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On November 4th, California voters passed Proposition 8. The proposition would amend the California constitution to specify that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Lambda Legal Defense, NCLR and the ACLU have urged the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8. The groups argue that Prop. 8 is invalid because it improperly attempts to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality and deprives the courts of their essential role of protecting the rights of minorities.

Supporters of same-sex marriage have protested the results of Tuesday's vote. On Friday November 7th, tens of thousands gathered at 5:30pm in San Francisco's UN Plaza for a No On 8 rally and marched to Dolores Park. Large protests have also taken place in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Oakland, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Modesto and even in Salt Lake City.

On Tuesday November 4th, Barack Obama beat John McCain to become the first African-American President of the United States of America. Obama won many traditionally Republican states, including Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, Indiana and North Carolina. As Obama's win became clear, celebrations broke out around the Bay Area.

In California, Proposition 8 passed, changing the California Constitution to ban same sex marriage. Proposition 2, a ban on mistreatment of farm animals, passed. Prop 5, which aimed to reform how the prison system deals with drug offenders, failed to pass. In San Francisco, a measure to bring JROTC back into schools passed. A measure to change how police deal with prostitution failed to pass. The SF Board of Supervisors has remained in the hands of progressives.

On October 30th, a gathering of Palin family look-alikes met under the rainbow flag on the Castro to the delight of tourists and locals alike. Mainstream media came out in force to photograph the group of men and women in Sarah Palin drag. A non-plussed Bristol Palin impersonator, appearing very pregnant, joined the entourage, helping to lift the spirits of San Franciscans nervous about election outcomes.

Tuesday November 4th, is election day in the United States. Most of the focus on the mainstream media has been on Obama and McCain, but several third party candidates are also running and there are many local and statewide races and propositions. In California, Proposition 8 threatens to end same sex marriage and in San Francisco, Proposition V threatens to reinstate JROTC in San Francisco schools. California state Proposition 2 will ban abuse of farm animals, while proposition 5 will change treatment of drug offenders to focus more on rehabilitation than incarceration. San Francisco Proposition K aims to reduce abuse of prostitutes through partial legalization; it would effectively cut off funding for prostitution busts, but would require the cops to pursue cases involving violent crime against sex workers.

The Republican National Committee has sent non-Republican voters in Northern California a letter identifying them as Republicans. The letters include a registration card with a fake voter ID number and a do-not-forward stamp on the outside of the envelope. Voting rights activists say the letters are part of a voter caging campaign and an attempt to undermine non-Republican voters in the November election.

Proposition 8 is an initiative measure on the 2008 California General Election ballot titled "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." If passed, the proposition would "change the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California." Recent polls put the initiative ahead 47 to 42 percent among likely voters. San Francisco's No on 8 office at 2278 Market St. has Saturday rallies at 10 a.m. followed by phonebanking.