

Comment:
My partner and I wed two weeks ago this Friday, our 28th anniversary. Several weeks ago, we gave $150, just to show our support when the polls looked good. After these despicably lying ads started running and the poll numbers essentially swapped, we decided we needed to do more, so we sent off another $1000 yesterday. I know not everybody has the resources to do this, but if everybody gave just a little, then we could effectively counter-balance the lies. For those out of state, you would not believe the distortions and simple untruths that the opposition is hammering again and again until it becomes truth to a critical number of "minds". We need to find back hard!
Back to top
Name: LeoOnttheEdge
Date posted: 10/15/2008 5:45:00 PM
Hometown: Edgewater, New Jersey

Comment:
I will be sending off my check this week. Though I am not a citizen of California and live on the East Coast, I understand how profoundly important the outcome of this vote is and recognize how it will affect all of us inside and outside of the Golden State. Though not a big fan of Arnold, I applaud his unwavering support of the "No on 8" cause. I strongly urge everyone who believes in marriage equality, whether you live in California or not, to donate what you can to help assure the defeat of this mean-spirited effort.
Back to top
Name: Darrel R.
Date posted: 10/15/2008 3:21:00 PM
Hometown: Walker Minnesota

Comment:
Retired USAF fighter pilot here in northern MN..single gay...I have already given $200 to this through ActBlue on John Aravosis's blog site and also with SDLN...time for others to step to the plate, especially those who live in California..come on guys..give a little extra these days.
Back to top
Name: Sarah H.
Date posted: 10/15/2008 2:05:00 PM
Hometown: San Mateo, CA

Comment:
Jeff Chang asks "Where are the public service announcement[s] against prop 8 by these politicians?" Not only that, but why aren't we putting pressure on those Media Outlets who are running YES on 8 ads? They don't HAVE to take those hate-monger's money. KPIX here in San Francisco - THEY ARE IN SF - and they have the nerve to take homophobes' money? They should be boycotted and all the rest of their advertisers should be notified we won't support those who support homophobia.
Back to top
Name: Cindy
Date posted: 10/15/2008 1:44:00 PM
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga

Comment:
My wife and I have been making donations since August. We will be making another one in the next week or so. I just saddens me that only 300,000 people have donated so far. I just wish people would realize that if the religious right takes this freedom away from us, there is no telling what they will do next. Probably lock us up somewhere to teach us how to be straight.
Back to top
Name: Jeffrey1234
Date posted: 10/15/2008 11:39:00 AM
Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Comment:
Please, no matter where you are in the country, please donate $25.00 to the No on 8 campaign. If we can get 1 million people to donate $25.00 each the campaign will have $25.00 million dollars. The Yes on 8 campaign is now running ads with 4 year old children saying that we are teaching them to marry someome of the same gender. Unbelievable. I can't believe what I am seeing on TV and hearing on the radio stations in the Los Angeles area where I live. Please donate so we can defeat this measure.
Back to top
Name: Matt Munson
Date posted: 10/15/2008 12:15:00 AM
Hometown: Ontario, California

Comment:
If Arnold does not want to donate to the official organization, even donating to Republicans against 8 would be appreciated.

PREVIOUS 1 2 NEXT

More Online Only

Commentary Progress in the Midwest
A city native and strong supporter of Kalamazoo's effort to keep an anti-discrimination law reflects on a hard-won campaign.

Commentary What Marriage in Maine Meant for Me

Dana Hernandez is a straight white married mother of two young children. But in campaigning for No on 1 and reporting Election Night outcomes for Advocate.com, defeat hit her like a ton of bricks.

Marriage Equality Terri White Stages Her Leather Encore

Last year, acclaimed stage performer Terri White was homeless and living in a public park. On Sunday, she and her partner held a leather-themed commitment ceremony onstage following her triumphant Broadway turn in Finian’s Rainbow.

Music Ghost Story

Out singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile discusses working with her childhood mentor, coming out publicly, and joining next year's Lilith Fair.

News View From Washington: GOP Upheaval

Now that the only pro-marriage equality candidate in New York's 23rd Congressional district, Republican Dede Scozzafava, has dropped out of the race, Tuesday's election holds any number of political lessons for both the GOP and the LGBT community.

Books Hot Sheet: Ditto Knocking 'Em Dead

This week might not bring anything to the screen other than a Boondock Saints sequel, but there are plenty of reasons to sit at home on the couch or head to your local concert venue.

News Features Sailor Speaks Out
Sailor Joseph Rocha endured years of hazing until he spoke out — then he was discharged for revealing his homosexuality. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is itching to suit back up.

Music Rainbow High

Busy Broadway heartthrob, gay rights activist, and former Advocate coverboy Cheyenne Jackson chats about his Finian’s Rainbow revival, his politically charged cabaret CD, and laying around in his underpants (pic on page five).

Marriage Equality For Maine, The Time is Now
Money is on their side and the polls look optimistic, but volunteers fighting to preserve marriage equality in Maine are prepared for a fight to the finish.

Television Another Tough Broad

After being outed by a Nazi and locking lips with a hook-up three times in one episode, Christine Woods's tough-talking FBI agent Janis Hawk on ABC's FlashForward might just be prime time's best gay offering — who isn't in Glee club, that is.

Books In Sickness and in Health

Mary Cappello’s memoir Called Back takes readers on a white-knuckle journey through the experience of cancer treatment in America — especially disorienting to navigate as a woman and a lesbian.

Books An American Crime

Best-selling novelist Patricia Cornwell made headlines last week when she filed suit against a New York investment firm for losing $40 million of her money. But she'd much rather talk about her new book, hate-crimes legislation, and Angelina Jolie.

Comedy Gilded Lily

After conquering Broadway, movies, and television, out funny lady Lily Tomlin prepares for the final frontier — Las Vegas.

Entertainment News Ricky Martin, No Shirt and a Baby
Ricky Martin knows how to get the camera's attention. Take a look at the many pictures of Ricky uploaded to his Twitter account in the past three months, always shirtless, frequently carrying one (or both) of his babies.

Television Fresh Blood
With True Blood a bona-fide cultural phenomenon, producer Alan Ball offers tantalizing hints about what to expect on season 3.