Gay Day ....

So Thursday was .. uh ... well I don't know what the official title for the day was, but everyone was supposed to wear purple to support gays in their anti-bullying campaign.  I'm cool with that.  As everyone knows I'm totally all for gay rights and equality and all that.  I didn't wear purple though.  I guess it's an easy excuse to say that I don't own any purple because I don't.  Even if I did own a purple shirt I can't say for sure that I would have worn it.  Again, I could use the excuse that I didn't know anything about this "wear purple" thing until later in the day because that's true too.  But, the truth is that I don't normally join in with support or protest or whatever stuff. I didn't turn my profile pics on Twitter or Facebook or Tumbr purple or anything like that.  I remember showing up at work on 9/11/2002 and people asking me why I wasn't wearing red, white and blue.  Because I didn't know we were supposed to.  I've always been that way. 

Well, actually I did wear something to support gays once.  When I was a freshman in college, way back in 1986 people were told to wear blue jeans to class to show support for the gay and lesbian students.  So I did.  Not intentionally though.  I actually had no idea.  I was wondering why so many people (mostly the frat boys) were wearing sweats though.  And I did think it odd when the dude sitting in the back of my honors English class winked at me, but still didn't think anything of it.  On my way back to the dorm someone stopped and me and said "You're wearing jeans!" and I was like "Yeah, my Armani Suit is at the cleaners" and they were like "Today was 'wear jeans to support gays' day and you wore JEANS!"  Basically my reaction was to go home and then put on shorts and go play basketball without really thinking about it.  I guess I was concerned that people would think was gay, but no more so than usual.  I'm not going to claim that I was Mr. Enlightened during those days, so I'm sure I tried to prove my heterosexual manliness while playing basketball that afternoon.  I don't recall it being any big deal.  Except for that guy who winked at me, at least.  And really, he was a pretty good looking guy, so it wasn't all that insulting.  But, he was white so I wouldn't have been interested anyway.

So basically, I went through all that to say that America really needs to grow the fuck up.  We talk about stopping the bullying in our schools but that's only going to happen if teachers, school administrators, local, state and federally elected officials and our "leaders" stop engaging in the very same behavior that our kids are.  Seriously, enough with the demonizing of gays. It's old and tired. Enough with the acting as if gays are somehow sub-human.  Enough with the "It's all a choice" crap.  Just start accepting people for who they are and what they.  Just like you people demand of everyone else.  "Man up" and be adults.

--

BTW, as I told Knight in comments on her blog, I did read David Sedaris this afternoon.  That CAN be substituted for wearing purple, right?

8 Opens Nationwide In Select Theaters This Weekend

Yep, it's finally time!!! 8:The Mormon Proposition opens tomorrow in select theaters and VOD. This is the latest info I have but CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS as dates, times and theaters have been changing. Here in SLC there will be Q&As at The Tower. I will be there Sunday and (a big, fat maybe but not at all for sure) on Friday.

Enjoy! Lemme know what you think.

June 18, 2010:

Atlanta- Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
Boston- The Coolidge Corner Theatre
Chicago- Gene Siskel Film Center

Dallas - Angelika Dallas
Ft. Lauderdale - Gateway

Honolulu - Kahala 8 Theatre
Houston - Angelika Houston
New York City - Village East Cinema, Chelsea Clearview

Los Angeles- Laemmle’s Sunset Five

Palm Springs- Camelot Theatres
Scottsdale/Phoenix - Harkins Camelview 5

Salt Lake City – Tower Theatre
San Diego- Reading Theatre- Gaslamp 15

DC – AFI Silver Springs (3-day)


June 25, 2010:

San Francisco – Presidio Theatre

San Francisco – Sundance Kabuki Theatre

Berkeley – Rialto Elmwood Berkeley

Santa Rosa - Rialto Cinemas Lakeside

Another Totally Gay Wake Up Call

I Believe that we are souls that have come to this planet to learn by experience. I personally am a soul that eats that up. I love experience – even when I hate it. I love to experience things in order to learn. In fact, I obviously love it so much that I choose to experience the same freaking things over and over and over so that I can learn the same freaking things over and over and over. Most often this is done in the very hardest way possible. It’s awesome.

Last fall I wrote about this huge “Ah-ha!” I’d had about how I could no longer spend my life marching at the front of someone else’s parade. How my internal scales had been tipped in the wrong direction for far too long. How I could no longer fill my heart with so much passion for gay men that there was no room for the love of a wonderful straight man. And I wrote all about how I was done. And then last week I was mistaken for a drag queen and lovingly reminded that I am, in all actuality, an “honorary homo.”

Glad to see I’ve made such progress.

Note: I do not take offense to those comments in the least. I have said for years that the only explanation for me is that in my last life I was a chain smoking gay man. (I want to be a smoker soooo bad, but that is another topic for another post.) I AM an honorary homo and have always worn that title like a badge of honor. But last week I was given another 2X4 upside the head. Not because I was mistaken for a man but because of a comment left by a close friend on my I Am Now A Big Drag Queen post.

“Dear Lord Emily. This has gone far enough. You have got to retire the baton. Is there some sort of straight man testosterone festival we can send you to? I'm trying to think of a place where lots of available straight men are gathered together and the only thing that comes to mind is a prison. Hmmm, I'll keep working on that...”

All I can say in response is… I know. And it is most definitely time for an intervention. Time to find that glorious straight man testosterone festival of which you speak. Prison? Umm… I’m thinking not so much. But feel free to hog tie and drop me at the nearest firehouse, bowling alley, monster truck rally, Hunting Expo, Nascar-whatever-thingie… you can find.

The scales of my personal life are not quite as tipped as this blog would suggest. I date a lot of straight men - I just learned long ago not to blog about my relationships / love life. I am currently single and love, love, LOVE the straight men. But, if I am being totally honest – and apparently I am – I do use my spot near the head of the Gay Parade to hide from dealing with straight man drama as often as I possibly can. [Sigh.] And I march out of habit.

I just need to get off the damn street for a while because the problem with being an honorary homo is that, unlike the all real homos, I am there pretty much alone. I need to create my own parade. It will definitely have a Homo Float but it will come after the Sexy Straight Man Salute. I will always be passionate and will always care but I guess I need to get my ass out of the gay bars for a while.

And, as for this blog, I hereby commit to balancing it with a million other topics and at least one post about straight men for every post I write about the gay ones.

Geez, and I thought quitting midgets was going to be hard…

* * *
Related Posts:
Letting It Go
Memo From A Fairy Princess.

Bringing Out The Big Guns

I have so many things I am really trying to wean myself off of: a ridiculous sugar addiction, the mocking of those considerably smaller than me, always marching at the head of the big, gay rights parade...

I know I am far too often Nellie The One Note Fairy Princess but I look around me and I just don't get it. Mormons and Catholics are now officially banning together in their fight to "Defend Religious Freedom."

How is this about religious freedom??? I really want to know.

In his talk to 12,000 BYU students on Tuesday, Cardinal Francis George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said “In recent years, Catholics and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have stood more frequently side by side in the public square to defend human life and dignity." But whose human life and dignity are they defending? Their own. They are only interested in defending those that are like them - those that believe and live as they do. Really??? That's what Jesus Christ - the radical and unbelievably loving and accepting and compassionate being that you proclaim you follow - taught??? Really???

Gay Marriage and Religious Freedom are two completely separate issues but the more that religious leaders lump them together and rally and frighten their mobs, the less likely they are to actually think it through for themselves.

Gay marriage DOES NOT pose anymore of a threat to the world than freeing the slaves, allowing women to vote, allowing blacks the same rights as whites or interracial marriage did. All of those things were going to bring about the end of civilization and they did not. Nor will this.

I know that there are readers of this blog that do not support gay marriage -religious individuals that absolutely believe that their religious freedom is being threatened. PROVE IT. I mean that sincerely. I have yet to find one person who can give me a good argument besides "God says so." I am absolutely baffled by the religious freedom argument. If you believe that gay marriage threatens your religious freedom, I am sincerely begging you to explain to me how. Post anonymously so you won't be personally attacked. And, I don't want to hear "Because God says..." or "Gays are evil therefore..." I really want to know how your religious freedom is threatened by two men or two women getting married.

Cardinal George also said "But when Prop. 8 opponents respond by thuggery, by quasi-fascist tactics, then the common good, our whole society, stands in great jeopardy." Forget counting to ten. I could count to one million and still be furious about this statement. Gay individuals were going about their business of loving one another and picking out china patterns, without giving the second thought of a rats ass about the Mormon Church, when it swooped in and took away one of their basic human rights. What about taking away the separation of church and state and allowing religions to dictate who gets what rights? What does that do to the common good and safety of society? If a religion can rally and strip rights from a group of people once, what's to stop them from doing it again? Who will be next?

The Mormons crying victim, yet again, is outrageous to me. A bully has been beating up kids on the playground for years. Making the smaller ones feel sad, lonely and unworthy. It has been kicking them, throwing sand in their eyes, pulling their hair, calling them names, getting groups of other bullies to follow them. At long last, those that were being bullied stood up, kicked the bully back and said NO MORE. Now that bully is sitting in the Principal's office blubbering with snot running down it's shirt crying about the "thugs and fascists" that were mean to it?

Are you fucking kidding me???

[Deep breath. Happy thoughts. Count to infinity...]


* * *
Related Links:
Guardian: Mormons And Catholics Join Forces

Building Bridges

Many of you saw This Great Article in the Salt Lake Tribune about the LDS stake in Northern California that had Gay Day (my term, not theirs - although, how great would that be?) Guess who's stake that is? Yep, Carol Lynn Pearson (my mom), no big surprise, was one of the enlightened ones behind this event. I knew that they had done this quite a while ago but was sworn to secrecy lest the Big Brother ax begin a fallin' (again, my term not theirs.) Now the Trib knows. Now everyone knows. Now I can blog.

If you didn't read the article - please do so. What they did was amazing and something I hope daring stakes and wards will do all over the country. During the Q & A's at each of our 6 Sundance screenings there were several faithful Latter Day Saints that bravely stood and said variations of the same thing - "I am a believing Mormon, I support the brethren and I support gay rights. What can I do to help all this change?" I, personally, think that it is time for the members who feel that way to get really vocal, really scrappy and really courageous in showing their leaders the kind of loving and Christlike church they want theirs to be. (I know, it doesn't work that way - but it absolutely should)

NO ONE can tell me the LDS church isn't capable of love and compassion - I was a Mormon for 30-ish years and I saw loads of it. Besides no longer believing, I was unwilling to wait around for it to change as much as my own survival needed it to but I am thrilled that there are those like my mother that stick with it and fight the fight. It is imperative to remember that this is NOT about forcing the Mormon Church to marry gays in the temples. That ain't gonna happen. It's about (a) making the LDS church a safe place for gay members and their families - ie: a place that doesn't continue making countless individuals want to blow their brains out and (b) getting ALL churches to stay the hell out of politics.

I asked Mom to share some of the more personal stories and reactions from the
event(s):

From our dear friend, Trevor Southey: “I’m blown away. I can’t believe I heard the things I heard here this morning. If I’d heard this as a young man it would have changed my life, that homosexuality is not a choice, that gay people, no matter their choices, are to be treated with respect and love.”

* * *

From Mom's diary the Sunday after the presentation in her ward: As the men in high priests’ meeting discussed the presentation, one of our very conservative members said, “Brethren, I need to apologize to everyone in this room for some of the things I’ve said in the past. Last week I went home from church feeling sort of troubled. I had to do some studying, and I had to do some praying, and I found out that I’d been wrong on some things. And so today I am apologizing to you for things that I have said in this room. I am sorry.”

(I grew up in that ward and I know the man she wrote this about. He is the last person on the planet I would ever have thought would say anything remotely like that. Trust me - a miracle of miracles!)

* * *

Again, from Mom: There had been some language in the presentation about “bearing each other’s burdens” and the extraordinary burden that is placed on homosexual people. Brett Bradshaw said to me afterwards, “What they have to understand is that to me being gay is no more a burden than being six feet tall is a burden.” Brett is the son of Bill Bradshaw, BYU professor, who is with his husband raising a beautiful daughter.

* * *

Connell, another dear friend of ours, gay and Ex-Mo LDS historian, came on the second Sunday and said, “This is miraculous!” In a letter to Mom, Connell said: “For daring to do right, I honor the Oakland Stake Presidency for their courage, hope, strength, compassion, love, respect, integrity, and openness. May this program spread throughout the church, to aid members in being more loving, more compassionate, and less judgmental of LGBT folks….These were indeed miraculous events with far-ranging power to affect a mighty change in the hearts of many - spreading LOVE, which should be the primary aim and action of every religion and spiritual path....”

* * *

Mom: Last week I spoke to a young woman in my ward who told me a very moving story about the presentations. I asked if she would write it up and send it to me. She decided instead to put it on her blog BarnacleButt.

Excerpts:

When we got home from church I was making dinner with Maddie and Katie, my two teenage daughters, and I started telling them about what a great lesson we'd had in church. We were all chop, chop, chopping and I was talk, talk, talking and I was super surprised when I looked over at Maddie and she was crying.

"Hey!" I said. "What's wrong?"

And that's when she told me how completely relieved she was to hear this message at church, albeit second hand, since I was telling her what I'd heard.

Really?

I totally thought Marc and I had been giving our kids this message their whole lives. We are all about the love here at our house, right? We've told them to love and accept their gay friends. We've loved the gay people in our lives, and, you know, been part of their lives and they're part of ours. I thought our kids were pretty clear on the main-Jesus-message "love everyone."

I thought we'd explained that loving everyone doesn't mean you have to agree with them or think that everything they do is right, but it does mean you treat everyone with respect and kindness.

But it turns out my girls weren't sure. In fact, while she was crying, Maddie told me about spending a week at church camp and making friends with a young man there who was gay. Some of the other young men in her group confronted her and asked her why she was talking to him. "Why wouldn't I?" she asked confused. "Because he's gay," they said.

Ouch.

And by then Katie was crying too because she has had all too similar experiences.

I guess I'm really telling this story because of all the messy thoughts it brought up for me, like YIKES I really don't always know what my kids are going through. And how I hope The Church as a whole helps our youth understand homosexuality better. And how grateful I am for my Savior and his love.

* * *

Part of an email sent to Mom and to the stake presidency from the daughter of a member of the stake:

I felt teary-eyed reading the Tribune article and hearing the stories my mom shared with me of your experiences. I am so grateful to you for taking this courageous step to address a very difficult and painful issue for many LDS members. Those of us who are gay or have gay children (I have two gay sons) know that God made each of us perfect, and that includes our sexual orientation. We want the gay population of the LDS church to know they belong and are perfect, are respected, and that we all have our place in heaven. It is currently so difficult for gay Mormons to feel unashamed and loved. I chose to leave the church several years ago because I could not reconcile in my mind how I could raise my gay sons Mormon and also have them know that they are perfect in my eyes, in God's eyes, and do not need to change any part of who they are in order to be accepted. I did not want them to pretend to be people they aren't just so they could fit in. Upon reading the front page of the Salt Lake Tribune that was forwarded, I feel excited to think that this issue is being brought into the light and will no longer be swept under the carpet. We want our gay sons and daughters to lead happy, fulfilling lives, be who they are, be able to be sexual beings, and practice the religion of their beliefs. Thank you for being instrumental in helping our gay population.

* * *

Part of a thank you email Mom sent to Peggy Fletcher Stack, who wrote the article:

I'm thrilled, but not at all surprised, that you are getting such huge response from all this. For years and years I have received letters and emails that break my heart. We are in such an important historical intersection. It is much larger than the challenge of blacks and the priesthood because it affects SO many and more deeply. I do not believe that one black man ever took his life because of being denied priesthood in our church. But hundreds of beautiful young LDS gay men have taken their lives because we have made them feel so hopeless and so worthless.

This is blessed work we are doing.

* * *

And, lastly, from my mother: I am still stunned with the knowledge of what a Large Things Happened here. It will have ripples that will go a very long way.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

CNN iReports Coverage Of 8: The Mormon Proposition

More great video coverage of 8:TMP. Fred Karger - reporting for CNN. He interviewed everyone but me and Reed. I was too busy making out with Robert Redford. Not sure who Reed was making out with.

Stading Ovations, Celebrity Sightings And Oscar Winners - Oh My!

Yesterday afternoon an audience of 600+ stood and gave "8: The Mormon Proposition" a standing ovation - something virtually unheard of at Sundance - that lasted through the entire closing credits. It was incredible, emotional and almost other worldly. It is an incredible film. When I saw the final cut at a private screening earlier this weekend, I sobbed through much of it. I will sing Reed and Steven Greenstreet's (co-director & editor) praises until the end of my days for what they've created. In a word - it is stunning.


(Why, oh why, the Getty Gods of Camera Snapping insisted on capturing me with this oh-so-weird look on my face while addressing the crowd yesterday is beyond me. But it's still cool. Pictured: (L. to R.) Steven Greenstreet, Me, Reed Cowan, Chris Volz (producer), Bruce Bastian (Exec. Producer), Lance Black (Narrator), Gavin Newsom (San Francisco Mayor) and Dennis Herrera (San Francisco City Attorney).

I was extremely fortunate to be able to spend a couple of days around Dustin Lance Black (Oscar winner, Best Screenplay, "Milk") who is an absolutely lovely person. We all crowded into the rooms where celebs get their photos taken by top photographers for our Cast & Crew photos. Bumped into Chris Cooper, had my make-up touched up 3 feet from Tommy Lee Jones, came face to face with Adrien Brody (love him!) and was knocked off balance and grabbed the arms of Ben Affleck. It's incredibly fun to be star struck while at the same time getting VIP treatment as a producer on one of most hyped films at the festival. When Reed and Steven G. met Robert Redford he smiled, shook his finger and said, "Oh... it's YOU guys! You were the main topic of my press conference yesterday." How cool is that???

As I overheard someone say, "Sundance is filled with Movers & Shakers and Losers and Fakers." So blessed to be counted among the Movers & Shakers - or, at least, rubbing elbows with them.

Running back up for another screening and HRC party. I will return and report.

8:TMP Makes CNNs Top 5 Sundance Films To See

BOW CHICKA BOW BOW...

Reed Cowan: Mormon Of The Year

Reed has been nominated as "Mormon of the Year" for the influence he has had with his film. Right on.

Please Internetland, VOTE HERE AND VOTE NOW. In the name of David Hasselhoff, amen.

And, thank you.

Mark Morford: Sex Tape Tips From Carrie Prejean

Remember when I rabidly disagreed with self righteous and homophobic puppet Miss California Carrie Prejean - but at least gave her a nod for having the balls to not talk out of both sides of her mouth? Well, it turns out she's been doing something else out of both sides of her mouth. On tape. 7+ times...

Leave it to my like minded, equally smart assed, hero Mark Morford to mock her in the manner in which she should now be accustomed.

Bless her heart. And her coochie.

Party In The Pig Pen

Hey, Utahans, did you read the Tribune headlines today? "Buttars: An Unlikely Ally For Gays?

All together now - Bah-hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

See Internetland, we don't need to be angry. All we need is a bucket of hot buttered popcorn as we kick back and enjoy the circus. Chris Buttars a gay ally? Hardly. How wonderful is it that this crusty curmudgeon of a pig sex lovin' gay basher has had his tangerines put in a vice and squeezed by those in the Big Building who are being similarly juiced?

Oh, the glee. Pass the M&M's.

* * *

Related links:
Pig Sex
Poster Children

My Own Little Traveling Guide

After my last post I was asked if I am trying to change the Mormon Church or the country. The truth is it would be ludicrous, and obscenely narcissistic, of me to think I could change either one.

Many years ago I was told the following story: There was once a King who decided to hold a contest. He gathered everyone in his kingdom together at a certain place on a certain road that led to his castle and announced that he would give a great prize to the person who traveled the road the best.

Each person tried to out do the next in creativity, strength and agility – dancing, spinning, walking on their hands, cart wheeling and hand springing… They created outrageous bicycles and other wheeled contraptions. They all did their very best - even when, one by one, they came upon a large pile of dirt and rocks in the middle of the road that they had to stop and climb over.

As every person reached the castle the King asked them how their journey down the road had been. And every person answered the same way – it was great except for that annoying pile of rubble in the way.

The King threw a feast for all who had participated and as the celebration was coming to a close, in walked one lone straggler – a young man, tired and hungry, hours later than the rest. In his arms he carried a large wooden chest. The king asked him what had taken him so long and he apologized for being late, explained that there had been a pile of rubble in the road that he had stopped to clean up. He had found the chest under the rocks and had come to return it to its rightful owner.

The king stopped the festivities - announcing to the crowd that this young man had won the prize, a chest full of gold, because “He who travels the road best is the one who makes it better for those that come after him.”

That’s all I am trying to do – not because I think I am super special or am after any sort of prize but because I really believe that is how I am to live my life. All any of us can do is to share where we have been with others that are traveling on the same road and do our best to make the journey safer and better for them. If people don’t want to listen to what I have to say, or don’t want to be affected by things I have to share, then they absolutely don’t have to. There are millions of people whose life path is nowhere near mine. I’m just doing my best to ease the hearts of fellow travelers who feel the same pain I have felt and are climbing over the same obstacles I have – that’s all.

And, yes, I’m still committed to figuring out how to do this from a clown car rather than an army tank. Maybe we’ll have to settle for a polka dotted tank that shoots bubbles and sunflowers and chocolate kisses. And an occasional shot of Tequila...

A Better Place

"I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." William Penn

My mother has always taught me to leave the world a better place than I found it. When I go on a walk and see garbage lying around, I hear her voice in my head and, if I can, I do something about it. If there is a garbage can nearby, I pick it up - even if I have to walk a little ways. This used to embarrass my kids sometimes but, oh well. I've embarrassed them in such grander ways - the garbage thing is not what they will remember first. But, my conviction that we need to leave the world a better place than we found it is something I hope they never forget.

Although it doesn't look like it to many, many people, deep in my heart, this actually is what I am doing as I fight for gay rights. I’ve looked around the landscape and seen a lot of garbage that needs cleaning up.

I have written about my difficulty in keeping Angry Woman in check. It is, clearly, not easy for me. My anger is big and it is justified. However, what good does it do to walk along the street and fly into fits of rage at the garbage - ranting and raving and kicking it and cursing those that leave it there? While it may be natural to feel it, it alone gets nothing done. It makes the screamer, me, miserable and actually just adds more crap to the pile. Choice: I can either shut up and ignore it or I can get to work and clean it up.

Obviously I ain't ignoring this one. I am doing my part to clean it up. Reed reminded me of a wonderful quote by Elie Weisel [Night.] “I swore never to be silent whenever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Sides have been chosen and passions are rising. Both sides are digging in and fighting harder.

The question I keep asking myself is: if I desire to leave the world a better place, am I really accomplishing that by adding to all the negativity and anger flying around? Of course not. I keep being reminded by older generations that the fire of my anger is fueled by my youth. I can see that. Plus, I am still processing the damage of my own religious experience. And I still live in Utah – not at all helpful. I watch older activists and movers and shakers and their rage has morphed from ranting tantrums to more of a quite determination – a strong and clear intention to just move in and resolutely do what needs to be done. I hold them as examples of where I hope to find myself soon because, let's face it, The Queen of Clear Intention is WAY prettier than The Angry Woman of Bitter Shit Slinging. She smells better too.

So, seeing as how I am not moving on from this for a while yet, for my own spiritual and emotional well being – not to mention the place I am trying to make better – it is imperative that I focus more clearly on what I DO want rather than what I DON’T want. That is true for all of us – no matter what issue we are chewing on and wrestling with. I think it is a life truth. The things we say “Yes” to have to be louder, higher on the list and must far outweigh the things we say “No” to.

We have to remember that in saying “No” to bigotry, ignorance, intolerance, violence, hatred… we are actually, and much more importantly, saying “Yes” to equality, enlightenment, tolerance, understanding, peace and love.

I think that our Yes's hold far more power than our No's anyway. I think that in saying “Yes” as courageously and loudly as we can, we will actually find less and less things to say “No” to. And, ultimately, I think it is in saying a ginormous "Yes" to Life and to Love, in their countless forms, that we will all, without question, leave this world an infinitely better place than we found it.

8:TMP Huffington Post

Great article for any and all interested.

8 The Mormon Proposition

I cannot think of many things in my life I am prouder of than my participation in Reed's film. And the depths of gratitude I feel for him and his willingness to take this on - well, there really are no words.

The website is now up. Check out the trailer, it is amazing. Spread the word and stay tuned for updates...

8 The Mormon Proposition.

I Hate To Say It...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

From The Frying Pan Into The Fire

Just when one thought they couldn't, or rather wouldn't, make things worse for themselves... Holy shit. Seriously??? The backlash against the Mormon Church after Prop 8, for which they have NO ONE to blame but themselves, is like what was suffered by blacks in the South during their struggle for civil rights??? Are you freaking kidding me? Remember what Mormon leaders said about those same blacks? and the "problem of The Negro?"

Wow...

While all I can really do is laugh, I find that I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the stupidity and the depths to which they keep digging. At his point I just want to grab them all by the lips and say, "STOP TALKING."

I'm as sick of this topic as most of you are. If I give up the Homo's vs. the Momo's for a while can I have my midgets back? No? Fine. I need to find something else to cleanse the palate...

Oh, oh, oh!!! The Hoff wet the bed!!! My true love is back in rehab after apparently going on another bender and ruining two hotel mattresses. Yep, it soaked all the way through. Eww...

Those puppies better watch out.

It Is On

I am fascinated and excited as I watch the battle between the gay community and the Mormon Church and their respective supporters. When Prop 8 first hit, you will all remember my outrage and tantrums sprinkled with grape Kool-Aid metaphors. More recently, as I have tried to sit back and watch with whatever objectivity I am capable of – which, admittedly, is not always that much – my anger has shifted a bit towards more of a calm determination and I have finally been fairly successful at one thing: Separating the general leadership of the Mormon Church from the general membership of the Mormon Church.

While I absolutely disagree with the average member’s across the board obedience and beliefs, I actually do remember what it was like to be counted among them. I think of the handfuls of family and friends I have that are still believers. I love them dearly. They are good, solid and kind people and they deserve far better than their leaders are giving them. I am guessing they would disagree with that last statement because they really, honestly believe that their leaders do represent God. And even I believe that when one does believe fervently in something one has the right to fight for whatever that thing is.

Many Mormons are beginning to take a look around and are seeing that things are not right. Many are questioning and opening their hearts and shifting and softening their once hardened positions. They want things to change. Even members that aren’t, while cruelty and ignorance cannot be overlooked, are only doing and believing what their leaders tell them to. My personal focus is not on the members of the Mormon Church it is on the leaders of the Mormon Church.

Those of us that are fighting against The Church are also fighting for something we fervently believe in. We honestly no longer believe that LDS leaders represent God, nor do they speak for God. Their position on homosexuality hurts people – deeply. It devastates gay individuals and their families. It rips families apart. Countless gay children grow up in the LDS church certain that they are evil and worthless. The streets of Salt Lake City are littered with homeless gay kids that have been kicked out of their homes after coming out to their righteous LDS parents. It makes gay members wish they were dead and causes many of them to follow through with that desire. And, just as heartbreaking, it causes ignorant individuals that claim to love and follow Jesus Christ declare that gay people should go ahead and kill themselves – that the world would be far better without them in it. [See comments left on video posted below.] The LDS Church’s position was softening a bit, they were slowly making progress, but back tracked a thousand miles when Elder Hafen opened his mouth at Evergreen. Big mistake.

Because, here is the thing – they have finally just hurt too many people. Too many members that gave them everything they had are not taking it anymore. Too many people that never even thought about the Mormon Church until they took away their civil rights – those same people that, truth be told, would fight on behalf of the Mormons if their rights were being taken from them – are not taking it anymore. Too many people that have taken their abuse for far too long are not going to rest until they have stopped – until things are different.

It happened before. There was enough social pressure, like other universities boycotting BYU sports, to force the “revelation” that, despite the violent reaction of hundreds of thousands of bigoted Saints, gave blacks the priesthood. It will happen again. Pressure will not ease up until it does.

And when that day comes, the membership of the Mormon Church will once again be left peacefully alone to believe and worship however it wishes, because that is the way it should be.

Woah

Bill, strange things are afoot at the Circle K. And in a Mormon Stake.

Baffled

My next door neighbor is applying for a job with the Utah Highway Patrol. Great guy -perfect job for him. The screening process is intense - they leave no stone unturned. An officer called me a few weeks ago asking all sorts of questions about him and his character, lifestyle, personality... I was happy to oblige. Like I said, he is a great guy.

Just now I was working when my doorbell rang. Another officer with a hundred more questions. I was asked about his temper, his level of integrity, his driving skills, if he had ever been in the military, ever been arrested, ever used controlled substances, ever been associated with a group that seeks to deny others their civil rights...

I wanted to say, "Um, yeah, the Mormon Church." But I didn't feel like getting into it. I had to just shake my head and laugh. I said no.

Associating with a group that seeks to deny others their civil rights is up there with getting arrested and doing drugs in keeping one from working in law enforcement and yet...

I have to admit, I'm a little bit speechless.