Because Disrespect and Exclusion on the Basis of Sexual Orientation is Wrong

"We believe ALL families matter and we do not believe in discrimination,
therefore, our family will vote against Prop 8." -- Barbara Young

Loved the gravestones, Barb.

RIP inequality, Nov. 4

Those who forget
the past
are condemned
to repeat it.
No to 8!!!

## The following email landed in my inbox a few hours ago.

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Good Morning All,

I have spent some time working on these thoughts.  Please take some time reading them.  I hope you will feel inclined to pass them on to others not on this list.  The Brethren asked us to use the internet to share our thoughts and feelings during this election cycle.  This is my contribution.

Thank you in advance,

Brian L.
Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Citizen of the United States of America

By California Mormon
With Permission

I am a lifelong Mormon, a native Californian, and a descendant of Mormon pioneers. Like many other Mormons, I am anguished by my Church's endorsement of Proposition 8, a ballot initiative which would eliminate civil rights to marry now accorded to gay and lesbian people in California.

I am anguished for what this campaign would do in abolishing rights and protections now belonging to fellow California citizens. But I am also anguished by the consequences of this campaign for Mormon families and wards throughout California. Since June, I have felt the profound effects of the "Yes on 8" campaign in our church meetings. In my own ward, it has dominated the content of our Sacrament Meetings and auxiliary meetings, as well as our hallway conversations. What does it mean that we are being asked to give and are giving ourselves so zealously to this campaign?

MORMONS TO DELIVER LETTERS, PETITION OPPOSING PROPOSITION 8

Not all Mormons agree with their church's decision to forcefully support Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that would eliminate the right to same-sex marriage in California. Now they're speaking out.

Hundreds of Mormons and friends of Mormons have written letters and signed a petition at SigningForSomething.org to oppose the church's inappropriate political posturing in California. The letters and petition will be delivered to church headquarters at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, after which Mormon dissidents will be available to talk with the media about their reasons for opposing the church's political stance. Copies of the letters and petition will also be available for the press.

Signing For Something supporters will meet at a public park in downtown Salt Lake City across from the Church Office Building. It is on the northeast corner of State Street and North Temple. (This is the southernmost part of Memory Grove Park.)

Jennifer Kerns has stepped down from the Yes on 8 effort in order to devote more time to her blog.

Please note contact details for the campaign's new spokeswoman below:

Sonja Eddings Brown
Deputy Communications Director
Protect Marriage
Tel:  818-723-9446
Mobile: 916-446-2956
Email:  sonja@protectmarriage.com

Sonja's husband, Lowell Brown, is also involved in the campaign as an Area Director in charge of organizing the LDS (Mormon) Yes on 8 ground game.  

Watch the first Yes on 8 TV ad here.

Or here:

Contact: Sonja Eddings Brown, Protect Marriage, 916-446-2956

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 27 Christian Newswire -- The following news advisory is submitted by ProtectMarriage.com:

Who: ProtectMarriage.com - Yes on Proposition 8 Campaign
Campaign Managers Frank Schubert & Jeff Flint

What: Press Conference to reveal the first Yes on Proposition 8 television ad

Where: Offices of Schubert Flint Public Affairs
1415 L Street, Suite 1250
Sacramento, CA 95814

When: Monday, September 29, 2008
11:00 AM

Notes: Yes on Prop 8 Campaign Managers Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint will unveil the first in a series of campaign commercials designed to educate voters about the critical need to pass Proposition 8, which will restore traditional marriage to California.

Additionally, Professor Richard Peterson of the Pepperdine University School of Law, who appears in the ad, and Mr. Andrew Pugno, counsel to ProtectMarriage.com, will be available to answer questions.

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has just released a 42 page poll (PDF).

Frank Russo comments on what this latest PPIC poll found regarding Proposition 8:

The results here are almost a carbon copy of the Field Poll and show California voters rejecting Prop 8 which would eliminate same sex marriage rights in California by a margin of 55% to 41%. It is extremely difficult for a measure that has majority opposition in polling at this point to win.

There is a partisan divide here--and the numbers are as lopsided as they are because independents join Democrats in opposing this proposition. Democrats by a 71% to 25% margin oppose it and independents oppose it by 53% to 42%. Republicans support Prop 8 by 62% to 34%. Democratic and Republican voters have the same level of importance to the outcome here whereas it is not as important to independent voters. There is no gender gap. Evangelicals are as likely to vote in favor of Prop 8 (64%) as all others are to vote against it (63%).

And here are the findings of the latest SurveyUSA poll: Yes: 44% / No: 49%.