Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Gay Marriage Activists Take the Fight to the Mormons

PR throwdown goes nationwide

By Gabriel Winant,  Newser User

Posted May 29, 2009 10:01 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – With the fight over gay marriage moving east, activists in favor of legalization are aiming to discredit a primary opponent: the Mormon Church. Stunned by the effect of Mormon fundraising and canvassing in the passage of California's Proposition 8, two groups are running ads attacking Mormon involvement in the issue, the Washington Post reports. One ad run on newspaper web sites in three states reads:  “The Mormons are coming! The Mormons are Coming!” 

Gay activists are betting that Americans are leery of Mormons, especially on the issue of marriage. While eight in 10 Americans know a gay person, only 48% know a Mormon, they note. Says the head of Californians Against Hate, “I'm not intending it to harm the religion. I think they do wonderful things. Nicest people. My single goal is to get them out of the same-sex marriage business and back to helping hurricane victims.” In addition to their California initiative, the Mormon church poured $400,000 into a same-sex marriage ban in Hawaii in the late '90s, but let the more popular Catholic Church take the lead.




A same-sex marriage proponent, left, argues with opponent, right in front of City Hall after the California State Supreme Court ruled in San Francisco.
A same-sex marriage proponent, left, argues with opponent, right in front of City Hall after the California State Supreme Court ruled in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Dozens of gay rights protesters demonstrate outside the Beverly Hills hotel.
Dozens of gay rights protesters demonstrate outside the Beverly Hills hotel.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Mel House of Los Angeles joins others in protests against the Mormon Church's alleged heavy support of Proposition 8, outside the Los Angeles Mormon Temple Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008.
Mel House of Los Angeles joins others in protests against the Mormon Church's alleged heavy support of Proposition 8, outside the Los Angeles Mormon Temple Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Los Angeles police officers in riot gear stand guard at the Los Angeles Mormon Temple while protesters stood atop the wall demonstrating against the Mormon Church's support of Proposition 8.
Los Angeles police officers in riot gear stand guard at the Los Angeles Mormon Temple while protesters stood atop the wall demonstrating against the Mormon Church's support of Proposition 8.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
In this 2008 file photo, a woman shouts to the crowd as Robert Oliver waves the GLBT flag from atop a wall outside the Los Angeles Mormon Temple.
In this 2008 file photo, a woman shouts to the crowd as Robert Oliver waves the GLBT flag from atop a wall outside the Los Angeles Mormon Temple.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon,File)
Laura Lucero of Los Angeles participates in a same-sex marriage rally in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
Laura Lucero of Los Angeles participates in a same-sex marriage rally in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

He is demonizing the opposition. It's Political Consulting 101. The average guy does not know the extent to which the Mormon Church was involved on Prop. 8. - Gary Lawrence, Mormon pollster

My sense is that there aren't great risks to it. Once a religious institution is going to inject itself into a public fight, which the LDS did in a straight-up way, then I think people are prepared to say, 'Well, okay, you're on that side and we're against you.' - Professor Mark Silk

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
kokuaguy
May 29, 2009 6:15 AM CDT
Interesting factoid: Debi Hartmann, a Hawaii elected official who was at the forefront of the opposition that led to banning same sex marriage in Hawaii in 1998 (after the courts had ruled it constitutional) has done an about face and was a strong supporter of a civil unions bill that would give same sex couples all the rights of married couples in Hawaii. It failed to pass in the Hawaii legislature because key members of the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to allow the full Senate to vote on the civil unions bill that passed in the state House by a vote of 33-17. Colleen Hanabusa, the Senate President, could have over-ruled the committee but declined to do so. She is reportedly seeking to move up to higher office (Congress, Governor or Honolulu Mayor) in 2010.
kokuaguy
May 29, 2009 6:05 AM CDT
Exactly correct, Fondue. Making an issue of the important role of the Mormon Church leaders who spent this money is a good way to make the point to all voters (including blacks, hispanics, asians, etc.) that it is bigotry and intolerance which motivates many opponents of marriage equality.
MrsK
May 29, 2009 5:11 AM CDT
It's not politically correct to go after minorities, but Mormons are fair game. This is where the gays lose their credibility.

Is there any secular logic to opposing gay marriage?
New Republic

 
gay marriage • Mormon • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Proposition 8

More Newser Stories

GOP Lawmakers Want to Repeal Gay Marriage in NH

Mormons Baptized Parents of Nazi-Hunter Wiesenthal

Washington Gov. Signs Gay Marriage Into Law

NJ Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

Washington State Legalizing Gay Marriage
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne