Roseanne Takes on Marie Osmond and Anti-Gay Mormon Church

Comedian and actress Roseanne Barr has sent out a strong message in response to Marie Osmond's son committing suicide. In a blog post titled "Marie Osmond's Poor Gay Son Killed Himself" she calls on Marie Osmond whose son is rumored to have been gay, and her daughter who is openly lesbian to renounce the Mormon Church's anti-gay stance instead of donate and promote her faith.

Barr talks about her own experience seeing the harm caused by anti-gay repression by the Mormon Church:

"I know so many mormon kids who were gay and committed suicide, and I just cannot and will not stay quiet in order to not offend bigots anymore."

She also calls out Marie directly and tells her to be proactive in changing Church policy.

"Please get some integrity and tell that church of yours that you will leave it and stop giving it ten percent of your money if they don't stop trying to destroy your kids' and all gay people's civil rights and dreams and hopes!!"

Please take a moment to thank Roseanne Barr for this and her years of commitment to LGBT rights activism.

'Kiss In' Tonight at San Diego Mormon Temple

The Empowering Spirits Foundation will hold the Love Unites Kiss-In, outside the San Diego Mormon Temple in protest of the recent arrest of Derek Jones and Matthew Aune who shared a kiss by the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City. The church maintains that they can stop this behavior because it is private property, but hundreds have protested saying that the Church has not interfered with the many heterosexuals who goto the romantic spot to kiss.

This is a peaceful protest to show the LDS church not to persecute against love. They ask that supporters paint red hearts on their cheeks, foreheads, or wear paper hearts on your clothing.

Signs that are encouraged include: Love Unites, Free Hugs, Free Kisses, Love Knows No Boundaries, Equality for All, etc.

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: San Diego Mormon Temple
Street: 7474 Charmant Drive
City: San Diego, CA 92122

RSVP via Facebook at Empowering Spirits.

A Mormon Plea for Reconciliation

A petition has been created by moderate Mormons who disagree with the church's opposition to homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The petition will be delivered to Church Headquarters on the first anniversary of Proposition 8 being passed in California.

This is an attempt to show that it is time for reconciliation between the Church and the millions of Mormons and LGBT people who have been hurt by the LDS involvement over proposition 8.

Mormon, or not, everyone is welcome to sign the petition to show their support for reconciliation between these two communities.

To sign the petition please send an e-mail with your name in the subject line to:

ldsapology@gmail.com or goto ldsapology.org

The Mormons Are Coming...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) has been leading the national crusade against same-sex marriage since President Gordon B. Hinckley issued such a proclamation in 1988. The Church showed just how effective it could be beginning in Hawaii in the mid-nineties all the way through to California’s Proposition 8 in 2008. They were involved to some degree with all 30 state elections outlawing same-sex marriage.

The purpose of Mormongate.com is to tell the real truth about the Mormon Church’s massive involvement and cover-up of this issue. Nearly all of their activities are intended to be highly secretive. This strategy has served them well over the past 20 years; however, we have recently received documentation of just how they operate.

H/T to Mike Tidmus.

Mormon Machine Working Against Civil Unions in Illinois

The following official email was just sent out (via the LDS Church website) to all the members of the Nauvoo 3rd Ward, as approved by Kristy Combs, ward website administrator, and by Bishop Chris Church of the Nauvoo 3rd Ward. (Because it was sent through the LDS website, it required the authorization of a bishop or higher.)

"This message has been authorized for sending by Bishop Church.

The Civil Union Bill (HB 2234) has been scheduled for a hearing in the Youth and Family Committee this week on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in Springfield. If the bill is voted out of committee, it becomes eligible for a vote before the full Illinois House of Representatives. This bill will legalize civil unions in the state of Illinois, and will treat such civil unions with the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits as are afforded within marriage. In other words, civil unions will be different in name only from marriage. As has already been seen in Massachusetts, this will empower the public schools to begin teaching this lifestyle to our young children regardless of parental requests otherwise. It will also create grounds for rewriting all social mores; the current push in Massachusetts is to recognize and legalize all transgender rights (An individual in Massachusetts can now change their drivers license to the gender they believe themselves to be, regardless of actual gender, which means that confused men and women are now legally entering one another's bathrooms and locker rooms.What kind of a safety issue is this for our children?). Furthermore, while the bill legalizes civil unions, it will be used in the courts to show discrimination and will ultimately lead to court mandated same-sex marriages.

To help defeat this bill, please call your state representative and state senator and ask that they support traditional marriage and vote against the civil unions bill. If you are unsure who your legislators are, please see the link at the end of this email.

Also, please take a moment and call the following members of the Youth and Family Committee to encourage them to vote no on this bill. We need 4 votes to keep it from passing out of the committee. And - as always, please pass this on to all who believe in protecting our families and our children. If you are interested in attending the hearing, it will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 9:00 a.m. in Springfield in Room 122B of the Capitol Building (I can give you directions to the Capitol Building if needed).

Members of the Youth and Family Committee:

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) (Greg Harris is also the sponsor of this bill, but he needs to hear your opposition to this bill)
Chairperson
217-782-3835

Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-Chicago)
Vice-Chairperson
217-782-5962

Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago)
Republican Spokesperson
217-782-1653

Rep. William D. Burns (D-Chicago)
217-782-2023

Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R-Chicago)
217-782-8182

Rep. Al Riley (D-Matteson)
217-558-1007

Rep. Dave Winters (R-Rockford)
217-782-0455

Directions for identifying your legislators:

You can use the following link to identify your state legislators and
their contact information: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1 (and enter your 9
digit zip code). If this link doesn't work, you can use the general
link www.ilga.gov and then click on " legislator lookup" near the
bottom of the page, then click on "by zip+4". Type in your zip code,
and you'll see a list of your legislators. You want your state
senator and state representative as they will be the ones voting on
the bill.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sister Combs"

Please do the opposite of this action alert by the church and tell your legislators you support the HB2234 the civil unions bill.

Crossposted via Chino Blanco.

Tip Line Created to Uncover Truth of Financial Involvement of LDS Church

Californians Against Hate has set up a toll-free tip line for anyone who has information regarding the Mormon Church's involvement in proposition 8. Any information that you want to pass along will be kept strictly confidential and will be used to file a second complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)

The graph below courtesy of Californians Against Hate shows a suspicious report of their financial filings. The graph shows the lump sum of financial involvement being in the last week which raises serious questions as to whether some information is being hidden, due to the fact that the LDS Church has been involved in the campaign for months.

If you have any information on Mormon Church spending anywhere in the country that occurred during the summer and fall leading up to the November 4th election, please let Californians Against Hate know.

Prominent Mormons Reimbursed for Prop 8

In what is now being called Mormon Gate by Californians Against Hate, the LDS church finds itself embroilled in a new scandal every day over their social, and financial involvement in banning same-sex marriage in California.

All this may be the tip of the iceberg as new reports indicate the following people, and probably more to follow were allegedly reimbursed by the yes on 8 campaign.

• Lawrence Research (Gary Lawrence, Mormon pollster and Meridian contributor): $528,877.35

• Eagle Foundation (a Mormon PAC set up by Bart Marcois and David Parker): $135,912.76

• Glen Greener (former Salt Lake City Police Commissioner, Meridian contributor, and now a GOP operative and sometime Cali property developer): $50,236.42

• Sonja Brown (Protectmarriage.com communications director): $41,844.00

• Zion Multimedia Corp.: $2,000.00

• Rob Wirthlin: $768.18

The full list of those who contributed to the Yes on 8 campaign can be viewed here courtesy of California's public records law.

H/T to Eric Ethington.

More 'Revelations' For the Mormon Church Tax Scandal

Mormon church officials, facing an ongoing investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, Friday reported nearly $190,000 in previously unlisted assistance to the successful campaign for Prop. 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California.

The report, filed with the secretary of state’s office, listed a variety of California travel expenses for high-ranking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and included $20,575 for use of facilities and equipment at the church’s Salt Lake City headquarters and a $96,849 charge for “compensated staff time” for church employees who worked on matters pertaining to Prop. 8.

The Mormon church had been under investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission for failure to report its contributions as required by law. The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by Fred Karger, of Californians Against Hate.

IRS regulations barred from endorsing political candidates, but they allow churches and religious groups to campaign and contribute on behalf of issues. When doing so, churches are required to report their contributions just like every other donor. They are also required to report and attach fair market dollar values to “in-kind” donations, which consist of services and activities provided directly without charge by a donor that a campaign would otherwise have been required to pay for.

Crossposted via Box Turtle Bulletin.

Direct Evidence Mormon Church Violated Tax Exempt Status

On November 3, 2008, ProtectMarriage.com received a contribution of $30,354.85 from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You read that right. The Mormon Church donated more than $30 thousand dollars to eradicate the right of same-sex couples to marry. This is clear evidence, with a paper trail showing the Church and their personal financial contribution.

See the filing here.

H/T to The Gaytheist Agenda.

Shame on the LDS Church!

The gay community was already angry at the Mormon Church over its decision to heavily finance the proposition 8 campaign to defeat marriage rights in California for same-sex couples.

The LDS Church responded by saying they support gay rights, just not the word 'marriage' and were given the opportunity to stand up and show their support for other measures.

The Common Ground Initiative was meant to introduce improvements of the law to be more inclusive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, these set of bills had zero to do with marriage, so the Mormon Church would speak out in support, right?

No. They even defeated the Wrongful Deaths Amendment which never made it out of committee.

This goes to show the true colors of the LDS Church as anti-gay institution.

Shame on LDS Steps of Action:

1. Boycott the LDS Church. Don't listen to their missionaries, don't go to their Visitors Centers, don't attend their events and pageants.

2. Boycott LDS-owned businesses - owners give 10% of what they make to the LDS Church.

3. Don't visit the Hate State- there's nothing in Utah you can't get elsewhere, and the LDS Church dominates everything about Utah.

4. Write a letter of complaint. Let them know how you feel. Address it to: Thomas Monson, 50 E. North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.

5. Sign petitions and/or resign: remove LDS tax-exempt status, Mormons Stole Our Rights.com, Sign For Something.

Evidence Mormon Church Violated Tax Exempt Status!

The Mormon Church may lose their tax-exempt status over their overwhelming financial and social support for proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California. The video below shows the evidence of support by the LDS church including an audio record of the elders plans to pass proposition 8.

Request For "Common Ground" Between Mormons & Gays

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) entered the political arena and drew the ire of LGBT rights groups when they encouraged members of the Church to play a lead role in the campaign to pass Prop. 8 in California.

Yet, Church leaders have insisted all along that they're not "anti-gay" or opposed to civil unions and other LGBT rights – they say they're just against marriage for same-sex couples.

Well, our friends at Equality Utah are giving them the perfect opportunity to prove it:

Sign on to HRC's letter to President Monson of the LDS Church – ask him to publicly support civil unions and other pro-equality legislation in the Church's home state of Utah.

Equality Boycott - Fight Back With Your Dollars!

Equality Boycott is calling for a boycott of businesses tied to proposition 8 and investments owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormon Church which heavily funded the anti-gay amendment eliminating state/federal rights for gay couples.

Equality Utah - Petition for Gay & Transgender Utahns

"Throughout the recent election cycle, the LDS Church has demonstrated its willingness to participate in political issues by asking its members to do all they can do, including donating their means and their time, to support California’s Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution and eliminated gay couples right to marry by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

The LDS Church has articulated it is not “anti-gay” but rather pro-marriage and it “does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights.” On November 5th, Elder L. Whitney Clayton stated the LDS Church does not oppose “civil unions or domestic partnerships.” In response to these statements, Equality Utah is drafting legislation for the 2009 General Session of the Utah Legislature to address each of the issues mentioned by the LDS Church."

Help urge the LDS church to stick by their statements and help in the effort to pass equality legislation in Utah.

Click here to sign the Equality Utah petition.

Signing for Something - Resign From the Mormon Church

Hundreds of gay and straight Mormons are resigning from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints over the Church's funding and propaganda regarding proposition 8, that led to a ban on same-sex marriage in California.

Many families with deep ties to the LDS Church are resigning in droves because they feel it was wrong for the church to get involved with a political issue, especially one that is as divisive as gay marriage. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been taught, “We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government …” (Doctrine and Covenants 134:9). In addition many Mormons do not feel their faith represents them on the issue of homosexuality, and marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

Below is a recent news assignment done covering the Signing for Something movement which has now helped hundreds of people leave the LDS movement.



http://signingforsomething.org/blog/

No Tax Exemption For Political Churches!

The Mormon Church has instructed its members to donate to proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage in California. Nearly half the money (20 million dollars) came in from Mormon Church members predominantly from Utah.

According to IRS Law:

"Section 501(c)(3) describes corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literacy, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in section (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

Sign the petition asking the IRS to revoke the Mormon Church's Tax Exempt status.
http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/

You can also visit Revoke LDS Church 501(c)(3) status to learn how to file a complaint with the Internal Revenue Services.

Invalidate Prop 8! Donate in the Name of the Mormon Church!

The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center is asking us to send a message to the Mormon Church, whose members raised more than $15 million to fund the deceitful advertising campaign for Proposition 8, the initiative that takes away the right to marry for same sex couples in California!

Make a donation, in the name of the president of the Mormon Church, to support the legal organizations working to invalidate Proposition 8 and to fund grass-roots activities in support of full marriage equality. For every donation of $5 or more, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center will send the following postcard to President Thomas Monson’s office in Salt Lake City, acknowledging your donation in his name:

Dear President Monson:

A donation has been made in your name by _________________ to “invalidateprop8.org” to overturn California's Proposition 8 and restore fundamental civil rights to all citizens of California. The money will be donated to legal organizations fighting the case and to support grass-roots activities in support of full marriage equality. Although we decry the reprehensible role the Church of Latter Day Saints leadership played in denying all Californians equal rights under the law, we are pleased a donation has been made on your behalf in the effort to overturn the discrimination your church members helped enshrine in the California Constitution. Given that throughout its history the Mormon Church has been subjected to bigotry, we hope you appreciate the donation in your name to fight religious bigotry here in California.

Let’s work to overturn Prop. 8 while sending a message to the Mormon Church that it’s wrong for any organization to exert political influence to deny the civil rights of any group!

http://www.invalidateprop8.org/

Prop 8 Rally At Mormon Temple in Los Angeles Nov. 6th

The Mormon Temple is responsible for spreading misinformation which has resulted in over 20 million dollars of donations to proposition 8 in California. A call has been issued to march on the Mormon Temple at 10777 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles at 2pm Thursday November 6th. Bring your signs and video cameras.

Don't Let the Mormon Church Decide on Prop 8

Web Spotlight: Mormons for Marriage

Mormons for Marriage are gay and straight Mormons who stand for marriage equality and strongly oppose proposition 8 in California. They offer information, support, and resources on the pro-equality Mormon position.

Check their website out at...
http://mormonsformarriage.com/