A Disclaimer....

Since last Tuesday, gays, lesbians, and our supporters have been taking to the streets in protest of Prop 8. In many cases, the mormons have been singled out as the objects of protest. They don't understand why. They can't seem to wrap their brains around the concept that their church supplied most of the funds and the "grass roots" volunteers for the campaign that stripped away our established fundamental rights in the California constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court.

Prior to last Tuesday, I couldn't have cared less, or known less, about the mormons. I knew they had some kooky beliefs and traditions, but my attitude was "live and let live." They were not a concern. That was before they actively worked against me, coercing their own members who don't even live here to donate money and time to take away rights that don't affect them in the slightest way.

That all changed on Tuesday. I now understand that they are a dangerous, cultish, religion. I have dug into their weird beliefs and practices, and I publish them here. I believe they have given up the right to be "left alone" by involving themselves in an issue that is none of their business.

You want to know why we're angry? In recent memory, how many mormons in America have been beaten, sometimes killed, simply because they are mormon? How many have been left to die tied up to a fencepost simply because they are mormon? The lies about gays, which are perpetuated by the mormons, along with right wing Christians, dehumanizes us, marginalizes us, makes us less deserving of compassion, and even life in some circles. It makes Matthew Shepard possible.

I think it's important for all of us in the movement to be temperate in what we say and do. The wingnuts love to take stuff out of context, and use it to make it look like we're "rioting in the streets" and targeting mormons for harm. They are even throwing around the words "hate crime," which is ironic since they have fought any kind of hate crime legislation tooth and nail. I personally am not aware of any problems. As far as I know, all the protests have been peaceful, with possibly some angry words thrown back and forth.

I would fight to the death for a mormon's right to be a mormon. I may disagree with you at the top of my lungs, but I will fight for your right to say it. That's what being an American is all about. But, I have the same right, and as an American citizen, I have made it my personal mission to expose the cult-like beliefs and practices of the mormon church, to hold them up to the scrutiny and ridicule they deserve. But, at no time do I advocate violence against their person or their property.