Prop 8, a Campaign Based on Fears and Lies
It's hard to believe, but there's a backlash being carefully crafted against gay Americans who are understandably hurt and angry at the passage of California's Proposition 8. Even though that narrow vote stripped loving couples of their legal right to marry, some religious leaders would have us believe that gay America is targeting religious freedom in protesting the outsized role of the Latter-day Saints Church.
There have been nationwide protests, but nearly everyone has been peaceful. In any case, how do a few isolated incidents of spray paint equate with losing a constitutional right to equality given under the law? How does one incident of white powder in one church building -- a horrible act everyone condemns -- suddenly turn gay Americans into terrorists? It does if your singular goal is to block equality for one group of Americans.
And when did the LDS Church become the victim? Is this the same church that conducted a national broadcast to Mormon chapels calling on members to organize and write checks to the Prop 8 campaign? The same church that donated more than half of the $40 million behind Prop 8, even though California Mormons represent just two percent of the state's population?
As someone who was raised in the Mormon Church and fulfilled my two-year missionary assignment overseas, I know something about LDS teachings. And I know that God's view on homosexuality as expressed by Mormon prophets and leaders has changed so many times that the Church has little credibility in this area.
Church Elders have advocated for the utter destruction of homosexuals and have not ruled out violence as a defense against someone who is gay. Today, the Elders do not condone violence. That's a relief.
And it's confusing everywhere you turn. The church long proclaimed that being gay is a choice. Today, Elders sidestep the issue by saying the Church doesn't have a position on what makes people gay. Today the Church asks gay members to remain celibate where they once called on us to overcome our homosexuality and return to "normal, happy" living.
Mormon prophets say they have a direct line of communication with God. Is God changing His mind? To many of us, this constant retelling and rewriting God's view is reminiscent of their view of Black members. The Church stated that African-American men could not participate in the full blessings of the Gospel, until a revelation by their prophet in 1978 said all worthy males could hold the Priesthood. I remember being instructed about how to talk to Black people I might encounter as a missionary -- that they were welcome in the Church, but they'd never attain the full status that other men could achieve.
Finally, I believe many are missing the fundamental rub here: the Prop 8 campaign was based on fears and lies. Fears that homosexuality would become elementary school fodder, and lies that churches would be taxed, and priests or ministers refusing to marry gay or lesbian couples would be arrested.
They knew, and certainly the LDS Church knew, that what was taken away in California was the right to a civil, legal marriage. It had nothing whatsoever to do with religions which remained free to either open or close their doors to same-sex ceremonies.
So, yes, people are mad. And that anger is fueled not just by the towering role of the LDS Church, but the fact that a religious institution which promotes truth would, in this case, promote and fund lies. That doesn't sit well, whether you're a former Mormon as I am, or simply a gay American who sees one religion intent on taking his legal rights away.
Bruce Bastian, who lives in Orem, Utah, is the co-founder of WordPerfect.
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There is a great irony in the anti-gay activists attempting to paint gays and lesbians as violent mobs. In fact, they get away with the defamation and spiritual terrorism they practice precisely because they know that gays and lesbians are predominantly middle-class and gentle, who are not likely to riot or retaliate against them. They are used to turning the other cheek, and they have been indoctrinated to feel guilt and shame, and in many (perhaps most) parts of this country they are effectively intimidated by the threat of physical violence (and the lack of police protection).
Actually, I wish there was more retaliation. One of the lesons of the Black civil rights struggle was that Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were both necessary.
The confrontational tactics of ACT UP were also necessary in getting the government to finally recognize AIDS.
I am in favor of nonviolence, but sometimes civil disobedience is necessary.
The Prop 8 protests have been peaceful, but the problem is that there has been some negative dialog and finger pointing and generalizing that has offended certain people. I am a black, atheist, hetero and I fully support gay marriage. But when I see some of the internet headlines blaming blacks, I get turned off and I feel alienated. I have an aunt who's black, Christian and lesbian and she definitely supports gay marriage rights and she also is offended that an entire race has been generalized. It doesn't matter if an overwhelming amount of blacks voted for Prop 8, it still does not equal 100%. The 30% of us who live and vote in Cali and are not homophobic would gladly challenge and dialog with the people in the community who have homophobic views. I do that all the time. But when you generalize an entire race, you spark another kind of dialog in the black community that is a distraction from the big picture. Instead of: "See...there they go playing the blame the blackfolks game again..." conversation, we could be having the: "So, why DO you feel that gay people shouldn't marry? How does it hurt YOU personally?" conversation which helps the cause a lot more. Just sayin'....
Let me say that I really am glad that there were a lot of black Californians who did vote against Prop 8. I just wish it had been more. I wish more members of racial minorities understood that there is a lot of similarity between the struggle for equal rights and nondiscrimination against people based on race and the struggle of gays and lesbians for their civil rights. I think a lot of people of all races do not know the extent of past and present persecution of homosexuals, and we need to educate everyone about this history that is largely unknown in the general population, and even among many gays and lesbians. It is unfortunate that a lot of people (white, black, Asian, hispanic and others) think that because gays and lesbians can hide their sexuality, there is no need to protect them from discrimination in employment, housing, health care or the ability to marry the person they love.
Honestly, I'm surprised more has not happened; the APA has already expressed concern since PROP 8 passed.
Nobody wants backlash, but when your own family is legally hated and voted against, it's not a far cry to go from a friendly neighborhood teacher to the guy "going postal" on the roof of some building. Do we really want an America where we get to vote away rights others deem essential?
Thanks Bruce for stepping up and out as a gay mormon. As a gay mormon myself I was a recipient of a scholarship provided by you at Utah State University for being a gay leader on campus.
I moved from Utah to get away from the obvious anti-gay culture.
I wrote the following letter to the LDS church weeks before the election and my statements still stand to be proven by the "would be" saints.
First, you are in violation of at least 6 of the 13 Articles of Faith as penned by Joseph Smith the Prophet and founder of the LDS faith. If Joseph Smith is not a prophet then the church he founded is not true!
Second, you are violating your own tenets in stepping forward to enact Control and take away citizenry rights of others, when your Church principles are based almost wholly on the principle of Agency.
Third, in claiming to be the "Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints" and yet actively disseminating hatred and intolerance when Christ's ultimate sacrifice was made to Atone for all of our sins if we but keep the true and great commandment of "Love One Another." Then are you truly Christian?
I urge you to reconsider your statements, action, and publicity and in turn offer an apology to the people of California and to gay people across the world.
Just Jill:
Bradford, Peck, Knight, Palmer, Kartchner, Fox, Benson, Burrup, Birch, Knudsen, Henderson
'The Cultural Orphan.'
One incident of white powder? There where 3. in 3 different states.
PS. Since Gay Couples in California have all the rights hetercouples have this isn't a Civil rights issue.
Have any of those incidents been tied to gay people?
And P.S., domestic partnership is not equal to marriage. Do your research.
Clearly you are uneducated in the law.
Remember John Salvi and Eric Robert Rudolph? They have no equivalent in the opponents of Prop 8.
"PS. Since Gay Couples in California have all the rights hetercouples have this isn't a Civil rights issue."
That is a flat out lie.
This is an inaccurate article. The broadcasts concerning proposition 8 were not national broadcasts, but were directed to the members in California and to California voters outside of the state. It is also inaccurate to report that the church donated the speculated $40 million, it was the members of the church acting as responsible citizens participating in the political process.
bebus06: still howling at the LDS moon? The LDS hierarchy were responsible for mandating the donation by its members, and pushed its agenda through via broadcasts to LDS halls. You folks are sheep: all three Californians who resigned when they could not do their jobs after their donations to Prop 8 were exposed are Mormon! One donated $100 even though she had hundred of thousands of gay patrons at her restaurant over decades. Even she couldn't stand up to the LDS pressure to donated. What a poor excuse for "agency"/ free will. Sheep, the lot of you! Your Elders led you into the mud; the slop will stain you for generations.
We are sheep, and we know our Sheppard.
Sorry marco, there was no "mandate".
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that if Mr. Bastian had any evidence of the supposed calls for the "utter destruction" of gays, he would have included it. He loses additional credibility points by claiming that the LDS Church donated more than half of the funds in support of prop 8. Donations made by members of any organization--whether that be a church, a school, or a chess club--made in their capacity as voting citizens, cannot be attributed to whatever organizations they may belong to.
Oh, and who made you the Pope of election finance? The LDS Church pressured its members to donate money; the members responded. The LDS Church also contributed a great deal of money and "in kind" services, the value of which they then lied about. That is why they are under investigation by the California election commission, which will likely fine them for lying. I wish they could fine them for the lies they told in the campaign itself.
See Lane Hudson's Profile
The LDS Church tied the salvation of its members to their financial support to pass Prop 8. It is entirely fitting for Mr. Bastian to attribute the funds raised to the LDS Church. It is highly unlikely that your run of the mill Mormon would have been so financially supportive or active in the campaign without this decree from the LDS Church.
The LDS church tied the salvation of its members to their financial support of prop 8???
Please! Seriously, that is hilarious. They LDS church was smart organized and a powerful lobby and participated lawfully and aggressively in the political process. Get over it.
RE: "The LDS Church tied the salvation of its members to their financial support to pass Prop 8."
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Nope -- I attended the *local* broadcast about Prop 8 and LDS meetings every week this last year. In the broadcast, the LDS leaders asked the attendees to ponder, pray, and obtain their own answers about Prop 8 and then act accordingly. There was NO tying of salvation to one's position on Prop 8, much less to one's donations.
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Polls say 91% of LDS voters in California voted for Prop 8. This means that 9% -- 1 of 11 -- voted against it. If the Church were tying salvation to support of Prop 8, we should see the mass excommunications begin any moment. Don't hold your breath.
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In my local ward (congregation), one member would derailed our Sunday class every week with his oppositions to Prop 8. He not only did not lose his salvation for it, the rest of the class consistently welcomed him and made sure that he felt welcome with us.
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Pls confine your editorial interpositions to truth.
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-manaen
Lane,
"The LDS Church tied the salvation of its members to their financial support to pass Prop 8."
This is a blatant and gross LIE!!! Not true, not even close. Where did you pull this fabrication from? Try again...
Being a Prop 8 supporter, these so called lies will come to fruition by some of the "radical" gays- those do include the graffiti, white powder, and taking grade school kids to a gay weddings-opponents of Prop 8. If Bastion doesn't think these "lies" will occur if prop 8 failed- watch Mass. and Conn. and the progression, It is not just about gay marriage!!!!!
"taking grade school kids to a gay weddings"
That happened once, and every child had his/her parents' consent. More Yes on 8 truth distortions. Do your research.
Didn't I just read an article in this paper that clearly stated they were teaching the gay lifestyle in schools??? They even quoted this organization.
http://groundspark.org/our-films-and-campaigns/elementary
Looks pretty obvious to me.
There is an agenda to teach the gay and lesbian lifestyle in the schools. Read the recent article printed on this website
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/isobel-white/prop-8-and-our-schools_b_150720.html
Google groundsparks and go to their website. Looks pretty obvious to me.
I have seen plenty of straight kids at weddings. What is the problem? Are you saying kids should not attend weddings?
More fear-mongering by Prop 8 supporters. As far as I can tell, the sky has not exactly fallen in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Interesting that Massachusetts has by far the lowest rate of divorce in the country, far lower in fact than Utah and Idaho, where Mormons are so plentiful, and also far lower than in the southern states. So much for protecting the sanctity of marriage!
Nothing bad has happened to anyone because of same sex marriage in Massachusetts. No one has had their freedoms taken away. Equality is not damaging.
Same sex couples have the same rights as hetero in Ca. Marriage is not a right, just as it not a right for everyone to have a mercedes. The same sex couples will do the same things they do now. Nothing changed in thier LIFESTYLE when prop 22 was overturned. The same sex couples didn't all of a sudden love each other more. Marriage is a phrase used to describe a man- woman relationship. No hate, no homophobe, no discrimination. No liberties taken away- they still brush thier teeth, say to each other I love you, give each other hugs, kiss wherever they want, drive to work. What in the world changes in thier life?- NOTHING, NADA. Then blaming LDS; opponents of prop 8 had about the same amount of money and time to get thier message out. Sorry, it did not go the same sex way.
All men are created equal-unless you're gay or black. Liberty & justice for all-unless you're gay.
I believe that Jim Jones claimed to have a hotline to God also. Look where the followers ended up.
And you don't believe in God or you just believe God condones homosexual relationships? It sounds to me like you have drunk the kool aid of moral reletivism. If you believe in good then you have to believe in evil. Some things are universally right or wrong and man doesn't make the rules.
You will never get everyone to agree on the issue of the rightness or wrongness of gay relationships. There is no incontrovertible one true faith. We are all blind to the true knowledge of whether or not there is a god or a group of gods or no god.
Like the Buddhist monk told the Caliph of Bagdad, we are all serarching for the one pearl of wisdom in a lightless room of pearl sized stones. We will never know what we have until the light is turned on.
Humans do write the laws, and we are all entitled to equal protection under law. We do not have to consider the myriad views of past and present religions on homosexuality, because this is an issue of law, to be settled by the US Constitution. A literal reading of the 14th Amendment supports marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples.
You mean like slavery, which is condoned in the Bible and was practiced by Christians for centuries?
Or how about the murder and torture of the Inquisition and the Salem witch trials? Those were also sanctioned by churches and religious people.
Well, this wasn't biased or anything. Obviously Bastian has beef with the Mormon church and the Prop 8 issue is a convenient platform for his fire.
Bastian is also gives false information. LDS leaders haven't changed their positions, that's the ironic thing! During a time when so many other churches do change their positions in regards to homosexuality and other social issues, the LDS church stands its ground.
By the way there is such a thing as being pro-traditional-marriage but not anti-gay. I love my homosexual friends, but if lived in California I would have voted to support traditional marriage. I repeat, I am not anti-gay. People I know who have same-gender attraction are some of the most gentle people I know.
You have been brainwashed regarding "traditional marriage". Read the bible again, men throughout had non-traditional marriages. And adultry was punishable by death! You do NOT get to judge the rest of us. The precious does not belong to the LDS church.
Traditional marriage is a nice way of saying, "I support marriage being between a man and a woman, seeing as how that's how it's always been." The purpose of marriage is something gay marriage advocates take issue with. But regardless if women were considered nothing more than chattel, having children had nothing to do with marriage, or what beliefs in God have done for the institution of marriage...all these purposes of marriage were between man and woman.
Ya right whatever. When do we get to vote on whether or not you have the right to divorce?
If you truly believed in "traditional marriage" then you would also believe that YOU are nothing more than a piece of property to your husband. Or that your marriage would be arranged for you, and that you would have been sold to the highest bidder. Or that if your right to divorce should be taken away. Or that YOU would not be free to marry someone of a different race. Or that YOU would not be free to marry someone of a different faith. Or that YOU would be required to be a slave in the home. That your ONLY role is in the kitchen and barefoot and pregnant.
I'm sure that you probably don't believe in the above scenarios, and if you don't then you do NOT believe in "traditional marriage". Marriage has be redefined over the years so many times it would make your head spin. Nobody in the gay community is trying to force ANY religious institution to perform same-sex ceremonies, they simply seek LEGAL/CIVIL marriage.
Because marriage has been redefined doesn't mean society has to support it's re-definition in this instance. That's a fallacious appeal to novelty.
If all you care about is equal rights, the ones the law gives, be content with domestic partnership laws. If you wish to have a never-ending debate about the meaning of marriage, keep campaigning for marriage. But do realize they're not the same thing.
If you want to see who REALLY has a problem with the LDS, then take a small poll of the evangelical community. As a person who was raised Southern Baptist, I can tell you with 100% accuracy, that concervative evangelicals despise the Mormon church and everything it stands for, and have heard many hateful sermons blasted from the pulpit denouncing them. Oh, and this stuff comes right from the mainstream section of the Southern Baptist Convention, and is a commonly held attitude. The gay community may be angry right now, but most of the religious right sees the LDS as a false cult that must be eliminated and have thought that way ever since Mr. Smith found those tablets.
We disagree on many things but we will stand shoulder to shoulder on moral issues and will support our Christian brothers and sisters whenever needed.
Yeah, LDS beliefs are wacky -- especially the ones we share with mainstream Christians. Like Moses seeing God in a burning bush. Or Mary getting news of her pregnancy from an angel. Or a carpenter's son rising from the dead. I don't think all Southern Baptists despise Mormons -- just the dopey ones.
Don't kid yourself angie. You can't love people when you think you're inherently morally superior to them and that you have standing to destroy the most important legal relationships they have or may someday choose to form.
Amen to that one.
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