There were other propositions in California, such as the property tax rollback, that passed by a wide margin. Even Massachusetts came within a few percentage points of abolishing that state's income tax last month. Few "gay rights" propositions receive a majority of the vote; state level Equal Rights Amendments went down in flames, for the most part. Gun control initiatives seldom pass in referenda.
To summarize, electorates in both California and elsewhere will vote in a more conservative manner than their legislatures and high courts do. However, too large a portion of the electorate simply disconnect their choice of candidates from their personal beliefs. Too many votes select a candidate for providing funds for a new highway or helping fund the expansion of the local college than for principled positions.