Utah Gay rights advocates oppose boycott of the state

[greenmutha]

From The Salt Lake Tribune:


Some prominent Utah gay rights leaders oppose a boycott of the state's ski and tourism industry, being proposed by gay-rights groups angry with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' support of Proposition 8 in California that defined marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Gay-rights activist and influential Washington D.C., blogger John Aravosis has called for for a boycott of Utah's $6 billion a year tourism industry, according to the Associated Press. He called for skiers to not come to Utah and for Hollywood actors and directors to pull out of the Sundance Film Festival.

"At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one," he told The Associated Press. "They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards. You don't do that and get away with it." But Mike Thompson, executive director of Equality Utah, a grass roots, statewide political advocacy organization working on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to secure equality and fairness, said Saturday at a gay-rights rally in Salt Lake City that such action would be counterproductive.

"Now is no time to boycott Utah," he said. "Now is the time to stand up in solidarity ... We need to show Utahns that we are not going to go away and that we need to be paid attention to. We need rights for our families." State Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake, who is gay, said he understands the sense of anger and disappointment surrounding the passage of Proposition 8, but he did not think the boycott was the proper response. He said boycotting the ski industry might instead harm those supporting gay rights within the state. "I would rather have folks from all over the country stand in solidarity with us rather than just write you off, rather than build a wall around Utah and say to hell with anyone inside because you are all suspect," McCoy said. "I don't think that is the way to go. People coming here brings outside ideas and diversity and helps to broaden peoples' minds which is exactly what we need."


Much more at the link:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10994574

Edited to include paragraph clarifying who made the statement in the third paragraph (the first sentence of it) for people that do not read the whole article.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. Someone should tell Mike Thompson that there's no such thing as a "bastard" child.

The whole notion of children being illegitimate is passe, both socially and legally. The law makes no distinction between children born within or outside of wedlock.

[grantdevine]

2. Read the article, John Aravosis said that. The one calling for the boycott.

[Ian David]

3. They're more than welcome to join the 21st Century on the other side of the wall. n/t

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Step One: Tax Mormons very heavily

Step Two: Evict them to Bikini Atoll.

Hawkeye-X

[rucky]

5. Wouldn't it make more sense to boycott California?

:shrug:

[dkf]

8. So true. Why aren't people upset at the voters of CA?

And where are the people in CA saying they will leave the state over this vote? Its kind of odd.

[TankLV]

10. Because the FUCKING MORMON CULT is/was the DRIVING FORCE behind all this...

THEY are the AUTHORS of this "great idea" in the FIRST PLACE...

And Utah is their personal comain and creation...

[dkf]

12. But Utah Mormons can't vote in CA.

Unless you are saying voters are simply vessels to $.

I do find it ironic that the group who formed their own state in order to define marriage their own way are now defending this imposed definition on others.

Guess the Mormon church bought into this forced definition hook line and sinker.

[varelse]

11. Voters of California are staying right where we belong

just about half of us voted NO on Proposition H8, remember? If we move out, California's electoral votes go to the Republicans in the next PE. That's cutting off your nose to spite your face.

No, the strategy of protesting and court action will win the day. The additional tactics of boycotting large-scale supporters of this hateful amendment will help.

[dkf]

15. Court action is the only thing that will work anyway.

Voting on rights is contradictory.

[varelse]

22. You and I are in 100% agreement on that

and so is the Constitution of the United States :)

Still, voting with our $$$ (via boycotts) could make organizations and wealthy individuals think twice before spending millions to fight against equal rights here in California or anywhere else in the states. I'm not going to discourage anyone from taking that road, either. The less money flows into their hands, the less they have to spend on advertising, transportation, and mobilization of "ground forces".

[mondo joe]

32. A. The proposition campaign was lagely funded by out of state Mormons.

B. It would be hard for the people of California - some of the most likely to participate in the boycott - to boycott their own state.

[grantdevine]

6. If I had posted a thread saying that the Utah boycott was "counterproductive", ...

...I would have been trampled like I was last night for my opinion that targeting individuals is counterproductive.

Here we have Mike Thompson, the executive director of Equality Utah, saying a boycott is counterproductive.

I guess he thinks MLK was counterproductive also, huh? Either that or he's a freeper pretending to care about gay rights only so he can undermine them.

Or maybe he's just a thoughtful person who actually does care about advancing equal rights and who has a legitimate opinion about it?

[uppityperson]

19. You can read the minds of DU posters and predict what they will do.

Incredible. I love this quote of yours: "Either that or he's a freeper pretending to care about gay rights only so he can undermine them."

[grantdevine]

21. I'm basing my prediction on a thread I posted last night.

It was LBN from CNN about an "enemies list" created of prop 8 supporters.

I stuck on my opinion that targeting individuals was counterproductive, and was subsequently crucified and accused of being a freeper/troll/ect.

So yeah, I can safely make that prediction.

This poster has wisely left his opinion off completely. If he had said "I agree with Mike Thompson, targeting UTAH is counterproductive" the knives would be out.

[uppityperson]

23. Guess you didn't read LBN posting rules either. Or were above them.

Yup, you post something that a lot of us disagree with, giving you the opportunity to never have to express your opinion again because, after all, you "know" how we will reply.

It was a "boycott" list, not an "enemies" list. Why feed the propaganda?

[grantdevine]

24. I know the LBN rules. It was within the rules

Saying it was not was just an easy way to lock the thread. You were on it, and so know that it stayed up for a very long time. It was a flame-fest, which is the real reason it was locked.

And CNN called it an "enemies" list, not me. Why pretend it was me?

I said targeting individuals by posting their personal information was counterproductive, in my opinion. That's all.

The title got people riled up more than anything.

And don't worry, I'll still post my opinion. I don't let knee-jerk behavior stop me from doing that.

[uppityperson]

25. . Do not post opinion pieces, editorials, or other stories that are not news.

You wrote: "The purpose of posting this LBN was to hightlight how some backlash against prop 8 supporters is being interpreted." You knew it was an Editorial piece.

Editorial piece. Mods left it open for some time, then locked it as it didn't meet the rules of LBN. Unless you have direct info from the Moderators, that is why. If you have direct info, post it.

Edited to add a note to myself. 102

[grantdevine]

37. It was not an editorial piece. It was a news item, in the news section of the website.

There was no editorializing going on.

Mods got sick of dealing with the crap being generated by idiots who jump on the warpath over nothing.

[uppityperson]

41. Yes, honey, we understand. We understand where you are coming from and what an editorial piece is.

There there. Those bad moderators who locked it since it didn't fit LBN posting rules, they are just all in the wrong. We understand.

[grantdevine]

44. Ok then, I'll throw it up on GD and ask the question, honey. n/t

[uppityperson]

45. Questioning a moderator's action by posting about it on GD?

Huh. Let's see. Since you haven't been here long, let me give you a hint. They don't like you to do that. But go ahead, since you are special.

[grantdevine]

46. The moderator never gave a specific reason. I'm questioning you.

You're pretty special, but not so special that you can't be questioned.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grantdevine]

40. Why would you expect me to be gone?

[mondo joe]

29. No, only if you'd used that to cover your defense of bigots.

Like you did in LBN.

[grantdevine]

38. You tread very close to the line of acceptable behavior. Actually, I think you're over it.

Stop slandering me. If you have a point, make it. If you want to continue saying I "defend bigots" then I'll have to complain. Your choice.

[uppityperson]

42. Stop slandering you?

:eyes:

Go ahead and "complain". That is what the alert button is for. Go ahead, make the moderator's night. I'm sure they are standing by waiting for you to click on alert so they can have a reason to remove any posts criticizing you.

Edited to add, psst, look up. See your deleted post? It was nasty and got removed. I love having this be a moderated forum.

[grantdevine]

43. If you want to criticize me, that's fine. You want to lie about me, not fine. n/t

[mondo joe]

47. No slander here. Your entire thread was a defense of Prop8 supporters from having

any repercussions from funding a bigoted initiative intended to strip citizens of civil rights.

[hlthe2b]

7. Also included is a boycott of Sundance...

I am very uncomfortable-- given Redford and other Sundance organizers'long long history of unwaivering progressive support-- targeting Sundance because one theater used for screening is owned by a Prop 8 donator. I don't know what the answer is. A strong response is needed, but I worry about the lack of precision in targeting efforts...:shrug:

[dsc]

17. the answer is for Redford to find another theater

just like he would if that theater owner gave money to the Klan.

[hlthe2b]

18. One would assume he would if that were possible....

Anyone heard what the issues are with respect to Redford and organizers?

[TankLV]

9. Too bad.

Then DO something about CHANGING the situation, not "TRYING" to change the situation, because all you're succeeding at is "trying"...

[Eryemil]

13. Solidarity? We are not going to change the minds of these delusional fuckers

We will win this through a Supreme Court ruling, not by winning over the hearts of the masses. If these churches can be intimidated into staying out of our business long enough for the issue to hit the court I'll be thankful.

[moobu2]

14. If boycotting wasn’t painful for some people

What would be the point? Sen. Scott McCoy works for the people of Utah, so naturally he would not want them to take the financial hit.

I say boycott all of them, especially Utah.

[grantdevine]

16. Boycott California also?

[mondo joe]

31. Boycott the people who were the victims of Prop8? Oh, smart, professor Kookoo Bananas.

:dunce:

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. I say boycott the businesses of EVERY demographic that didn't vote 50%+1 vote.

And yes, that includes the state of California. Boycott them all. Not all gays live in California so to say that boycotting CA is kookoo bananas is kind of silly. I would bet my next paycheck that EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC that failed to give No on H8te a majority includes gays within their business or organization.

Boycott one? Fucking boycott them all. Be fair. Spread the suffering equally.

[mondo joe]

34. California is where Prop 8 passed. The gays of California are the people

most directly affected by its passage. They don't need to suffer any more than they have already.

But boycott as you like - the rest of us may make other choices.

[cherokeeprogressive]

35. I'm a Native Californian. I voted No on H8te.

Think there are no gays in Utah? No gays in the Mormon Church? There are gays everywhere, in every segment of society. ANY boycott will affect someone who is gay.

Boycotts ALWAYS affect innocent people. If you're going to boycott one group for supporting H8te, boycott them all. Spread the love.

Maybe my first post should have included the :sarcasm: thingy because I do not support boycotts. They are like dropping cluster bombs. Someone who isn't part of the battle is going to get hurt.

[mondo joe]

36. I'm all for using boycott on those who supported Prop8. It can't effectively be applied

to all, so it needs to applied to some only. And to that end I think it should be almost randomly used against those who supported Prop8, as unpredictability causes the greatest anxiety and fear.

They need to know if they attack our families they may suffer economically.

[grantdevine]

39. uh, ok. Nice one. Got me there, but good, huh? Yeah, boycott the people who voted for prop 8.

Makes as much sense as boycotting Utah, so why not? Professor?

[mondo joe]

48. Boycott the people who supported Prop 8, yes. Not the victims of it.

:hi:

[RedLetterRev]

20. I'm philosophically indisposed to give money to anyone

who is likely to take it, then turn it around to use against me. AFAIC, it's that simple. Disarm them at the pocketbook and anywhere else I can find to remove teeth. To those inside Utah who were not at fault, it can become a teachable moment on the order of "See, we told you so." They're a lot closer than we are.

From here, all I've got is the power of the purse and the pen; those are all I can bring to bear. I intend to use those to the fullest to make my point as firmly and peaceably as I can. Those are non-lethal but quite effective weapons.

[suede1]

26. I don't like the boycott of Utah, just take away the tax exempt status of the Mormon church.

[helderheid]

28. Please, GLBT community, COME TO UTAH for a holiday!

We'd love to have you here!!!!