Monday, November 17, 2008
2008 Just Wondering
Posted by David Schmader on Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Should the post-Prop 8 boycott of Mormon businesses extend to the vampire-book-into-vampire-film juggernaut Twilight, whose creator is a proud and active Mormon?
I understand asking queers to miss a movie about vampires is ludicrous, but....the bazillions of dollars the Twilight enterprise is sure to rake in will add up to millions in paid tithes for Stephanie Meyer.
(For the record, I don't necessarily think people should boycott Twilight. I'm just wondering.)
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1
Did she donate to Prop 8, and if not is she willing to openly say that she was against it? Not all Mormons are "the enemy" or whatever, even if her tithings might fund evil. They also fund food and housing and help for other Mormons in need, which is sort of cool.
5
I don't really see how a blanket boycott of "Mormon businesses" could possibly not cover Ms. Meyer's products. It's hard to imagine a more "Mormon business" than one where the entire business consists of one person who is Mormon. I guess you might consider her just a supplier to the actual customer-facing bookstores and cinemas.
6
A week from now you're going to be carrying around a list of dozens of products and companies you're sworn to reject. At some point you're going to be standing there and you'll realize the store you're in doesn't carry a single brand of toilet paper you're allowed to buy. I'm told a lot of hippie activists went through this at one point in their individual progression.
I know everyone is excited and these boycotts seem like you're doing something, but changing the world is a lot more work than going shopping.
I know everyone is excited and these boycotts seem like you're doing something, but changing the world is a lot more work than going shopping.
7
I don't know, but I just wrote my resignation letter to the Mormon church and will be mailing it this week. Then I'll be a REAL FoMo! (FoMo = former mormon)
10
Maybe it should be boycotted simply because it looks like crap. Plus, everyone knows that the "Lost Boys", which is about as gay friendly as you can get, is the only teenage vampire flick worth any consideration.
12
I think it would be smarter if (BIG IF HERE) Gay citizens called their law makers and asked them to investigate revoking the tax exempt status of radical religious groups that get involved in politics.
Given that maybe 5000 Gay citizens of Seattle turned up for the march on Saturday (out of the 10K that showed) I don't think most GLBT folk would boycott the Nazi party storm troopers if they saw them selling designer hand bags to raise money to buy barb-wire and gas canisters.
Given that maybe 5000 Gay citizens of Seattle turned up for the march on Saturday (out of the 10K that showed) I don't think most GLBT folk would boycott the Nazi party storm troopers if they saw them selling designer hand bags to raise money to buy barb-wire and gas canisters.
13
Crap, @10, you beat me to calling it crap. But yeah it does look pretty craptacular, just like pretty much everything else geared towards teenagers nowadays. I am so thankful that I'm old enough to have witness a time when the youth weren't totaly screwed culturaly, even if only pop culturaly.
14
I was going to say what #9 and #10 said, so I'll just agree instead.*
I had the misfortunate to see the trailer for the new Twilight movie, and it looks like it will be faithful to the series' mediocrity.
* I have to confess, I could only manage a random page. Maybe the rest is great!...but I doubt it.
I had the misfortunate to see the trailer for the new Twilight movie, and it looks like it will be faithful to the series' mediocrity.
* I have to confess, I could only manage a random page. Maybe the rest is great!...but I doubt it.
16
PIRATE THE MOVIE.
It's the perfect compromise. ^_^ Queers get to watch juicy vampires and you don't give the Mormons your money.
WIN!
It's the perfect compromise. ^_^ Queers get to watch juicy vampires and you don't give the Mormons your money.
WIN!
19
Ahhh Crap! I'd ment @9. I'm crap at posting, just like how crap "Twilight" looks to be. Oh and mormons can be pretty crappy too. And teenagers, they're crap too. Crap.
20
Anything > Twilight
This isn't even an issue about whether her money went to back Prop 8. Twilight kills brain cells.
This isn't even an issue about whether her money went to back Prop 8. Twilight kills brain cells.
22
@ #21,
It isn't "chick lit" it's "teen lit", which is far, far worse.
p.s. Jane Austen is chick lit, her fans are legion, and we are watching you.
It isn't "chick lit" it's "teen lit", which is far, far worse.
p.s. Jane Austen is chick lit, her fans are legion, and we are watching you.
23
I'm also boycotting that new Ender book huge fucking bigot Orson Scott Card has released. I'm sure it's shit too, but I'm boycotting it because he's a huge fucking bigot. I love shit literature.
25
I am surprised you would even ask. Yes, Boycott the movie. Money is power, and the Mormons used it to strip gay people of their rights. These people will never stop trying to fuck everything up. Utah is the second most conservative state in the country(63% for McCaine). Conservatives have destroyed the economy, the Constitution, general motors, Iraq, New Orleans and the fucking North Pole. Who gives a shit if the Mormons use the money they collect from their idiot flock to feed their poor. If the gays do not do everything in their power to bankrupt Utah and the Mormons, you will deserve your fate as the scapegoat of a failed Nation State,(see Jews/Nazi Germany.) Wishey washey liberals are almost as bad as conservatives.
26
@6
"At some point you're going to be standing there and you'll realize the store you're in doesn't carry a single brand of toilet paper you're allowed to buy."
Isn't that what The Book of Mormon is for?
"At some point you're going to be standing there and you'll realize the store you're in doesn't carry a single brand of toilet paper you're allowed to buy."
Isn't that what The Book of Mormon is for?
27
Mormon vampires? So, like, regular crosses don't work on 'em? You gotta use some kind of special Latter Day cross or something? Or maybe one of them temple garments?
29
I look forward to the slog post about boycotting the new Beyonce and Kanye album because they're blacks. And blacks voted for prop 8 in huuuuuge numbers.
30
How about we not go see the movie because, in spite the hot guys in it, it's probably not a very good movie.
31
I look forward to the slog post about the time I stuck that cucumber up in my ass. I've stuck cucumbers up my ass in huuuuuge numbers.
32
This is pathetic. Can you REALLY not do without watching this shit movie? You're right, it's probably more important than your movement anyways.
I loved Ender's Game and indeed the entire quartet. But then I grew up (read: graduated middle school) and realized he's a huge fucking fascist. I haven't bought anything remotely related to him since.
This is America, we have choices. Don't give me this "toilet paper" analogy. If a particular niche is going unserved, step up and fill it? Don't like that there aren't any shit vampire movies made by people without an affinity for removing rights? Write one! I'll buy a ticket.
As for the "well, their tithes also go to good things," this is akin to purchasing mutual funds with unethical companies in their portfolios because, hey, it's safe. This isn't the presidency, we have line-item vetos. It's not optional for Mormons to tithe, it's required (to the possibly sardonic response re: boycotting blacks because they voted for it–you can choose not to be Mormon. It is a self-selecting group, and likely magnitudes more homogenous than the black population). Ten percent of what you pay will go into shooting down any chance to overturn Eight and its brethren. If you want your money to go to good things, pick and choose where it goes.
This isn't called the Information Age for no reason. You can no longer claim ignorance. You are funding the gradual merge of church and state. In the end game–to me–you will be no different than those donating directly.
An effective boycott can be a serious weapon. Don't waste it.
I loved Ender's Game and indeed the entire quartet. But then I grew up (read: graduated middle school) and realized he's a huge fucking fascist. I haven't bought anything remotely related to him since.
This is America, we have choices. Don't give me this "toilet paper" analogy. If a particular niche is going unserved, step up and fill it? Don't like that there aren't any shit vampire movies made by people without an affinity for removing rights? Write one! I'll buy a ticket.
As for the "well, their tithes also go to good things," this is akin to purchasing mutual funds with unethical companies in their portfolios because, hey, it's safe. This isn't the presidency, we have line-item vetos. It's not optional for Mormons to tithe, it's required (to the possibly sardonic response re: boycotting blacks because they voted for it–you can choose not to be Mormon. It is a self-selecting group, and likely magnitudes more homogenous than the black population). Ten percent of what you pay will go into shooting down any chance to overturn Eight and its brethren. If you want your money to go to good things, pick and choose where it goes.
This isn't called the Information Age for no reason. You can no longer claim ignorance. You are funding the gradual merge of church and state. In the end game–to me–you will be no different than those donating directly.
An effective boycott can be a serious weapon. Don't waste it.
33
If you want to watch it after their religion is dead, then that's fine by me. I love Gill Sans and use it even though its creator was allegedly a rampant pedophile/zoophile/committer of incest. He's dead now, so whatever fame I bring him (ha!) by enjoying his typeface is not enabling him to prey on a wider audience (designer kiddies?). Hans Reiser is in prison, so use his filesystem all you want. But these mor(m)ons are still at large and must be stopped.
I don't care if this is the first movie in history to sweep the Oscars. It will not receive a dime of my money.
I don't care if this is the first movie in history to sweep the Oscars. It will not receive a dime of my money.
35
What reason could you possibly give for *not* boycotting it, if you were boycotting mormon businesses? Isn't part of the reason Mormons suck the hypocrisy they've shown between oppressed and oppressor? You're not going to be hypocritical are you -- not boycotting a mormon business because you *like* it? For shame.
36
I agree with Jason. There's a rash of "I'm a good mormon" types flitting about. I saw several signs at the march that said things like "Mormon for Gay Rights!"
It's bullshit, of course. You cannot simultaneously support an authoritarian philosophy (which Mormonism is) and support individual rights. I understand that people think they are supporting both, but it's just ignorance of the philosophies that they are serving.
Mormonism is evil. Period. You can't justify it. You can't be a friend to the gay community and a friend to the LDS Church. Yes, there are some things that are black and white in this gray, gray world and this is one of them.
Now, don't see the movie. I'm actually going to remove LOW from my iPod right now. I'm done with it.
It's bullshit, of course. You cannot simultaneously support an authoritarian philosophy (which Mormonism is) and support individual rights. I understand that people think they are supporting both, but it's just ignorance of the philosophies that they are serving.
Mormonism is evil. Period. You can't justify it. You can't be a friend to the gay community and a friend to the LDS Church. Yes, there are some things that are black and white in this gray, gray world and this is one of them.
Now, don't see the movie. I'm actually going to remove LOW from my iPod right now. I'm done with it.
37
There needs to be a distinction between boycotting businesses owned by the Mormon Church and businesses owned by individual Mormons (unless those Mormons contributed money to support Prop 8). Being Mormon does not automatically make you anti gay just like being Muslim does not automatically make you a terrorist.
Aside from that, Twilight the book is garbage and the movie is going to be garbage also. Let The Right One In is the best vampire movie I've ever seen so you should see that instead.
Aside from that, Twilight the book is garbage and the movie is going to be garbage also. Let The Right One In is the best vampire movie I've ever seen so you should see that instead.
38
No, it should not extend to Twilight.
Instead, anyone you know you likes Twilight should be encouraged to ask the author of the books to speak out on behalf of gay marriage.
That would be far more effective.
Instead, anyone you know you likes Twilight should be encouraged to ask the author of the books to speak out on behalf of gay marriage.
That would be far more effective.
39
As far as I'm concerned, if a business owner is tithing money to the mormon church, they're supporting the church's actions. Plenty of mormons have formally resigned from the church over this. I'll support their busineses. But if you're still sending them money, fuck you, I'll take my business elsewhere.
42
If you don't avoid Twilight because the guy running it is a Mormon, than you should avoid Twilight because the entire concept blows chunks. Seriously, I am sick to fucking death of teenage emo bitchy vampires. Was my generation's (Gen Y) crappy entertainment always this lame? Between Twilight and High School Musical, buying a cabin out in the woods somewhere may be the best way to avoid the coming apocalypse when these brain-dead morons get into power in twenty years. OH WAIT, THEY WON'T BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO BUSY FACEBOOKING THEIR FRIENDS' MYSPACES.
43
You should boycott Twilight because it's set in Forks. FORKS! Where there are vampires, and werewolves, and...well a bunch of stuff that sure as hell would never set foot in Forks even if they did exist.
Reminds me of those Anita Blake books where the entire undead/supernatural universe seems to revolve around....St Louis. The lord of all vampires lives in....St Louis. Yeah. Ok.
I haven't read these books, but I'm sorely tempted (by borrowing, I'm not paying for that junk) just to watch the car wreck.
Reminds me of those Anita Blake books where the entire undead/supernatural universe seems to revolve around....St Louis. The lord of all vampires lives in....St Louis. Yeah. Ok.
I haven't read these books, but I'm sorely tempted (by borrowing, I'm not paying for that junk) just to watch the car wreck.
44
@31 but why stop there?!
let's all boycott peanut butter too. a black dude invented peanut butter, so we gotta stop supporting that. while we're at it lets all stop patronizing chinese and mexican restaurants because half of asian and mexican voters supported prop 8 as well.
the mormon population of CA is less than 2%. are people seriously going to tell me i should be irritated with them more than african-americans, asians, or mexicans for not defeating 8? oh but nobody wants to pick on black people, that would be racist. and uh yeah, mexicans are generally catholic, and they don't really like gays either. let's boycott catholic shit too. i'm not sure i could give up my supermarket jesus candles though...
the people that are hating on a book because it was written by a mormon are idiots, plain and simple. hate on it because it's a trash teen novel, not because of who wrote it.
let's all boycott peanut butter too. a black dude invented peanut butter, so we gotta stop supporting that. while we're at it lets all stop patronizing chinese and mexican restaurants because half of asian and mexican voters supported prop 8 as well.
the mormon population of CA is less than 2%. are people seriously going to tell me i should be irritated with them more than african-americans, asians, or mexicans for not defeating 8? oh but nobody wants to pick on black people, that would be racist. and uh yeah, mexicans are generally catholic, and they don't really like gays either. let's boycott catholic shit too. i'm not sure i could give up my supermarket jesus candles though...
the people that are hating on a book because it was written by a mormon are idiots, plain and simple. hate on it because it's a trash teen novel, not because of who wrote it.
45
If they don't revoke the tax-exempt status of the Mormon church, can we re-organize homosexuality into a tax-exempt religion?
47
I don't know what's funnier, Slog readers pretending to have any taste in anything or the implication that teen pop culture was ever any better than it is at the moment. My teenage daughter announced she's going to see the movie this weekend, twice, and she just reread the books again. The books got her excited about reading, which made me happy as a father.
I support marriage equality, but targeting an author for boycott for her religion starts to sound creepy, never mind like a fairly scattershot and diluted "message". You start to sound as pathetic as Bill O'Reilly, "boycotting France". How'd that work out? Announce now you've launched a massive boycott of "Twilight" and on Saturday, when its box office figures seem to indicate your boycott was a nonissue, how will that work out?
Here's an idea -- why not boycott the state of California, you know, the state that just voted down your marriage rights? Why not loudly organize and plan trips to Connecticut and to Massachusetts (not to mention Canada) to unload some serious tourist dollars?
I support marriage equality, but targeting an author for boycott for her religion starts to sound creepy, never mind like a fairly scattershot and diluted "message". You start to sound as pathetic as Bill O'Reilly, "boycotting France". How'd that work out? Announce now you've launched a massive boycott of "Twilight" and on Saturday, when its box office figures seem to indicate your boycott was a nonissue, how will that work out?
Here's an idea -- why not boycott the state of California, you know, the state that just voted down your marriage rights? Why not loudly organize and plan trips to Connecticut and to Massachusetts (not to mention Canada) to unload some serious tourist dollars?
48
It's not about boycotting a religion. It's making sure you aren't spending money that will eventually be contributed to a fight to take away your own civil rights.
49
Twilight is worth boycotting for aesthetic reasons alone, unless the director is able to turn the shitty books into a fantastic movie, an act on par with spinning gold from straw.
50
I'll actually answer the question:
The LDS Church requires a 10 percent tithe of its members whom fit into a certain income bracket.
As of the film's release, Stephanie Meyer fits into this bracket.
Thus, 10 percent of her income will now go directly to the Church.
Spend your gay dollars wisely.
The LDS Church requires a 10 percent tithe of its members whom fit into a certain income bracket.
As of the film's release, Stephanie Meyer fits into this bracket.
Thus, 10 percent of her income will now go directly to the Church.
Spend your gay dollars wisely.
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