Proposition 8 and the LDS Church

A Challenge

The latest challenge to traditional marriage is from Jonathan Lewis, a political activist and entrepreneur from Ohio, who has challenged Hollywood to donate to fight Proposition 8. Lewis said in a statement:

With Election Day five weeks away, we are concerned that the entertainment industry hasn’t stepped up to the plate to fight this unnecessary initiative. My family and I are issuing a $500,000 challenge to the entertainment industry. We will match the next half-million dollars that entertainment industry leaders contribute.

Meanwhile Ron Prentice, Chairman of Protest Marriage, says:

Our powerful first ad, featuring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsroom, has been viewed tens of thousands of times online, and has helped raise nearly $200,000 from our online supporters. Please watch the ad and keep the momentum going by sending a message to Proposition 8’s Hollywood opponents.

Protect Marriage Fund Raising

Since July 1st. the Yes on 8 campaign has raised about $22.8 million as of Tuesday 7th October. More than 62,000 Californians have contributed their financial support to pass Proposition 8. About two-thirds of all donations received have been $100 or less. Ninety-five percent of all donations have come from within California. The latest YES on Proposition 8 campaign finance report was over 5,000 pages, so large that the office of the California Secretary of State needed extra time to load the report onto their Web site.

Yes on 8 Press Secretary Chip White told the San Francisco Chronicle:

People are giving to the “Yes on 8” campaign who have never given to any political campaign. This is a homegrown, grassroots effort attracting people who believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Proposition 8 Takes Lead in Polls

The Los Angeles Times reported that recent polling done by CBS/Survey USA and the No on 8 campaign now show California’s effort to protect the definition of marriage leading in the polls. This has largely been attributed by pundits to our paid television and radio ads. For the first time, voters are beginning to understand that there are very significant consequences to all Californians because of the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision.

Opposition Ads

The No on 8 Campaign is using this momentum to engage the opposition. They started airing a new ad yesterday and even held an emergency press conference with gay and lesbian media outlets to make an urgent appeal for funds. They’re sure to obtain more No on 8 celebrity donations and produce more television ads aimed at defeating Proposition 8 and thus maintaining same-sex marriage.

Terms Bride and Groom Restored to Marriage Licenses

The San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday that the Department of Public Health is restoring the terms “Bride” and “Groom” to marriage licenses. These terms were replaced with the “gender neutral terms” “Party A” and “Party B” soon after same-sex marriage was legalized in California, further proof that the legalization of same-sex marriage comes with some very serious consequences.

After an outcry of public objections, including from one couple who sued, the licenses are once again being revised. Beginning Nov. 17, couples will be able to check boxes next to their names indicating whether they are a bride or a groom. Couples can check bride and bride, groom and groom, or bride and groom, allowing for same-sex and opposite-sex pairings.

It’s important to note that this happened only after Californians stood up to the Department and demanded the change. Had we remained silent and were we not in the middle of a very public battle over the definition of marriage, we may have never seen these important terms restored.

Source: Protect Marriage Campaign emails of 3rd and 8th October.

LDS Church Readies Members on Proposition 8

An article yesterday on the Church’s Newsroom website began:

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are California citizens currently living out of the state are being organized to make phone calls in support of Proposition 8, if needed. At the request of the Protect Marriage Coalition, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is making arrangements for them to call friends, family and fellow citizens in California to urge support of the effort to defend traditional marriage. The coalition has asked members of the many participating churches and organizations to contribute in whatever way they can to the effort to pass Proposition 8, including by phoning.

The article continues with information about last night’s satellite broadcast for Californian Church members. The Church’s doctrine of marriage was addressed and participation in the Protect Marriage Coalition discussed.

The Deseret News wrote that:

As it presented a satellite broadcast Wednesday night to California members in support of Proposition 8, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said organizing other members outside of California to call that state’s voters doesn’t mean mass calling is imminent.

Update 16 Nov 2008

I have been asked how much The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated to the Yes on 8 campaign. Campaign finance records show the Church made an in-kind donation of $2,078.97 to ProtectMarriage.com October 25 to cover certain travel expenses. Individual members of the Church, as is their right as citizens, donated to Yes on 8. In the end, Protect Marriage estimates, as much as half of the nearly $40 million raised on behalf of the measure was contributed by Mormons.

Living in Utah I was never personally asked by any Church member to donate. Nor did I hear anyone mention Proposition 8 over the pulpit or in any Church meetings. Many Utahns did however donate, including myself.