Slog
News & ArtsThursday, October 22, 2009
Politics / Homo / Religion Special Rights for Bigots Watch
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 12:04 PM
The rules that apply to everyone else don't apply to us, says NOM:
The biggest contributor to the group trying to overturn Maine's gay marriage law is suing the state over its campaign reporting requirements. The state ethics commission voted Oct. 1 to take a closer look at contributions by the National Organization for Marriage after it was accused of circumventing Maine law by not reporting the names of many donors. The group responded with a constitutional challenge filed Wednesday in federal court in Bangor.
I smell a Mormon.
2
It's one thing to fight dissemination of the donor list, but another to argue that donors shouldn't be reported at all.
3
I thought conservatives were always talking about how they're all a bunch of manly lumberjacks and hunters and marines and football coaches and shit. So why is it that all I ever see conservatives doing is crying that they are slightly less favored and coddled by the government than they used to be?
8
@3: It's straight white folks who are the persecuted minority in this country, of course. Their control of wealth and political power in the country has sharply declined over the past years from 95% to, oh, say 93%.
9
The filthy Mormon smell in Colorado is something akin to the smell up in Greeley (northeastern part of the Hate State)--it's a mixture of shit and slaughter (a good deal of the state's slaughterhouse industry is located there). It wafts in from Utah unfortunately. If we had smell-o-vision on all our televisions, then you'd encounter that smell every time Glenn Beck appeared. Nasty stuff.
10
Wait I have a question; how many people do I have to hate in order to qualify for special rights? Can I just hate like a couple people such as Anderson Cooper and Whoopie Goldberg in a prejudiced manner (since I don't really know either one), or do I have to write off an entire group? Because if it's the latter I'm willing to go ahead and alienate all of the stamp collectors in the world. Fuck those guys.
Wait I have a question; how many people do I have to hate in order to qualify for special rights? Can I just hate like a couple people such as Anderson Cooper and Whoopie Goldberg in a prejudiced manner (since I don't really know either one), or do I have to write off an entire group? Because if it's the latter I'm willing to go ahead and alienate all of the stamp collectors in the world. Fuck those guys.
11
@10 You be careful of those Philatelics. They're a vicious bunch and will defend their lifestyle to the bitter end.
12
Other than it just being popular to hate Mormons in Slog-land, where's the link to Mormons here? Citation needed. (and I mean in this specific case - don't give me a rundown of last year's events)
Is this anything like when black people got blamed for Proposition 8, then they didn't get blamed, then it turned out to be Mormons, or some shit?
Seriously. Dan, you're rabble-rousing. Sloggers - you're acting like a fucking mob with torches and pitchforks.
I don't trust Dan's sense of smell on these things all that much anymore. Perhaps some of you shouldn't either.
Is this anything like when black people got blamed for Proposition 8, then they didn't get blamed, then it turned out to be Mormons, or some shit?
Seriously. Dan, you're rabble-rousing. Sloggers - you're acting like a fucking mob with torches and pitchforks.
I don't trust Dan's sense of smell on these things all that much anymore. Perhaps some of you shouldn't either.
13
Re #12: If that wasn't clear, I'm challenging the sweeping generalization being made from NOM's involvement to all Mormons in general.
14
@12. "I smell a Mormon", does not mean "I have incontrovertible proof that a Mormon is behind this."
Plus, who's acting like a mob with pitchforks? I see a couple of jokes about Mormons ("green jello salad") and one guy @9 who's being a little mean-spirited, but, pitchforks? I think almost everyone here is intelligent enough to figure out that this post means "Dan wouldn't be surprised if a Mormon was behind this", not "OMG! Get the Mormons!"
Plus, who's acting like a mob with pitchforks? I see a couple of jokes about Mormons ("green jello salad") and one guy @9 who's being a little mean-spirited, but, pitchforks? I think almost everyone here is intelligent enough to figure out that this post means "Dan wouldn't be surprised if a Mormon was behind this", not "OMG! Get the Mormons!"
16
@14: Then go after NOM, not Mormons.
Such sweeping generalizations are a common rhetorical device of hate-speech and bigotry.
Such sweeping generalizations are a common rhetorical device of hate-speech and bigotry.
17
The Mormons were largely responsible for the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment, a shameful event in U.S. history.
Yeah, this does smell like Mormons. Nothing new here.
Yeah, this does smell like Mormons. Nothing new here.
18
I don't see anyone "going after Mormons" on this issue here. I do see people who think its stupid that NOM thinks the law shouldn't apply to them (i.e., that they should get "special rights").
19
And by the way, since most of you have probably never been to Maine, you'd have a pretty difficult time finding a Mormon there. There may be a few, but not many.
Is the Mormon Church beyond meddling in affairs in states where they don't have a strong presence? Probably. But I think it's more likely this is just your garden-variety Republican craziness.
Is the Mormon Church beyond meddling in affairs in states where they don't have a strong presence? Probably. But I think it's more likely this is just your garden-variety Republican craziness.
21
Julie, you're a long-time reader, as am I.
If you're going to defend this one post as an isolated thing, sure, go ahead. But you're smarter than that.
This is just a continuation of a long LONG string of Dan (and the Stranger, more generally) feeding, baiting, and promoting anti-Mormon sentiment, using all the same caricatures, stereotypes, emotive language, fallacious logic, and rhetorical devices of bigotry.
Frankly, I could give a flying fuck about Mormons. But this kind of divisive bullshit makes Dan's sermons on equality and acceptance ring a little less sincere.
If you're going to defend this one post as an isolated thing, sure, go ahead. But you're smarter than that.
This is just a continuation of a long LONG string of Dan (and the Stranger, more generally) feeding, baiting, and promoting anti-Mormon sentiment, using all the same caricatures, stereotypes, emotive language, fallacious logic, and rhetorical devices of bigotry.
Frankly, I could give a flying fuck about Mormons. But this kind of divisive bullshit makes Dan's sermons on equality and acceptance ring a little less sincere.
22
Dan, a new WA PAC looks to be doing something similar. Interesting timing, isn't it?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/lo…
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/lo…
23
Smells like Prop 8 all over again... The pro-gay forces run shitty euphemistic campaigns and then blame the Mormons for their own shitty work. So long as we keep blaming idiot conservatives and praising our own ignorant lgbt groups, we're be treading water forever. Who wants to play "guess which group Dan Savage and ERW will blame if Referendum 71 is rejected"?
24
Fair point, Ackham. Though, I don't think Dan is that out of line to suggest that there's a possibility that some of the significant, unreported donors to NOM are Mormons, given what happened in California.
And, I think the position of many people here (on Mormons, as well as Christian fundamentalists or Catholics or any other religion) is, that no one would care about them at all if they'd just stop trying to prevent gays from getting equal rights. Would Dan be "promoting anti-mormon sentiment" if the Mormons were not so involved in pushing anti-gay laws? I wonder how many times mormons have even been brought up on Slog, if not in the context of their involvement in Prop 8, those two gay guys kissing in SLC, etc.?
In my mind, I lump the mormons in with every other religion. They can do whatever they want, from a theology and worship perspective, but when they start trying to legislate their theology, that's when the anti-Mormon sentiment kicks in. And, of course, not all Mormons/Christians are anti-gay. And, of course, I'm going to judge each individual Mormon/Christian I know by their own personal beliefs. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be any less irritated by their specific church's or religious group's anti-gay activities.
And, I think the position of many people here (on Mormons, as well as Christian fundamentalists or Catholics or any other religion) is, that no one would care about them at all if they'd just stop trying to prevent gays from getting equal rights. Would Dan be "promoting anti-mormon sentiment" if the Mormons were not so involved in pushing anti-gay laws? I wonder how many times mormons have even been brought up on Slog, if not in the context of their involvement in Prop 8, those two gay guys kissing in SLC, etc.?
In my mind, I lump the mormons in with every other religion. They can do whatever they want, from a theology and worship perspective, but when they start trying to legislate their theology, that's when the anti-Mormon sentiment kicks in. And, of course, not all Mormons/Christians are anti-gay. And, of course, I'm going to judge each individual Mormon/Christian I know by their own personal beliefs. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be any less irritated by their specific church's or religious group's anti-gay activities.
25
@3:
As I'm sure they'd be the first to tell you: manly lumberjacks and hunters and marines and football coaches fear only ONE THING - swishy, limp-wristed, effeminate GAY PEOPLE!
Grizzly bears? No problemo. Taliban? Piece of cake. 350 lb. defensive linemen? Meh. But set a twinky, slightly Emo/Goth boy with narrow hips and no body hair in their midst and they'll start squealing like eight year old girls.
This is the real reason they want to outlaw anything having to do with homosexuality - THE FEAR!
As I'm sure they'd be the first to tell you: manly lumberjacks and hunters and marines and football coaches fear only ONE THING - swishy, limp-wristed, effeminate GAY PEOPLE!
Grizzly bears? No problemo. Taliban? Piece of cake. 350 lb. defensive linemen? Meh. But set a twinky, slightly Emo/Goth boy with narrow hips and no body hair in their midst and they'll start squealing like eight year old girls.
This is the real reason they want to outlaw anything having to do with homosexuality - THE FEAR!
26
Substitute the word 'Black' for 'Mormon' in this thread.
Set it in Jackson, Mississippi instead of Seattle.
Very enlightened, eh?
Or maybe plug in 'faggot'?
Headline- "A Missing Boy"
Demagogic Blogging Hate Monger chimes in: "I smell a faggot."
Nice, eh?
Glen Beck stirring up the pot of hate against Obama?
He could learn a few things from Dan.
Bigotry comes in many flavors.
They are all equally bitter.
They poison all who indulge.
Mormons are the niggers of Slog.
Dan is the Bull Conner.
The open-minded liberal hipsters posting are today's version of the Jim Crow pot bellied slow drawling inbred drooling redneck racists.
They were Democrats too, btw...
Set it in Jackson, Mississippi instead of Seattle.
Very enlightened, eh?
Or maybe plug in 'faggot'?
Headline- "A Missing Boy"
Demagogic Blogging Hate Monger chimes in: "I smell a faggot."
Nice, eh?
Glen Beck stirring up the pot of hate against Obama?
He could learn a few things from Dan.
Bigotry comes in many flavors.
They are all equally bitter.
They poison all who indulge.
Mormons are the niggers of Slog.
Dan is the Bull Conner.
The open-minded liberal hipsters posting are today's version of the Jim Crow pot bellied slow drawling inbred drooling redneck racists.
They were Democrats too, btw...
27
Here is a specific case of Mormons getting involved in Prop 8:
In Porterville California, the City Council was the only on in the entire state that took up Prop 8 and passed a Resolution on FAVOR of Prop 8, 8-0.
The Resolution was written by Brian Ward, a Mormon first elected only months before.
His official web site currently says this:
http://voteforbrianward.com/volunteer.as…
--------------------------------
Please Continue to Strengthen Families
Despite the legal struggle that was won with the 6-1 decision by the California Supreme Court which rejected the claim that homosexual rights (civil or otherwise) were being denied, it is important to continue to strengthen the institution of marriage within our society. Nature/God clearly designed for children to be raised by a mother and father in a loving and nurturing environment. Regardless of the legal battle to define marriage, it is important that we as members of our society seek to strengthen and promote strong family values.
There are those in our community who choose to live an alternative lifestyle, which many of us disagree with. However, it is important that we show the same respect and love to them as well as anyone else. The golden rule simply states that we treat people the way we want to be treated. There is no room for name calling, physical or verbal aggression towards others who may disagree with us. Remember that there is much more that unites us than divides us.
--------------------------------
As bad as that is, what it USED to say when he passed the Resolution will make you lose your lunch. I recorded it here: http://www.portervillenerd.com/portervil…
Around the same time, I also documented what his campaign site USED to say regarding how to avoid getting your donations publicized at: http://www.portervillenerd.com/brian-war…
It once said, but no longer says:
--------------------------------------
Contributions Welcome
Running for office is never cheap. It is your contributions that make it possible for us to get our message out to the rest of the community. If you would be willing to donate, I’d greatly appreciate it! Any donations under $99 guarantees your ananimity.[sic]
Please send checks to:
Brian Ward
--------------------------
This is what Mormons smell like when they get involved in taking away people's rights.
More...
In Porterville California, the City Council was the only on in the entire state that took up Prop 8 and passed a Resolution on FAVOR of Prop 8, 8-0.
The Resolution was written by Brian Ward, a Mormon first elected only months before.
His official web site currently says this:
http://voteforbrianward.com/volunteer.as…
--------------------------------
Please Continue to Strengthen Families
Despite the legal struggle that was won with the 6-1 decision by the California Supreme Court which rejected the claim that homosexual rights (civil or otherwise) were being denied, it is important to continue to strengthen the institution of marriage within our society. Nature/God clearly designed for children to be raised by a mother and father in a loving and nurturing environment. Regardless of the legal battle to define marriage, it is important that we as members of our society seek to strengthen and promote strong family values.
There are those in our community who choose to live an alternative lifestyle, which many of us disagree with. However, it is important that we show the same respect and love to them as well as anyone else. The golden rule simply states that we treat people the way we want to be treated. There is no room for name calling, physical or verbal aggression towards others who may disagree with us. Remember that there is much more that unites us than divides us.
--------------------------------
As bad as that is, what it USED to say when he passed the Resolution will make you lose your lunch. I recorded it here: http://www.portervillenerd.com/portervil…
Around the same time, I also documented what his campaign site USED to say regarding how to avoid getting your donations publicized at: http://www.portervillenerd.com/brian-war…
It once said, but no longer says:
--------------------------------------
Contributions Welcome
Running for office is never cheap. It is your contributions that make it possible for us to get our message out to the rest of the community. If you would be willing to donate, I’d greatly appreciate it! Any donations under $99 guarantees your ananimity.[sic]
Please send checks to:
Brian Ward
--------------------------
This is what Mormons smell like when they get involved in taking away people's rights.
28
Gotta do all we can to get Referendum 71 approved, since you know they'll pull the same malarkey here.
http://approvereferendum71.org/r71-perso…
http://approvereferendum71.org/r71-perso…
29
The mistake the gays and gay-friendly people have made regarding the Mormons is that Prop. 8 was the first time they raised their bigotry toward gays, when in actuality the Mormons were key in defeating gay marriages and civil unions in Alaska and Hawaii back in the 1990s. Before last year gays thought of Mormons as a friendly albeit quirky little group of people who wore assigned underwear.
30
@6: Mormonism is neither an immutable nor a morally neutral trait - it is a set of beliefs, and some of those beliefs are morally detestable. Looking down on people for stupid reasons, such as race or sexual orientation, is wrong. Looking down on people for their choice to adopt and detestable beliefs is perfectly reasonable.
31
Mormons are only 1.4% of California;
53% of Californians voted for Prop 8.
Bigots are merely using Prop 8 as a handy excuse for their hatred.
53% of Californians voted for Prop 8.
Bigots are merely using Prop 8 as a handy excuse for their hatred.
32
Catholics Bishops in Calif set in motion the whole campaign - after a year or so of planning they invited other religious groups to join - smart to get evangelicals and Mormons working together - raised tons of far right money - and beat our asses.
See story in SFO weekly.
It was the Catholic Bishop of San Diego who was the mastermind, recently rewarded by the Pope.
Mormons would never taken on the state o f California by themselves.
Queer lapsed Catholics would rather blame Mormons for the total anti gay positions of their Pope.... who is NOT Mormon at all.
Dan is public about being a lapsed Cath. Yes, the ones who believe they are eating the flesh of Jesus ... and whose priests were fucking boys right and left with impunity.
IF the Mormons were on our side, we would clobber the bastards.
VOTE - yes be sure and vote.
See story in SFO weekly.
It was the Catholic Bishop of San Diego who was the mastermind, recently rewarded by the Pope.
Mormons would never taken on the state o f California by themselves.
Queer lapsed Catholics would rather blame Mormons for the total anti gay positions of their Pope.... who is NOT Mormon at all.
Dan is public about being a lapsed Cath. Yes, the ones who believe they are eating the flesh of Jesus ... and whose priests were fucking boys right and left with impunity.
IF the Mormons were on our side, we would clobber the bastards.
VOTE - yes be sure and vote.
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