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Two cartoons from the Salt Lake City Tribune’s Pat Bagley:
Proposition 8
Gay Mormon
AustinRoth
OK, someone please explain all this prop 8 outrage at the Mormon Church.
Just about every church opposed prop 8, and lobbied against it. The number of Mormon voters in Cal is dwarfed by the number of other groups that voted against prop 8.
So, why are Mormon's in particular being singled out as the bogyman?
DrToast
AustinRoth,
The Mormon Church was the largest donor for Prop 8. Also, I think a lot of people are upset that another state got involved in California politics?
(Note: The churches were for Prop 8. Gay marriage was already legal. Passing Prop 8 made it illegal.)
AustinRoth
Yes, I misspoke. I meant to say "Just about every church supported prop 8, and lobbied for it. The number of Mormon voters in Cal is dwarfed by the number of other groups that voted for prop 8."
That is the problem with how prop 8 was presented. Talking about being against gay marriage or for prop 8 is the same thing, but it doesn't seem like it. I initially planned to say 'gay marriage', then changed to 'prop 8', but didn't update the rest of the sentence.
And the Mormon Church, while based in Utah, is NOT a state entity. That is like blaming any other organization that worked for prop 8 based on where it is incorporated. I don't see any calls for boycotts against the Vatican over this.
I still say it is only because they are perceived as an easy target of choice. I made the comment in another related thread (and got marked down for having the nerve to point it out) that you don't see protests of gay activists occurring in Watts or other predominetly black areas of California, or against predominantly black churches. There is a reason for that.
Yes, and that's because Mormons are perceived as being weird and different (they're really not), but if they were to protest in Watts and such, it would be quite easy to label them as racists, or something.
jbay
Its easy to single out the little guy. That is why Mormons have been targeted. Going after black voters who overwhelmingly supported prop 8 is not an option because that would make gays look racist. But persecuting a religion, that's fine ... nevermind that religious freedom is at the heart of American civil rights. I really think the "No on 8" crowd needs to take a long look at the tactics they are using.