'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

Web Spotlight: Mormongate

Mormongate is a new website by Californians Against Hate that seeks to expose the LDS Church's involvement in the fight against equal rights for same-sex couples. The website provides documentation and a tip line in order to fully grasp the impact the Mormon Church has had in supporting anti-gay measures.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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/

Thou Shalt Not Lie: Mormon Church Refuses Petition!

10/30 Update: Nearly 17,000 people signed the letter demanding the Mormon church stop funding proposition 8. The Courage Campaign went to deliver our signatures on Tuesday but were rejected by the Los Angeles Mormon Church as seen by the video below. The campaign is now headed to Salt Lake City, Utah to deliver the signatures to the Mormon Church headquarters.

---

10/27: It's time for Californians to fight back against the dishonest attacks of the "Yes on 8" campaign funded by the Mormon Church. On Tuesday, the Courage Campaign will deliver a letter to President-Prophet Thomas Monson at the Los Angeles Mormon Temple, demanding that his church stop funding the blatant lies of the "Yes on 8" campaign.



We need to stop the Mormon Church from pushing their marriage views on Californians through the ballot box. Please sign this letter now to President-Prophet Thomas Monson demanding that his church cease funding the "Yes on 8" campaign: