The top finding is that the false claim that gays are harmful to kids (we want either molest them or to kidnap them and turn them queer) resonated deeply with voters. There were even a half-million parents with minors at home who switched sides because of that message. And the pro-gay side avoided countering that claim. The second biggest problem was the anti-gay side was very disciplined in their message and the pro-gay message wandered, even avoiding the word "gay". On the plus side the pro-gay forces had record-breaking online fundraising and a record-breaking swarm of volunteers (alas, many volunteers were squandered on those already firmly on our side).
So how do we counter that false claim? We need to because it's been thrown at us in every gay-related vote since Anita Bryant did it in Florida in 1977. And though false, it wins every time. So, how?
Here's one idea. A lesbian schoolteacher got married and invited her young students. The anti-gay side had an ad running almost immediately showing that incident and lied, saying the parents were horrified. The response could have been (but wasn't):
Hey, those are my kids and I took them to that wedding. And how DARE these people tell me how I have to raise my children. And that’s what this initiative is all about. I want to raise my kids to value diversity and equality and they want to force us all to live by THEIR religion. Please vote with me to protect our rights to raise our families as we sit fit.
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