Witness: Bias Played Role In Prop. 8

Witness: Bias Played Role In Prop. 8
Political Science Professor Testifies On Churches, Religion, Anti-Gay Stereotypes
POSTED: 2:55 pm PST January 26, 2010
UPDATED: 3:24 pm PST January 26, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO -- A political scientist testified Tuesday in a trial challenging California's ban on same-sex marriage that powerful churches, religious views of voters and anti-gay stereotypes played a big role in the passage of Proposition 8.

Claremont McKenna College Professor Kenneth Miller said under cross-examination that he could not say what proportion of voters supported the 2008 measure because of either bias or theological beliefs.

But he acknowledged that at least some people voted for Proposition 8 on the basis of anti-gay stereotypes and prejudice and that in the election a critically important factor was the religious character of Democratic voters.

snip...
Plaintiffs lawyer David Boies spent several hours trying to draw admissions from Miller to bolster the argument that California's voter-approved ban on gay marriages was a product of prejudice rooted in religion rather than sound public policy.

"You are saying the general principle that a religious majority should not be able to use law to impose their views on others is a generally accepted principle in political science?" Boies asked, citing some of Miller's early writings that were critical of California's initiative process.

Miller replied, "There might be exceptions, but that is a generally accepted principle."

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http://www.kcra.com/politics/22348275/detail.html