Prop. 8 Protests Head To Salt Lake City

Demonstrations Planned At Mormon Headquarters Over Church's Funding Of Gay Marriage Ban

(CBS/ AP)  A group of protesters plans to rally in front of the headquarters of the Mormon church over the faith's support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in California.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraged its members to work to pass Proposition 8 by volunteering their time and money for the campaign. California voters approved the measure Tuesday.

The Friday evening protest comes a day after people demonstrated outside a Mormon temple in Los Angeles. About 1,000 gay-marriage supporters waved signs and brought afternoon traffic to a halt.

On Thursday, outside the gates of a Mormon temple his father helped build, Kai Cross joined more than 2,000 gay-rights advocates in a chorus of criticism of the church's role in the likely passage of a statewide ban on same-sex marriage.

Once a devout Mormon who graduated from Brigham Young University, the 41-year-old Cross was disowned by his family and his church after he was outed as a gay man in 2001.

"They are on the losing side of history," Cross said Thursday of the church's opposition to gay marriage. Cross and other protesters blame leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for encouraging Mormons to funnel millions of dollars into television ads and mailings in favor of Proposition 8.

The ballot measure was sponsored by a coalition of religious and social conservative groups, would amend the California Constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual act. It would override a state Supreme Court ruling that briefly gave same-sex couples the right to wed.

According to the CBS News Election and Survey unit’s analysis, black voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of Prop. 8 - by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin. Hispanic voters overall favored the measure as well but only by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin. White voters were slightly on the side of approving it, 51 percent to 49 percent.

There is disappointment that the African-American community, which just saw the election of the first black president, voted overwhelmingly against same-sex marriage, reports CBS Early Show correspondent Hattie Kauffman.

The protest came amid questions about whether attempts to overturn the prohibition can succeed and whether the 18,000 same-sex marriages performed in California over the past four months are in any danger.

For Cody Krebs, 27, four months was not enough time to fulfill his "intense hope" to marry one day; he and his boyfriend have been together for little more than a year, so they aren't ready to wed.

On Thursday, Krebs dodged eggs hurled at protesters from an apartment building. He said he'd seen worse growing up in Salt Lake City.

"It's important to come out like this because it gets the gay community into the public eye," Krebs said. "I feel like this has started a lot of conversations that had to get started."

The demonstration began outside the temple in the Westwood section of Los Angeles and noisily spilled through the western side of the city, with chants of "Separate church and state" and "What do we want? Equal rights." Some protesters waved signs saying "No on H8" or "I didn't vote against your marriage," and many equated the issue with the civil rights struggle.

Two people were arrested after a confrontation between the crowd and an occupant of a pickup truck that had a banner supporting Proposition 8. One demonstrator ended up with a bloody nose in the fracas. Seven arrests occurred during Los Angeles-area street marches late Wednesday.

The temple protest was organized by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Its chief executive, Lorri Jean, announced a Web-based effort dubbed InvalidateProp8.org to raise money to fight the constitutional amendment.

Gay-marriage proponents filed three court challenges Wednesday against the ban. The lawsuits raise a rare legal argument: that the ballot measure was actually a dramatic revision of the California Constitution rather than a simple amendment. A constitutional revision must first pass the Legislature before going to the voters.

Andrew Pugno, attorney for the groups that sponsored the amendment, called the lawsuits "frivolous and regrettable."

"It is time that the opponents of traditional marriage respect the voters' decision," he said.

The high court has not said when it will act. State officials said the ban on gay marriage took effect the morning after the election.

"We don't consider it a `Hail Mary' at all," said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. "You simply can't so something like this - take away a fundamental right at the ballot."

With many gay newlyweds worried about what the amendment does to their vows, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said he believes those marriages are still valid. But he is also preparing to defend that position in court.

The amendment does not explicitly say whether it applies to those already married. Legal experts said unless there is explicit language, laws are not normally applied retroactively.

"Otherwise a Pandora's Box of chaos is opened," said Stanford University law school professor Jane Schacter. Still, Schacter cautioned that the question of retroactivity "is not a slam dunk."

An employer, for instance, could deny medical benefits to an employee's same-sex spouse. The worker could then sue the employer, giving rise to a case that could determine the validity of the 18,000 marriages.

Supporters of the ban said they will not seek to invalidate the marriages already performed and will leave any legal challenges to others.

A 2003 California law already gives gays registered as domestic partners nearly all the state rights and responsibilities of married couples when it comes to such things as taxes, estate planning and medical decisions. That law is still in effect.

[VegasResident]

Voltaire777, YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. Money is religion''''s real god. If religion''''s tax exemption is threatened, they might behave.

Posted by jmcgilvray at 07:51 PM : Nov 08, 2008
+ report abuse
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So true. we should ask why for example the Mormon Church refuses to release their full financials to the public or even their own members. It makes you wonder what they have actually invested in

[tehevo]

@DaVicar1-You disgust me along with everybody else that has read any of your vile posts. You are a discredit to humanity and should have CPS called on you. I recommend that ABC news bans your IP address, You are not a capable enough human to even exist....much less make posts. Hope your proud of your lowly position on this planet.

[tehevo]

Its sad to see how far humanity has come. We elect a black president yet we cant have equal human rights for all. YOU IDIOTS. WAKE UP. Religion is FALSE no MATTER WHAT IT IS. There is only ONE GOD....YET YOU PEOPLE SPLIT IT UP in to being mormon, catholic, or whatever other false denomination there is. WAke the hell up you closed minded FOOLS.

[tehevo]

Its sad to see how far humanity has come. We elect a black president yet we cant have equal human rights for all. YOU IDIOTS. WAKE UP. Religion is FALSE no MATTER WHAT IT IS. There is only ONE GOD....YET YOU PEOPLE SPLIT IT UP in to being mormon, catholic, or whatever other false denomination there is. WAke the hell up you closed minded FOOLS.

[mytoosense]

Too Funny,
I think wealthy Gay Americans should get together and buy as much realeastate as possible around one of Salt Lake Cities Ski Resorts, Rename the resort Rainbow, Utah.

[stupidrules3]

OK CBS, delete it again. Marriage is like a tattoo. Easy to get but expensive to get rid of.

[wolf77creek]

The religions of the world don''t want any one to be doing what they have been doing since the beginning of time behind closed doors. The catholic church has monks & priests (all males)that are practicing gay *** and always have, except for the few priests & nuns that have regular hetro ***. Of course these "sins" are forgiven because they are "of the church". The Mormon men have *** with several women & children & that is okay because they are "of the church". Funny how all these churches apply their own rules & regulations to fit their needs. I am not gay but believe these money hungry, tax evading churches need to be put in their place. Churches, defined as a group of people, are suppose to help everyone in need & bring hope & happiness to this world, instead the leaders of the churches live high on the hog, expect people to worship them & don''t care much about the people they are extracting large sums of money from each month to support their lives. With all the money given to churches there is no excuse for poverty, hunger & homeless people, instead they build malls, massive ornate churches, buy baseball teams & anything else that catches their fancy. When will people get smart & stop feeding these organizations??

[svensls]

One of the major problems we face is the ignorance of this Andrew Pugno(se). There simply are no "Oponents of Traditional Marriage." They keep talking of this hypothetical groupl. If their are any oponents of traditional marriage it is closeted homosexuals like Pugno(se) who are unhappy with their "wives." Gay people are fine with traditional marriage. In fact, some of my best friends are heterosexual...Even my parents! Shocking!!!

[dburfears]

It never changes. It just evolves from one group to another over time.

Those who are in the majority want to create a minority with fewer civil liberties than they have. it is disgusting, but America has done it over and over again

Chinese

Blacks

Hispanics

Italians

Jews

Germans

Irish

All were treated as second class citizens by the majority- they were denied everything from basic freedoms to the right to own property. Whites and hispanics were killed for getting married in the 1800''s. Blacks and whites were killed for marriage in the last century. Bigotry, fear, ignorance, and hate abound.

Yet today we again have people who, based on their "religion", will do away with the life , liberty, and pursuit of happiness of others who are "different" in their eyes.

Shame on my country. Shame on those who mistakenly consider themselves "Christian". For they are neither true to Christian ideas or good Americans. They are the worst of humanity- the fearful and the bigoted.

"Separate but equal" is the shame of America.

[skalpakian]

Interesting that the protestors are driving from L.A.to Utah but are avoiding the African-American churches of Los Angeles that strongly supported Prop. 8.

[opedanderson]

***!

Your fight is with the black church groups.....

They put this ban over the top on tuesday.

I have to admit, I''m enjoying watching the Obama-fanatics squirm in discomfort over this one!

[dkhorse1]

I can%u2019t stand bible thumping, and obvious ultra religious rhetoric forced upon me and I know many in the gay community feels the same. That being said, what makes these protests and gay marriage specifically, appear to be anything other demands that the right %u201Chave%u201D to accept *** and their life style (a kind of reverse bible thumping).

Forcing ANYONE to accept something they don''t like, believe in, or agree with, will never win them over to your side. It can often times make them more resistant to your cause and setting back progress. Why do think world peace has been so elusive.

Changes will happen in time, the Presidential election
is proof of that.

[tyronehogleg]

The world faces so many issues, and these freaks are protesting the right to stick their schlongs in each others arses....***...

[caldwellptr]

Fortunately this county is run by the majority. That means that if a majority of the people in this country wish to ban G/L marriage, they can do so.

Now you can yell and scream all you want but that is the law of this country. Even if the Supreme Court sees it differently, if enough people want a certain law, it came be inacted.
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Posted by gscotth at 10:27 AM : Nov 08, 2008

Thank Goodness California has the means to sidestep it''s elected government of Governor, Congress and Courts to let the majority rule.

[caldwellptr]

a lot of people say ''''seperation of state and chrurch''''..how about seperation of liberalism and church..I mean honestly, why would they want to have a religious oriented ceremony??
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Posted by libluv2spit at 02:43 AM : Nov 08, 2008

Thank Goodness their is an amendment to the California Constitution prohibiting the free exercise of Religion for those of the same sexual orientation who get married by a minister.

[caldwellptr]

Most religions teach that homosexuality is a sin. This is found in the Bible and it should not be surprising that churches would be involved in teaching against it.
However, nowhere in the Bible does it say that being black, Asian or Hispanic or any other minority is a sin. Racism comes from evil traditions, not from God.
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Posted by bridalpro at 01:47 AM : Nov 08, 2008

Thank Goodness the Bible does not specifically mention a race when it talks about slavery.

[krondor2000]

I am not ashame. I just figured out who terrorists really are. They are the pastors and preists who are hell bent on distroying the US Constituion with the Bible. And in my eyes, they are nothing like Jesus Christ.

[puldr]

*** and lesbians should know that the word ''marriage'' is already taken, by thousands of years of use, to refer to the heterosexual relationship. As a Christian wanting to provide all civil rights to *** and lesbians, so they can visit each other in hospital, etc, I suggest that they find another word for their relationship, such as ''union'', etc or makeup another word, so we (as a society) can model what is ''normal'', ''biological'', etc to our children and at the same time satisfy your (gay and lesbian) needs.

[krondor2000]

The Bible will never replace the Constitution. The Ten Commandments will never replace the Bill of Rights. This is why we have the separation of Church and States. If the Religious Right is successful in destroying these two sacred documents, then we will not have to worry about Al-Qaeda or another 9-11 attack. The Religious Right will have done the dirty work for them by destroying these United States.

[coronalu]

Oh, one more thing, "peanutcrisp", I love your screen name, it''s sort of like "peanut head", sorry, I do not mean it in any way that reflects what comes out of your brain, anyway, the law is the law and under God''s eyes, we, who believe in Him and in Jesus Christ, are his children, He loves the sinner but hates the sin. He loves you but don''t expect Him to love the act between two male lovers or two female lovers, He is crystal clear about this and in His eyes, we are all equal, black, white, yellow, brown, we are the ones that screw this up by our pride. We think we are better then someone else because of the color of their skin and God''s Word tells us that we are to love each other, but don''t you ever confuse the word "love" by God to mean that hey, it''s OK for two men to "love" each other in a physical way. NO, NO, NO!!