Utah Governor Gary Herbert: No protected class for gay people

Does the Governor of Utah live in the 21st Century? Does he realize how much the Republican Party has suffered because of the type of statement he made today?

"Discriminating against gay people shouldn't be illegal, although he would prefer it if everyone were treated with respect. We don't have to have a rule for everybody to do the right thing. We ought to just do the right thing because it's the right thing to do and we don't have to have a law that punishes us if we don't." - Utah Governor Gary Herbert (For our International Readers: In the United States, the title "Governor" refers to the chief executive of each state, not directly subordinate to federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state)

How far from idealism the Republican Party has strayed since its founding in 1854 to end slavery, and ultimately crushed the Whig Party.

All of this is happening because Salt Lake City is considering passing an ordinance to protect gay and lesbian people, but the Utah Legislature is already considering passage of a state law that would trump it.

Governor Herbert is a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), which lobbied hard to pass Prop 8 in California.

Illinois Latest Site of LDS Church’s Nationwide Anti-Gay Crusade; HRC Launches Grassroots Effort in Illinois to Refute Bigoted Claims

A recap if the story is below from HRC. Click here to visit the HRC site and read the entire story.

So what about Kentucky? It should concern Kentucky Equality Federation, Kentucky Fairness Alliance, Lexington Fairness, and Fairness Campaign that Kentucky has a lot of LDS Churches in Lexington, Louisville, and Northern Kentucky.

They didn't get involved in Senate Bill 68, but that is not to say they cannot or will not get involved in the future.

“It is irrefutably clear that the LDS Church is fighting an anti-gay crusade throughout the nation, targeting any form of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community,” said Bruce Bastian, Board of Director for the Human Rights Campaign and former member of the LDS Church. “Church leaders want nothing more than to do their hateful work in secrecy, but the time has come to shine a light on their insidious efforts. If the LDS Church won't tell the truth, we will.”

The e-mail, sent to at least one LDS ward in Illinois, was authorized by Bishop Chris Church, of the Nauvoo, Illinois 3rd Ward, and was sent out by that website’s ward administrator. The messaging in the e-mail carries many of the same bigoted lies that were hallmarks of the LDS Church’s campaign in support of Proposition 8 in California and Proposition 102 in Arizona. The e-mail misleads citizens in Illinois by blatantly misstating that the civil unions legislation would “empower the public schools to begin teaching this lifestyle to our young children regardless of parental requests otherwise.” It goes on to issue this incendiary and inaccurate warning – “it will also create grounds for rewriting all social mores.” The e-mail was uncovered by BoxTurtleBulletin.com, a website that tracks and monitors anti-gay rhetoric. The contents of the e-mail are posted online at www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/03/03/9359.

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (HB 2234) has been scheduled for a hearing in the Illinois House of Representatives Youth and Family Committee this week on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in Springfield, IL.

In response to this secret action by the LDS Church, the Human Rights Campaign today launched a full scale, online grassroots call to action to its more than 35,000 Illinois based members and supporters. The take-action asks members to contact the Nauvoo, Illinois Mormon Temple and let them know these deceitful, fear-mongering tactics can no longer be done in secret. It also encourages pro-equality voters of Illinois to contact their state elected officials to voice their support of HB 2234. The full online action that was sent to over 35,000 pro-equality Illinoisans can be viewed at: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=37929006

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“Despite the Mormon Church’s attempt to not appear publicly bigoted against the social justice issue of our time, it is perfectly clear that the church has in its cross-hairs any measure that recognizes the humanity and dignity of LGBT Americans,” continued Bastian.

Illinois citizens can visit Equality Illinois to sign their action alert, or visit the Human Rights Campaign website here.

Additional information can be found on the HRC Blog, Back Story by clicking here.

A Christian plea for gay rights

As we approach the new year, an opinion in the Arizona Republic rang true.....more so than anything after setbacks in Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Florida. Regardless of your religion, it all translates the same: "Love your neighbor and live peacefully."

It saddened me when Arizona and other states passed initiatives attacking the GLBT [and I, for intersex] community, an often demonized and misunderstood minority.

As an American, I saw equality for all fall. As a Christian, I saw love held less important than tradition.

Since the passage of these Jim Crow-style initiatives, there has been a backlash against the initiatives' supporters, specifically the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I understand the need to express anger. Surely I would lash out against a law declaring invalid the love between a Protestant and a Catholic.

But I suggest we move away from retribution and toward understanding. As Americans, we must fight for equality for all, and at the same time as Christians, we must help those mired in tradition to understand that Christ commands that love, not tradition, be our guide.

The latter can be achieved only through honest dialogue, not by punishing those who disagree.

Finally, it concerns me that of the triumvirate of intolerance - LDS, Catholic and Christian Fundamentalist churches - the LDS Church is bearing the brunt of the backlash. - James E. Barton II, Phoenix

California begins investigation into Mormon Church

Finally, investigations are beginning in California:

California officials will investigate accusations that the Mormon Church neglected to report a battery of non-monetary contributions — including phone banks, a Web site and commercials — on behalf of a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.

Roman Porter, the executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission, which oversees California campaign finance laws.

The complaint, filed by Fred Karger, founder of the group Californians Against Hate, asserted that the church’s reported contributions — about $5,000, according to state election filings — vastly underestimated its actual efforts in passing Proposition 8, which amended the state’s Constitution to recognize only male-female marriage.

Broadly speaking, California state law requires disclosure of any money spent or services provided to influence the outcome of an election.

Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement Tuesday saying it had received the complaint and would cooperate with the investigation.

Responding to a plea from Mormon Church leaders to “become involved in this important cause,” members contributed millions of dollars and volunteered for countless hours on behalf of Proposition 8. The ballot measure passed with 52 percent of the vote, leading to protests and boycotts of supporters of the proposition, including some Mormon temples and businesses.

Mr. Karger’s complaint paints a sweeping picture of the involvement by the church leadership, and raises questions about who paid for out-of-state phone banks and grass-roots rallies in California before the Nov. 4 vote.

“Who paid for the buses, travel costs, meals and other expenses of all the Mormon participants?” the complaint reads. “No contributions were reported.”

The complaint also touches on a five-state simulcast from church leaders to Mormon congregations, as well as a Web site, preservingmarriage.org, that featured a series of videos advocating passage of the ballot measure and is labeled “an official Web site” of the Mormon Church.

If found in violation of election laws, the church could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation, Mr. Porter said. Bigger fines could also be levied by a civil court.

The California Supreme Court agreed last week to review the constitutionality of the measure, with a ruling expected next year.

The Mormon Church; Roseanne and Lady Bunny protest companies owned by them

Special thanks to Lady Bunny for this!

FROM ROSEANNE BARR: The Mormon church was the single largest monetary contributor to the VOTE "YES" ON PROPOSITION 8 campaign. The Mormon church gets its money from church-members and its business holdings.

Below is a list of organizations that are either owned by the Mormon church outright; owned, founded or run by Mormons in executive positions (a portion of whose salary is tithed to the church); or in which the church owns a large percentage of stock.

I respectfully ask that you carefully review this list and think twice before you financially empower these companies with your patron dollars.

PLEASE BOYCOTT THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE (IF IT IS A PERSON, DO NOT PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS):

• Aaron Eckhart (actor)
  
• American Express
• Black & Decker
• Central Pacific Bank
• David Archuleta (American Idol, 7th Season)
  
• Dell Computer
• Diebold
• Gladys Knight (R&B and Gospel Singer)
  
• Kroger (Ralph's and Albertsons) - This one is no surprise; Kentucky Equality Federation has boycotted Kroger for years!
• Hollywood Entertainment (Hollywood Video)
• Host Marriott (Marriott Hotels & Resorts; this includes Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairflied Inn)
• Jet Blue
• JP Realty
• KeyCorp (Key Bank)
  
• K-Swiss Shoes
• La Quinta Hotels
• Marriott International
• Priceline.com
• Ryder Systems (Ryder trucks)
• Sky West (airline)
• Zions Bank
  

Check-out this site for additional information: http://www.mormonstockindex.com.