Controversial initiatives
Some of the more controversial initiatives over the years:
1978: An initiative that would have banned gays and lesbians — and their supporters — from holding jobs at public schools is defeated at the polls.
1978: The landmark Proposition 13 is approved, recalculating property taxes for millions.
1994: The so-called Save Our State initiative, which would have denied public benefits to those in the country illegally, is approved — then immediately overturned by the courts.
1996: The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is approved.
2010: The so-called Christmas carol initiative, which called for schools to provide students the right and opportunity to sing Christmas carols, fails to qualify for the ballot.
2010: A proposed initiative to ban divorce in California fails to garner enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but supporters vow to try again.
Source: California Secretary of State
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