Seriously though, when did the mormons become so acceptable to the ridiculous right? Aren't they barely christian or some shit?

Oh right...much easier to protest in safer white areas.

Lots of publications have noted the African American vote going so heavily for Prop 8 in California. I've read about it on Slate and in the dailies and on lots of other blogs. The freaking out in Slog comments about Dan noting it too seems really psycho.

• http://www.MormonsStoleOurRights.com/
• http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/

It's not blaming blacks for the passage of 8 to point out that there's homophobia in many of the African American churches. There just is. Even Barack Obama has called out African American churchgoers about this.

What does it say to me? It says we have a long way to go to gain our rights and to work with others to gain those rights. What we do from here on out will be extremely important.

Protesting the Mormons is a good beginning.

You can ask the IRS to investigate the LDS Church all you want, but understand what you're actually asking them to look for. And understand that if you're pushing for religious institutions to lose their 501(c) status altogether, you then open up the door for progressive non-profits to lose their status as well if they engage in political lobbying.

" Then, Ashton declined to talk about his donation because of his assignment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This time, he said he was prodded to give, like all Mormons, by letters read from the pulpit this summer. His money was used as a challenge grant for California donors and was only disclosed a few days before the Nov. 4 election.
"I wanted to make sure the future is good for my children and grandchildren," he said. "That's why I gave." "

She didn't stand with you.

Yes, but don't forget the Moral Majority of Catholics and Anglicans in your protests. For decades they've been scheming to steal liberties from all of us! The "main stream" religious right are more villainous. They're the ones, for the last eight years, who've pulled the puppet strings of the Bush administration. Mormons may be responsible for Prop H8 (and 102) but the other Jeebus freaks should be held accountable for their interference into our private lives! We should be picketing all churches and demanding they lose their tax exempt status!

The woman is a step in the right direction it's an in someone who is open to dialouge

From one organizer of this plan:

First, submission of an unprecedented number of complaints may convince the IRS to investigate the matter and clarify the “no substantial part” test and whether churches’ instructing their members to engage in substantial activity to influence legislation means those members act as agents of the church. Under certain tests, an expenditure of $20 million qualifies as “substantial”, and such an expenditure by church members at the direct instruction of church leaders may constitute prohibited activity. And, are members of a church, who attend services, donate money to the church, and obey church leaders in conducting their personal lives, agents of that church when they engage in substantial activity to influence legislation at church leaders’ instructions? These gray areas would benefit from clarification, and a large number of complaints may lead to that.

Second, a massive peaceful outcry against the Church’s activities may convince Church leaders that its political activities have a negative impact on the Church’s reputation in the world. The LDS church works hard to maintain a positive, uplifting image, through its humanitarian work, the appearance of its buildings, the conduct of its members, and even uplifting television and radio advertising.

By maintaining respectful but vocal discourse opposing the Church’s political activities, particularly in a way that demonstrates that the Church’s reputation has been damaged, Church leaders may be less likely to engage in political activism in the future.

Finally, sufficient interest in this activity could lead to support for amending state and federal regulation of tax-exempt entities. Perhaps this does not merit revocation of the LDS Church’s 501(c)(3) status today, but perhaps the Church’s activities have highlighted the issue in an unprecedented way. Now, there may be enough support to change tax law so that endorsement of and opposition to ballot initiatives are prohibited, just as these entities are prohibited from endorsing or opposing a particular candidate.

Um. . .I don't think anybody expects religious people to immediately abandon their church and join a picket line. If she can be a dissenting voice in her church, she's planting seeds. And making church leadership nervous.

I understand why people are cynical about protests. I have mixed feelings myself. But seeing people blush and look down as they walked into their hateful church . . . worth it. Seeing kids who will later ask their parents to explain bigotry and discrimination in terms they can understand. . .worth it. Forcing Corporate Mormonism into a defensive posture . . . worth it.

Giving a person who had the balls to stop and thank us and hug us -- and walk into a building where she would have to explain herself as an ally -- a warm pat on the back . . . worth it!

Liberals think they're doing the black community a favor when they shield them from criticism, but they're actually initializing them. Treating the black community with respect means criticizing that community, in a respectful way, when it fails to stand up for what's right.

Individual Mormons aren't the enemy - especially the individual Mormons that are in your favor. Don't make them the enemy, you need friends that have different beliefs than you if you want to make any progress.

The individuals that are throwing glass bottles at protesters in LA? They're the enemy. These people are giving you hugs and thanking you for protesting. Painting them as "just like everyone else in the LDS church" is a total dick move.

Good or bad, I can't say, but I am sure they will roll with it.

Seattle has its own way in all things, in the Seattle Stake there are many openly gay folks, much support and warmth.

And Mormons have never traveled to Olympia to testify against gay rights. Compared to the The Catholic Bishops, three of them, who have sent spokespeople for years.

I think you all have been stampeded to the wrong church - what is that all about?

The LDS Church is tiny, with little real votes or voting power, compared to Catholics and the anti gay Pope.

After backing Romney so well, I think the Mormons went over the edge in California. They have opposed gay marriage since Hawaii, so it is no surprise they were involved.

If Queers want gay marriage in America, the key is the Pope.... and Southern Baptists, and the other Mega Churches of America, and anti gay Republicans.

I do support the protests, show your grit, but there needs to be a long term real strategy, not just two weeks of anger. And the anger needs to include all the culprits.

Which in Washington State, the culprit is the very openly homophobic Republican Party - transcends all the churches as far as standing in the way of any social or political gain.

Picket Republican Hq. in Bellevue, give them something to worry about. Remember dear Dino said he didn't like civil unions and while in the legislature he VOTED against the gay rights bill.

WOW. The real political enemy and it looks like the same old elephant.

As I said before, if they're putting money in the basket with the hope that it goes towards funding anti-gay legislation, that's a separate matter entirely.

You can fight the higherups in the LDS church for funding the legislation, you can fight the homophobic Mormons that are rude and violent to you - but making our friends out to be enemies? Not good.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5510/strangercoorsqx9.jpg

Protest these ironic bigots too?

Above - get on the clue bus. That is the old supporting the far right Coors.

The last decade changed everything as new young Coors family - Scott Coors took over.

Coors has paid for ads in major news papers supporting gay marriage. They get 100 per cent in non discrimination index ratings. They give tons of money to AIDS, run ads in gay papers, etc.

The boycott on Coors ended about ten years ago - every gay bar in Seattle serves it.

Kind of moot - Coors Brewing is now owned my Moulson Of Canada, sold last year.

http://www.bamn.com/boycott-coors/coors-myths-facts.asp

To the hopefuls who believe that "internal dialogue will instigate change"--the Church does not change its position on morals according to the will of the people. The Church is governed by a living Prophet who receives revelation from God.

So stop wasting your time. Your comments only show how little you know about the LDS church.

Simply put - the Mormons have proved with their complete obsession with PROP 8 to be a Tax-Exempt Hate Group.

Heterosexuals - You better wake up. Instead of pondering a cerebral concept like how gays want the “1,138 rights of marriage”, you need to educate yourselves about the CONSEQUENCES when one or more of those 1,138 rights are denied. GOOGLE “Freeheld” or “Tying the Knot”; watch the DVDs. Write it down now.

Your laws HATE us, and we’ve had it! Yes, I did said HATE - I stand by it. Because how else can you explain these 3
realities?:

A police woman loses her life in the line of duty; her wife of 13 years is denied all pension benefits.

A rancher loses his husband of 22 years; his inlaws evict him and try to take the home he built and lived in with his beloved.

A detective spends 25 years risking her own life while protecting society; she has to spend her remaining days on this earth worrying whether her earned pension will be transferred to her wife (while living with terminal cancer).

YES, H-A-T-E. And your silence on this matter is a serious affront to our families’s safety and security. FAMILY - isn’t that a cherished concept in the U.S.A.?

So now after decades of disinterest, some of us in the LGBTI community have AWAKENED. And we will refuse to pay one penny of income tax to the IRS until the government (i.e. - you) decide you WANT our tax dollars as EQUAL CITIZENS.

This ain’t a vote.
This ain’t a debate.
This ain't a popularity contest.

You will PAY OUR TAXES until we have what your family ALREADY HAS; your apathy is costing you money as you read this. GAY TAX PROTEST!