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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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10

Gay Marriage Activists Take the Fight to the Mormons

PR throwdown goes nationwide

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(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)
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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

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10 comments
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godawgs
May 29, 09 10:06 AM CDT
They should leave the Mormons alone. Their support isnt the reason that Prop 8 passed. The swell of minority voters helped to pass Prop 8. I don't know why this fact is being overlooked by the Gay community. You can't be taken seriously if you are going to just go after people and blame the wrong group. I doubt the Mormon church has more money the stars in Hollywood who support gay marriage. So just outspend them. The mormons ran ads, which is their right to do in support of Prop 8. Have the start run more ads and then they will cancel each other out. To get gay marriage approved on a ballot though, the gay community is going to have to reach out to the minority (blacks and hispanic) voters. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Ioptout
May 29, 09 10:20 AM CDT
They should not leave the Mormons alone or anyone for that matter. From what I know from the gay people I know, they do a whole hell of a lot. Any group that is against you is a group you should fight i.e. Mormons. I agree that they should increase time spent on minorities especially in Cali.
Vote up! Vote down!
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IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
May 29, 09 10:31 AM CDT
loptout I can see your point of view, but I think that Mormons have been given a lot more credit then they deserve in Prop 8 passing. I know that you need a scapegoat and I think they were the easiest target. If the gay community focuses on people who are voting then they have a better shot at getting what they want. If they waste their time and money trying to smear the Mormon church, I think that they lose at the polls again. Like the article says only 48% of people know a Mormon, but 100% of people know a minority and that is where they lost on Prop 8. They should re-focus on that voting block.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
May 29, 09 11:57 AM CDT
Opposition is opposition. Godawgs, I doubt minority voters are being overlooked. They're more than likely trying to get them on their side.
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
MrsK
May 29, 09 12:11 PM CDT
It's not politically correct to go after minorities, but Mormons are fair game. This is where the gays lose their credibility.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1

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