11/07/2008
Cops in Battle Gear Guard the Mormon Temple
When I lived in L.A. I used to live right next door to the Mormon Temple. My former roommate Michael took these photos last night after things had quieted down. Check out those cops on the lawn. Mind you there's already an eight foot high cast-iron fence keeping the property from the street.
For those of you waking up on the west coast, here are my updates on the Prop 8 battle:
SCHEDULE of PROTEST EVENTS for this weekend here. [tr]
Strip the Mormon Church of its Tax Exempt Status [tr]
Thousands Join Marriage Equality Protest at L.A. Mormon Church [tr]
Invalidate Prop 8 [online initiative]
Online petition to Arnold Schwarzenegger [petition]
Posted 11:50 AM EST by Andy Towle in California, Gay Marriage, Mormon, News | Permalink
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well that's just great. so glad that my tax dollars are hard at work protecting the MORMONS. Fuckers.
Posted by: lagay | Nov 7, 2008 11:57:16 AM
How about a constitutional amendment banning all religion? It is 2008 for Christ's sake (excuse the pun). If there is a God his/her/its language is math and science not some rediculous storybooks (i.e. bible, koran, etc.) written 2000 years ago by ignorant societies.
Posted by: wren | Nov 7, 2008 12:10:57 PM
PLEASE, no one go and do anything stupid. Protesting is fine and very American. Anything more extreme is unacceptable and will cause a huge backlash that sets things back for years.
Posted by: Um no | Nov 7, 2008 12:18:51 PM
There is a color photo on the front page of today's LA Times and a pretty well written article on the front page of the California section about the protest.
But can someone please ask Lori Jean to step aside and let new blood take over? She's done yeomin's work but failed -- and now she's suggesting donations of $5 and in return sending a postcard to the Mormon president? I can send my own card, thanks, and believe that donations will be better served to the ACLU and LAMBDA Legal who are mounting the court challenges.
Posted by: todd | Nov 7, 2008 12:21:35 PM
Wren,
A lot of your fellow gays are religious and spiritual. Don't be a bigot.
Posted by: Um no | Nov 7, 2008 12:21:36 PM
I was at the protest last night, and to be clear the police were very helpful TO US and made sure everyone was safe and that we could march where we wanted, and made sure nothing got really out of hand.
I think they did a good job.
Posted by: Daniel | Nov 7, 2008 12:24:10 PM
"Second Class Citizen" T-shirts. Money goes to HRC and EQCA.
http://www.zazzle.com/second_class_citizen_shirt-235190005485956341
Posted by: Alan | Nov 7, 2008 12:25:25 PM
Yes, the police are not our foe. Smile, say hello and thank them for helping us exercise our rights! Say cool and focused!
Posted by: busytimmy | Nov 7, 2008 12:55:31 PM
Um no, just, um, shut up. Spare us the 'oh, don't do anything bad! Don't do anything that would make us look bad! OMG, PLEASE be careful!' Seriously, stop being a pussy! We're in this mess because our leaders, like you, are PUSSIES! I say it's time to FUCK SHIT UP!
Posted by: Mr. E | Nov 7, 2008 12:55:33 PM
Yes, the police are not our foe. Smile, say hello and thank them for helping us exercise our rights! Say cool and focused!
Posted by: busytimmy | Nov 7, 2008 12:55:43 PM
Yes, the police are not our foe. Smile, say hello and thank them for helping us exercise our rights! Say cool and focused!
Posted by: busytimmy | Nov 7, 2008 12:55:58 PM
And I also say, NO MORE MONEY TO HRC AND EQCA! They fucked it up! We as a community gave and gave and gave! We reached deep into our pockets! We donated unprecedented amounts of money! And look where it got us. HRC has got to go!
Posted by: Mr. E | Nov 7, 2008 12:59:12 PM
Yes, the Mormon Church was a huge supporter of Prop 8, but so was the Catholic Church (via the Knights of Columbus). And the African-American community voted 2-1 in favor of Prop 8. Funny but I don't see any protesters at Queen of Angels Cathedral or outside large black churches in LA. Many churches perpetuate homophobia and they do it legally.
Posted by: lurker | Nov 7, 2008 1:02:00 PM
To Um No,
I am not being a bigot. I pity all people, be they gay or not, who believe in religion. I believe it to be to their detriment that they believe in this nonsense we call religion. Let's finally evolve.
Posted by: Wren | Nov 7, 2008 1:04:03 PM
Yes, it is time that the pernicious role of the Mormon church in this hateful enterprise of repressing gay rights is exposed!
I would like to boycott any Mormon owned or operated business. Does anyone know where a list of such business could be found? The Mormons have probably compiled their own.
Posted by: JJ | Nov 7, 2008 1:06:22 PM
The Mormons are not a religion, they are a cult. Really, magic underwear? Golden tablets left by God? Joseph Smith was a hustler and con man who was killed by a mob. I think all religions should pay taxes, but they are no different than Scientology.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 7, 2008 1:10:23 PM
Um No, I disagree. I am not a bigot. I just pity all people, gay, straight or other who continue in a modern world to put their entire belief structure into the fairy tales that are the world religions.
Posted by: Wren | Nov 7, 2008 1:15:46 PM
i agree with Mr. E. we're IN this predicament because the gay community, by and large, doesn't fight back and send a message in large ways. or in small ways. your neighbors who had Yes on 8 signs on their lawns? the jesus freak co-worker who voted to strip you of your rights? your relatives who make sure you know that you're less than them? stop smiling at them. stop helping them. stop engaging them. cut them off. freeze them out. let them get a taste.
Posted by: daisy | Nov 7, 2008 1:19:27 PM
It will do our cause no good to be seen as attacking religion. I am not religious myself, but we will not profit from attacking believers. There are many Catholics who do not believe in all the teachings of the church, lets build alliances with those folks. Same with the Mormons. Our individual stories and relationships with our communities are the best weapons we have to turn this around. Call out the churches for their role is great, but continuing an attack on individuals is not helpful.
Posted by: busytimmy | Nov 7, 2008 1:19:56 PM
Just wondering:
- Why are polygamous Mormons, of all people, the new guardians of traditional marriage?
- Isn't it ironic that blacks were the ones who overwhelmingly cast the deciding votes against gay equality, in league with a Church that until 1978 was overtly racist and discriminated against people of color?
PS I totally agree with Wren. One day we will stop getting indoctrinated at birth into silly supernatural belief systems and religion will recede into the past, along with the hate and intolerance it promulgates.
Posted by: Dan | Nov 7, 2008 1:26:54 PM
O NOEZ!!!
The Mormons might catch a case of TEH GAYZ if the cops don't keep protesters far enough away!
Posted by: cognitive dissident | Nov 7, 2008 1:30:22 PM
According to the Washington Post 70% of blacks voted against 8.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603880.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 7, 2008 1:31:04 PM
you bring up an important point, PATRICK NYC: how did the Mormons gain recognition as a legitimate domination of Christianity while Santeria and Voodoo did not. What did the Mormons have that those other spin-offs of Christianity didn't ? Blond hair and money?
Also, why shouldn't the ancient European pre-Christian Goddess Worship religions be considered legitimate religions? If they regained their popularity we wouldn't have all this misogynistic, super macho violence in this culture--probably no gay-bashing either...President Hillary Rodham wouldn't allow it.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Nov 7, 2008 1:37:08 PM
What they had Derrick was what every business needs, money.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 7, 2008 1:48:43 PM
Is it the Mormon background of polygamy that makes those religious bigots from Utah feel they're experts on the sanctity of marriage?
Posted by: Pbar | Nov 7, 2008 1:49:58 PM