Graphic courtesy of Ty Briley
Wednesday August 4th, 2010 will be a pretty historic day not just for Californians, but for all Americans. This is the day in which Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that Proposition 8 (a ban on same-gender marriage) was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The campaign for Proposition 8 was largely funded by the Mormon Church as well as several fundamentalist Christian organizations. Even the Catholic Church jumped on board and attempted to blackmail the city of Washington D.C. when they legalized same-gender marriage.
Still, the Mormon Church was the key fiscal culprit in the Proposition 8 push. It is estimated that Mormons contributed somewhere between 15 to 25 million dollars of the 40 million dollar campaign. During the battle over Proposition 8, many Americans protested in front of Mormon Churches around the nation. The Mormon brand name has been tied to this Proposition 8 fight so losing this battle is a big loss for the Mormon Church not just fiscally, but also a loss in reputation.
Of course it is also a sad day for the Catholic Church and fundamentalist religious groups who seem to want to put their Biblical opinions into law in much the same way that Muslims have done in many of the Arab nations around the world.
The greater atheistic community has been strongly in support of same-gender marriage because atheists don’t consider the Bible as a valid source for making laws. Underneath all the window-dressing, the anti-gay movement is rooted in the Bible and in the Abrahamic religions. However, many religious people have rightfully rejected the anti-gay verses within the Old and New Testaments in favor of secular rights and secular morality. These religious people have fought hard against Proposition 8 and they should be applauded for ignoring those embarrassing parts of their holy book.
Congratulations to everyone whether they are atheist or theist who have fought for the rights of same-gendered Americans to marry in California and in other states across the nation. Today we celebrate, tomorrow we fight new battles for equal rights against religious fundamentalism.
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Comments
Mormons have perhaps a well-deserved history and reputation for being discriminated against for their polygamy and Book Of Mormon, bible for the sect. And yet, despite this history Mormons made it their business to come into California and spend a great deal of money and energy in their effort to deny Gays and Lesbians their constitutional rights [14th Amendment]. These Mormons are without memory or shame; they forget their sordid past. This court ruling MAY teach these "moral" interlopers something about our laws, which originally they ignored and violated. But, can Utah's mental zombies learn from history?
Mormons did not loose, America lost. When on judge (who happens to be gay) can override the lawful election of the people, we all loose.
We loose until the U.S. Supreme Court corrects this mistake of one unelected judge.
lookin for relief, you are on sore looser.
I am proud of the Mormons for taking a stand, along with the other religious sects. The Mormons are not the losers, they are the winners. Nor are they the minority, the votes were counted.
Bravo! We ain't out of the woods yet.
Mr. Gardener, I'm sure that you are celebrating with many others about the overturning of prop 8. I saw that you mentioned polygamy in your post. Who is to say that polygamy is wrong? should we deny polygamists the right to marry more than one? Isn't it just social stigma that prevents us from accepting polygamy? And of course once we legalize polygamy let's move on to polyandry, but why stop there? Let's legalize zoophilia as well. After all, it is only social stigma that prevents it. We don't want those "moral interlopers" to prevent us from having sex with animals or even marrying them. But then again if we are allowing sex with animals we might as well take a look at the pedophiles point of view. Really, we have to make everything legal now, seeing as we are now giving people rights based on their actions. That makes sense. As for a sordid past, don't forget the illegal gay marriages that took place in California after prop 22. Think before you speak, and you might make sense.
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Stupid f a g s. Shouldn't be allowed to marry. Shoot them all.
Jak, I don't see anything wrong with polyamory as long as everyone involved are consenting adults (which wasn't the case with the LDS Church in the past and not the case with the FLDS Church now). The rest of your argument is just silly. If you can get a goat to say "I do" then be my guest, lol.
John Clayton, your statement is stupid enough. I have no need to comment.
I support homosexuals they have as much right as a man and a woman to be together.
It is written in the American constitution that the equal rights of anyone cannot be removed by a vote or any other 'democratic' method. The tyranny of the majority over the minority has come to an end. Good riddance Proposition 8.
It's time to end the propaganda that "outside money" from Mormons robbed gays of their "constitutional right" to redefine marriage!
The Los Angeles Times gives the inconvenient money trail:
(search: tracking money final)
Gays are completely hypocritical to complain about "outside interference," when gay marriage raised $5.3 million (14%) more than their opponents and raised $2 million (18%) more from out-of-state!
It defies credulity that gays portrays themselves as the righteous David facing the wicked Mormon Goliath, when out of the other side of their mouth they claim to be 10% of the population. So the "victim" is five times the size of the "bully?"
(search: "how many americans are gay")
(search: "largest branches of christianity")
And bully for the gay McCarthyism that produced the blacklist of Mormon contributors that inspired so many despicable acts of retribution!
I am proud of my church for opposing the gay marriage juggernaut!
Tracy Hall Jr
hthalljr'gmai
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." 14th Amendment. Seems pretty clear.
Why not tear up America’s Constitution? It’s only hanging by a thread in it’s purpose and representation. It has lost it’s value and glory.
After all we took GOD out of schools, and now we are taking GOD out of marriage. America has lost its identity and is in a state of confusion and mist. Sadly our generation will not feel the repercussions of this passing...but the generations to come will, our children will be living and raising their children OUR grand children in this mist of confusion. It is in the love for our future generations and God that Mormons would rise up on their feet with swords to the heavens to fight for the world their children will be living in, "when we are all gone". Why not approve all natural desires and actions. Like jak234 stated why stop here?
Continued...America was institutioned by god since the very beginning to be a great and powerful Nation. As the president Joseph Smith prophesied, “The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.” It will be so. With regard to the doings of our fathers and the Constitution of the United States, I have to say, they present to us a glorious prospect in the future, but one we cannot attain to until the present abuses in the Government are corrected
Now, I declare to you that if we are not in the beginning stages of the fulfillment of this prophecy, we are at least in the stages where we are preparing for its fulfillment
I am Mormon and am proud of our people our sacred beliefs our country ‘oh beautiful” our God and his son, AMERICA
There was no deity involved in the creation of the USA, except in the idea that the founding fathers wanted the government to stay out of religion. The US was founded to be secular, no matter how often you try to lie to the contrary. Religion stays out of schools, just like facts stay out of church.
In Mormon beliefs America was chosen in 600 BC, through a man from Jerusalem…this is why Mormons are so passionate about America. The rest of the story unfolds in the Book Of Mormon. So America is to our people sacred as Jerusalem. And yes, I do understand that our founding fathers didn’t want church and state united, but to be separate. But on the bill it DOES state IN God We Trust..so god does play a part in America’s beliefs and existence and for the protection of this country. I personally cannot think of America without feeling the love and protection of God’s power over her. We are a great Nation! For a reason, “with our Four Father’s playing a significant role in her development”..
As far as the title of this page goes, Mormons didn't lose. As stated above America's people did to the loss of their reverence for family, morality, and God...
Stephanie: you may want to work on the wording of your wording in your postings, otherwise they sort of make you sound like an intolerant, religiously-inspired bigot. Your god and your religion are fantasies, not reality. Focus on spreading love for fellow-humans, since those beings actually exist.
Wow Stephanie, you sure seem ignorant of facts and history. The judge was UPHOLDING the Constitution not shredding it. "In God We Trust" was put on our money in the 1950s through McCarthyism. And God wasn't taken out of the schools, forced prayer was taken out of the schools. If a kid wants to pray before a test in a non-disruptive fashion, he is free to do so, but I doubt it will help him get a better grade.
How is this a loss in reputation for the Mormon church? That makes absolutely no sense. They stood up for marriage as the cornerstone of our society. They fought for the only healthy model of the human family - one where a man and a woman love each other and raise children. They held true to their core beliefs. So how is this a loss for their reputation? People know where Mormons stand on the matter. Seems to me that they strengthened their reputation.
Stephanie as a mormon, small m intentionally used, you probably do have four fathers, which might help explain your shallow mind and ignorant arguments. Probably as a mormon have had sexual relations with all four as well, which might help explain your incessant need to escape reality. You and your mormon psychopath friends are determined to never let men live in peace, because obviously misery loves company. You all should be ashamed, not rejoicing for the lives you destroy.
I see "Stephanie" celebrates mormonism over rights for all Americans. The foolishness of The Book Of Mormon is exceeded only by her arrogance in praying to God. When He answers her petty prayers, please let the world know immediately. Polygamy was formulated by lusty Mormon leaders, but was furthered and strengthened by ignorant women like Stephanie and her kin who loved the bondage. If people could vote out rights, Mormonism would have been voted out in the 19th century. Mormons lack love and charity as a group. They should clean up their own very serious religious mess before interfering with CA voters' rights or any other rights for others. I know of no more evil a sect.
-
For an amusing and accurate critical review of The Book Of Mormon, please see: "ROUGHING IT", Appendix, By MARK TWAIN. Although in trying to read this holy book, one is struck by it's illiterate and foolish ideas and mis-use of the English language, at least Mark Twain attempted to explain it to the readers of his book. Like all non-Mormons, he found the book to be a masterpiece of nonsense and total illiteracy. Try the book!
I applaud the Mormons for standing up for the rights and beliefs of the larger percentage of those American people “religious or not” who do believe and practice, that matrimony of marriage is between a woman and a man. I feel Mormons are a Beacon of light for all us Americans who are for Proposition 8. They are only evil in the eyes of those who find them to be a threat BECAUSE they do stand up and speak for the majority of American people who are against gay marriage. They are a strong hold in this matter and I don’t believe their reputation as been damaged, only enlightened, if not now then down the road.
Oh Larry,
You are too funny…You know nothing of truth only of speculation. Mormons practiced Polygamy for a very short time only to help preserve and nurture lives. Brigham Young was “sealed” to as many as 56 woman. Many of the wives to whom Young were sealed were widows or elderly women for whom he merely cared or gave the protection of his name. Not out of lust ! LOL That’s o.k. you are not a member and I wouldn’t expect you to know that facts or understand.
If you read the book of Mormon instead of getting bits and pieces of someone else’s point of view in educating yourself, you would have understood the desperation and necessity of this practice at the time.
Anyway, this action today is not tolerated in the church, anyone who pursues this path is excommunicated, “meaning you are no longer a member” and so forth. This is the most serious penalty the Church can impose. The FLDS church are not members of our church and have absolutely no association with us. They don’t even h
2) continued >
They don’t even have the same beliefs and aren’t even Mormon,. Just to clarify that as many are confused, as I would have been not being a member.,
On the other hand I do feel compassion for those individuals and the trials they are going through, it is a hard life to live not to receive the acceptance from others. For this my heart does go out to them. I see a lot of heart ache in their lives due to their lifestyle and wouldn’t want anyone, I loved to have to go through such heart ache. But I cannot help what is grained in my being, that feels this to be judgmental to our society and to the children and the future generations. That is where it stands with me. I love humanity, but also as a mother I want the world to be the best it can be for my children and grandchildren. There is already so much confusion in the world for our children and this will only add to it, although it would make those involved a happier people.
Stephanie - "Many of the wives to whom Young were sealed were widows or elderly women for whom he merely cared or gave the protection of his name. Not out of lust!" That's not the way Joseph Smith's first wife saw it.
Second, again how does other people's married lives affect you, your children, or your church? I'm a straight married man and your marriage status has zero effect on me and my wife. Why does your Church feel the need to stop other people from getting married? Your church can make whatever ridiculous social rules they want on their members, but you have no right to tell non-Mormons what to do. If your god hates gay marriage so much, then let me deal with it. It seems like you don't trust your god to handle the situation.
The reason the LDS Church stopped polygamy has nothing to do with god. The US Government was going to raid the church over it and throw everyone in jail. LDS compromised!
25 million dollars to help deny the rights of people whose lives are none of their business could have been better spent helping poor and starving people who struggle just to survive another day. Typical of religious people to be petty, self-serving, short-sighted.
Once again our "Stephanie" is wrong if not cockeyed about the facts told to her by her leaders--leaders, by the way who have no conception of Human Kindness, the most rare but valuable emotion and life attitude. Finally get this straight: polygamy was practiced from the 1840's, or slightly earlier in the late 30's, until 1895. Fifty-five years is hardly a "short" time! The Mormon church was forced to stop practicing polygamy to enter the union in '95. Their then President had one of his "Direct Revelations From God" to give up the practice of polygamy. Small wonder the Mormons need a huge staff to try and figure out who their relatives and kinfolk were and are--their "Historical Office". Mormon Presidents are the only humans ever known to have had conversations directly from God--wonder why God is interested in the denizens of Salt Lake--nobody else is.
Those desirous of knowing the sordid beginnings of the Mormon church [if that it be!] can find everything in: "Nobody Knows My History", the best biography of Joseph Smith and his writing of The Book Of Mormon. Also interesting are "Moutain Meadows Massacre", by Juanita Brooks; and "Lion Of The Lord", a biography of Brigham Young, the lusty and notorious leader behind the march to Utah, and the man who ordered the massacre of 120 travelers at Mountain Meadows in 1857.
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