Friday, November 7, 2008

Prop. 8 Protest

[Pro-gay marriage Mormons] Squished in the middle of the sign-waiving crowd packed into City Creek Park Friday evening and completely unable to make out anything Rocky Anderson was saying, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with a cute newlywed couple. Pasted to the women’s cardboard sign—but protected in a plastic sheathe—was their three-week-old California marriage license.

The couple—both returned missionaries—first married in a commitment ceremony 14 years ago, an event they still consider their official marriage date. Even so, Marilyn, one half of the couple, said she hadn’t realized what societal sanction of her union meant until she welled up in tears during her California marriage ceremony and surprised herself thinking, “I’m getting married to the love of my life.”

Many of those who turned out to march around the LDS Church complex in protest of LDS church support for California’s ban on gay marriage were Mormons, or former Mormons, upset, or embarrassed by, the church’s support of Proposition 8.

“I paid tithing for 23 years. I want my money back,” read Chris Lemon’s sign. It was one of many Mormon-themed placards.

“What’s the difference between Nauvoo and now? The persecuted have become the persecutors”
“Shame on Monson”
“Ban Temple Marriage”
“Every 10th Saint is a Queer”
“Family is Unconditional”
“30 % of Your Eternal Family is Gay”
“Joseph Smith didn’t believe in marriage between 1 man and 1 woman”
“Dear Mr. Monson. Please try not to take away my inalienable rights. Thank you very much.”


Several signs compared the LDS stance on gay marriage to rules that once bared blacks from the Mormon priesthood. “Time for a revelation Mr. Monson,” read one. Steve Hausknecht’s piece of cardboard was like that “John 3:16” sign you used to see at football games, only it quoted a passage from the Doctrine and Covenants--“D&C 134:9 No mingling religious influence with civil government”--written in a different era when Mormons were trying to find a place to practice their religion unmolested.

One of the thousands came from Weber County, an active Mormon attending Friday’s protest with her grown son and carrying a sign that read, “Mormons for Equality.” “I’m the only one I know who’s got the guts to say I’m both” [Mormon and gay], she said.

For the past five or so years, the woman has chosen to live as a celibate in order to return to the LDS church. The message from church leaders calling on members to work for passage of Proposition 8 wasn’t read at her ward. If it had been, she said she would have walked out and complained to the bishop. Most at the ward house know she was gay and likely would have walked out with her, she said. Until recent news reports, the woman didn’t know the extent of LDS Church support for the California marriage ban.

“I feel very betrayed and disrespected by what [church members] did in California,” she said. “I don’t think churches should enter the political arena in any way.” She added she didn’t approve of “bashing,” including some of the “Mormon bashing” at Friday’s event.

Some agitated for continued action. One man gathered signatures on a drive to pressure authorities to take action against the LDS church’s tax-exempt status. Others passed out a list of national and Utah business owners who had contributed to the Yes on 8 campaign, calling for a boycott.

As the happy throngs passed down North Temple—pausing outside the entrance to the LDS Church’s Main Street Plaza (a no protest zone by city ordinance since 1999) to chant “shame”—a lone man carrying a “Yes On 8” sign tried to engage the crowd. The people had spoken, he said, and gay marriage had lost. Most ignored him. Finally a young, straight married couple paused to talk. The Yes Man began by attacking the couple's sexuality. "I'm not gay," said the female half of the couple, "I'm married." She held out her ring finger. “Do you know the church says it’s OK to be gay?” her husband asked. The Yes Man stuck to his guns for a minute’s argument, then gave up, dropped his sign to his side and walked up the street alone. (Ted McDonough)

20 comments:

  1. I hope that sign about Joesph Smith wasn't the real one. I mean if people are going to protest against something, fine but they should at least get the facts (or in this case names) right!

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  2. Any chance anyone has a youtube copy of the KUTV 10pm broadcast of the protest? I thought it had some better footage than the Fox and channel 5 versions.

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  3. I hope the protests continue, the State is boycotted and tourist stay away in droves. Effing mormon scum.

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  4. is there a list available online of the businesses that supported the ban? b/c I'd like to discontinue my support of those businesses.

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  5. I would like a list of venders to boycott

    LIVE YOU OWN LIFE PEOPLE. Everyone is different for a reason.

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  6. I think it is time to stop this mormon agenda. Look what the nazis did to 9 million jews and a half million gays. Get your religion off my rights.

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  7. Im from Portland and was going to spend the Holidays in Utah. Not now. I just blacked it out on my world globe. It doesnt exist. This is not a boycott or a protest.....I not going to be around those mormons, they're psychic vampires (google that term).

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  8. Sorry you won't be in Utah.
    Not really.
    google that.

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  9. what's going on is emotional violence, an extension of mormon violence, here's a clip on the mt meadow massacre:
    Professor Gene Sessions, a Mormon, historian and authority on the massacre has concluded:

    "... some 50 Mormons taking orders from local ecclesiastical leaders actually went out and tricked these 120 people out of their encampment with a white flag and then proceeded to murder them in cold blood with the exception of 17 small children. ...

    "It's an awful story, you can't put a smilie face on it. This was cold-blooded murder of innocent people. Occasionally someone will come up to me and say, 'Well don't you think they deserved it?' And, no I don't think they deserved it. I don't care how many of the stories you believe about whatever the immigrants did to get killed, nothing they did came anywhere close to justifying the murder of little children and the oldest child saved was six-years and 11 months old. Everyone older than that was murdered. In fact most of the murdered people were women and children. So there's no justification. Even if you wanted to make some justification for killing the men, it breaks down pretty fast. It's just- there's no justification for the murder of these people. ..."

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  10. Wow, that is so enlightening!
    The Mountain Meadows Massacre-
    it explains EVERYTHING!

    No wonder you lost Proposition 8, MORON.

    You can squeal about the bad Mormons but they are not your problem.
    In case you haven't noticed California is just the latest of many states to codify in their Constitution bans on Homosexual "marriage".

    Focus on 1850 if you like but it is a losing strategy. Loser.

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  11. Quotation:
    "If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats." Brigham Young 1
    "The Mountain Meadows Massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of American history. It was a crime committed without cause or justification of any kind to relieve it of its fearful character... When nearly exhausted from fatigue and thirst, [the men of the caravan] were approached by white men, with a flag of truce, and induced to surrender their arms, under the most solemn promises of protection. They were then murdered in cold blood." William Bishop, Attorney to John D. Lee.

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  12. Prop 11: Lets ban Mormons, now.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmLc0LpcKME

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  13. Interesting.
    Homosexuals tout same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue.
    But the community that has the most firsthand knowledge of civil rights rejected that notion by almost three to one.
    Blacks aren't buying equating their struggle for equality with the right for rich self-centered spoiled yuppie white homosexuals to blow $50K on a "wedding".
    Go figure.

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  14. Ban Mormons, Prop ll.

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  15. To mormon who disputed the quote about mormon massacre and slit the throats, sorry, this is from a mormon historian.....heheh.... a few of your people are willing to put the truth out there. I hope you enjoy defending gay rights in your legislature the next 5 years and when the vote goes back to the california voters in 2 years, as planned, I hope you enjoy spending another 30 million of your cash, cause we aren't going to lose to the mormon church this time. And, stay off my property, don't ring my bell. Don't put those cute ads on my tv selling my on your happiness. Thousands of websites have popped up after prop 8. Just you wait and see what you unleashed. We're pissed. Signed, fags and queers of the world, including the 10 of the world, and what research shows, 15% of byu students are gay too. You closeted mormon officials...come out, come out, whereever you are. Cause if you keep legistlating against us and getting it on the side, we're pushing you outta the closet. You're on notice. Fags against mormons. By the way, we're ready to celebrate the Stonewall Riot all over again and form again the Gay Liberation Front.

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  16. I was there, it was fantastic; I am gay and in the military it sucks to hide it, but to see how much others in this country want to supress our (Homosexual Individuals) feelings, sucks. To actually see ACTION taking place such as the Prop 8 (and the don't ask don't tell policy, for me) really takes a toll on one. It as if the LDS religion (I am usin them as just an example, out of convenience) wants to make every one in the nation, or even the world Mormon. To not allow free expression. Not every one has the same beliefe, obviously. But to me when a religion takes a stand on the way one thinks, It is almost like brain washing. I truly understand that a orginized religious members wish to share their wonderful experiances with every one so they too, can have the life after death. When the religion crosses the line of wanting to share and goes to the point of where they are pushing it over your door step is not my idea of finding the right path. That is why I feel so strongly about this propsition. I know that It is nothing personal against me, But As the LCD church is viewed as a whole, one member will feel personal insult when some one "bashes" their religion, I am a member of the Gay community and I take personal insult to any of my fellow gay member (GBLT) I am a proud lesbian. And Thank you very much, to every one who showed. =)

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  17. Prop 8... we voted on it... passed it... now get OVER IT. That is democracy people. Yes it still is a Hot Topic BUT The VOTE IS THE VOTE... Now shut up and go away.

    I am quite sure there will be more Prop to come along But this is a Democracy and YOU LOST. get another prop together and we will vote that down too. until you can pass one shut up.

    The people have spoken/ and what is funny is that even tho the LDS got behind this, it wasn't even started by them.

    I think the more you act out against the "System" the more you hurt you own cause, as it really pisses people off.

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  18. This petition is going around in the California LDS emails today.

    Join the "Yes on 8 Petition" to Governor Schwarnegger - to support the rule of law.

    Or when democracy doesn't work - try Anarchy?

    http://familyleader.info/petitions/petition_5.php

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  19. www.howobamagotelected.com

    Nuff Said.

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