Gay marriage backers threaten boycotts of pro-Prop. 8 restaurants

Some opponents of Prop. 8 are threatening to boycott the businesses of people who donated money to the ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California.

It was unclear how widespread the threats were, but an latimes.com database listing contributors to both sides of Proposition 8 saw a jump in traffic Wednesday.

El Coyote, the well-known Mexican restaurant on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, received calls threatening a boycott after it was reported that someone associated with the eatery contributed $100 to "Yes on 8."

Bob Montoya, a manager at El Coyote, said customers have called and threatened to boycott the restaurant, but it does not appear to have affected business. Montoya said he thought a boycott, if one was called, was misguided, as the restaurant has a number of gay employees and has always been gay friendly.

"I"m gay and I work here, and I've been here for 31 years," Montoya told The Times. "It's gay friendly. People have been coming here for many years, gay and straight, families and everybody."

Word of the boycott has spread around websites and Facebook. "We should put our money where our mouth AND support is AND NOT AT EL COYOTE," says a posting on one activist's website.

The Times also received a letter threatening a boycott of an El Pollo Loco whose owner apparently contributed to the Prop. 8 campaign.

Sonja Eddings Brown of ProtectMarriage.com said the boycott threats have extended beyond eateries.

“We have received calls today from our members in Greater Los Angeles and other parts of the state indicating that today their businesses are being hurt because they contributed money,” she said. “People who contributed have been receiving calls from people dropping their business with them.”

Eater L.A. has a spirited debate about whether it's right to boycott El Coyote.

A similar dispute is roiling the California Musical Theatre in Sacramento.

--Alexandra Zavis, Gale Holland and Shelby Grad

Comments

[MickeyC]

Funny how the anti-marriage crowd is now whining about boycotts. They didn't seem to mind when their group boycotted Disney and Ford. It just shows how stupid these people really are.

[Jamie]

It really confuses me how people can be so hateful to anyone else based on their right to believe and vote as they do---on either side of the issue. It doesn't matter how much money was put to what side of the issue or how many people voted or what racial/religious background they were or what have you. The beauty of our voting system is that people can choose to vote as they wish, and shouldn't be slandered or boycotted or hated or persecuted for how they decided to vote. Sure, it probably means that some people don't take the time to educate themselves on the issues, or decide to vote the same as their family or friends because they don't care to really formulate their own opinion through their own research and decision-making ability. But it also means that there are voters who do investigate issues before making informed decisions.
Either way, people have a right to vote as they so please. People aren't protesting Obama voters if they supported McCain or go after the people that sent in a heck of a lot more money than went to Prop 8 to Obama's campaign. What happens in an election expresses the voice of the majority, and has to be respected as the end result. Hate crimes, bigotry, persecution, lawsuits, and any other attacks on people's right to vote are uncalled for.

[Linda Stewart]

Those people are too much. The behavior is exactly the reason why I voted Yes on Prop 8. They are acting like children

[Jamie]

So I just read an article on vandalism on homes and cars of people who had Obama supporter signs in their yards after the election. I guess there are those who think that acts that could send them to jail are worth the publicity, no matter the fact that their efforts won't change the overall outcome.
It's very sad that people get so up in arms over the fact that someone believes differently than they do. Isn't that a privilege we all have?

[Trying to make sense of it alll]

The two sides of this debate won't change the other's opinion, because neither side believes they are fighting the same fight.
Prop. 8 attackers see themselves as standing up for civil rights, and that this boycott is a modern-day equivalent of a sit-in.
Prop. 8 backers see this not as a civil-rights issue, but a moral issue to protect the millenia-old model of stable society against what's politically correct in the year 2008.
Everyone has the freedom to spend their money wherever they like. But I can't help but see a mean streak to this boycott--"give 'em hell" and whatnot.
I think it's also a form of bigotry when the gay rights advocates spout out the knee-jerk reaction of "bigot" and "uneducated" just because we aren't on your side. We ARE educated, and we fully stand by our beliefs. They ARE beliefs, based on our deepest-held moral convictions. You can't discount them so easily. And it is hypocrisy if you use our beliefs as justification to hate us, spit at churchgoers, or dismiss us as non-people.
I support traditional marriage without hating gays or closing my ears to their arguments. I know it doesn't seem fair, that it breaks their hearts to not marry, that it's difficult to be different from the mainstream, and that this seems like a progression of civil rights. Still, I know that traditional marriage is right.
Just a thought--why do same-sex couples need that certificate to validate them anyway? Brad and Angelina don't...

[Toodie]

Enough is enough! The people have spoken. If you want to live in a gay relationship, you have the rights of domestic partnership. Stop trying to legitimize a lifestyle that is not legitimate. Marriage is one of the cornerstones of our society and is meant to be between a man and woman. End of discussion.

[Sam N]

In response to the No on 8 haters who are boycotting businesses who supported 8, I as well as others are organizing to boycott those businesses that opposed proposition 8. And we will cater to those businesses who supported 8.

Based on the vote, this should work to the Yes on 8 business' favor.

Thanks for the great idea!

[Jennifer]

I absolutely will boycott any establishment that donated money to supporting Prop 8. Please keep the public informed on who donated.

[mark]

If a business wanted to keep their gay and lesbian patrons, they wouldn't have helped the LDS church attack our (LGBT) families.

Reap what you sowed

FIGHT the H8

[bma83]

I have friends who voted against prop 8 and are now changing their views on the whole situation
-----
Why does this strike me as a lie?

[mark]

yes on Prop 8 consumers are welcome to spend their money on hateful companies, just as I'm welcome to spend my money on OTHER businesses.

In a year let's compare notes of the LGBT boycotted businesses, and the ones Yes on Prop 8 patronized. The difference is INTENSITY, those who's families got attacked will not flinch, and all you straight folks want to just get on with your SPECIAL PRIVLIDGED lives, that you expect gay folks to FUND.

[Justin]

The post-election behaviors such as this make me see gay community differently more and more and it forces me to view gay comminity as hypocrites. I am appalled at their intolerance against people who's only "fault" is exercising their right to vote.

If Prop 8 did not pass, I highly doubt the Prop 8 supporters would have boycotted people and businesses who contributed against the Prop 8. in fact, majority of supporters would have lived with gay community without any problem, as they have been doing so.

Well... if gay community is going to boycott, then let's see if they keep their words; I am going to bet they are going to commit another hypocrisy by doing business with the people and businesses whom they said they are going to boycott, because 52% voted for Yes -- that means the gay community would need to boycott the half of California.

I am still not anti-gay, but gay community has definitely lost a LOT of respect from me.

[Stop your whining]

I think you all should stop whining and complaining. We had a vote and the majority won, that's all there is to it. It was fair, but since it's not the answer you all wanted now you are making a huge deal about the whole ordeal. It seems to me that you are all acting like small children who didn't get their way. I have no problem with gays and I could care less what you all do in the privacy of your home. This is not about who supported which measure. Let's be adults and handle it as so. Boycotting is just childish!

[Alex]

The thing that this blog entry fails to mention is that "someone associated with the eatery" is a relative of the owner, who for all intents and purposes runs the place, and profits directly from her gay customer base. This is not just some waitress we're talking about.

[AB]

To EltonJohn: We gays are no trying to change YOUR religion, I could care less who you worship. We are trying to end bigotry which is mostly practiced by YOU religious people.

[Bill G]

So I guess the gay community will be boycotting the Blacks and Latinos who voted overwhelmingly for prop 8 then?

This is all pathetic

[Poseidon]

I will not go to a restaurant that employs people who are not offended by faeces. Do you know where those hands have been all day? E.coli for garnish anyone?

[mary]

We should boycott all the advertisers on H8te Radio and Faux noise channel! This would give them something to think about.

[Raquel]

We welcome your boycott, less gays to be around with their peverted behaviour. But please don't stop at business - all of more than half of california voted against you - please feel free to leave California while you are at it!! Tootles!!

[Missy]

Elton- Nobody is trying to change "the religious institution of marriage;" we are trying to change the LEGAL definition. This has nothing to do with your church and your Bible, just as law in the United States has nothing to do with religion. It's called "separation of church and state." Ring any bells? As far as I'm concerned, churches can preach all the hate they want and continue to deny gays the right to marry *within the church* until the end of time. That's their prerogative. This is about a legal discrimination against a certain group of people. If you want to live somewhere where the law and religion are one, I hear Tehran is a lovely city.

If it was your right to marry being revoked, you'd fight, too. I'll do all I can to help the fight to overturn Prop 8, including boycotting its supporters. I hear that El Coyote has crappy food, anyways.

[JamesSindell]

The gay community should file their lawsuit in Federal, not California, courts. Why? If they truly believe that Proposition 8 discriminates against them and their civil rights, then the Federal courts should intervene for the benefit of ALL gays/lesbians nationwide and not just in California. But is is obvious that this community will not go this route because they know their case has no U.S. Constitutional merit and their argument will be struck down by the high courts. Where's the "true" justice then?

[Dan]

I eat at El Coyote all the time when I visit LA. NO MORE! I will no longer support El Coyote Restaurant. I urge all in the Gay Community to boycott El Coyote and and other restaurant or business that gave money to support rights being taken away!

[Jeffrey]

Just so I understand this:

Gays can't understand why marriage is important to us in the traditional sense. Gays demand we overturn our values, our culture to accommodate their behavior.
Gays do not understand why we perceive their behavior as immoral and not worthy of the honor of marriage.
Gays demand a permissive society regardless of the cost and damage in the long run.
Gays tried to "sneak" their way into marriage before 2000.
Gays were repelled with Prop 22.
Gays were allowed Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships.
Gays demand the title of marriage.
Gays tried to get the legislature to overturn Prop 22, twice and the legislature rather than uphold the will of the people, rolled over like a dog to them and did so.
Gays tried to buy the Governor. Unfortunately principles cannot be bought something the legislature should learn.
Gays demanded the court to submit to their will and create law. Our spineless court did just that.
Gays celebrate their right to defile an institution such as marriage.
Gays are shocked to learn that people have morals and standards.
Gays are further shocked to learn people want to protect it hence Prop 8.
Gays tried to kill Prop 8 and steal the voice of the people to preserve their mockery of marriage.
Gays failed.
Gays put together a campaign and just assumed their perversion would be accepted by everyone without a conscience.
Gays "we will honor the vote".
Gays lose.
Gays protest, damn near riot.
Gays demand the peoples voice be overturned and their perversion of marriage be re-instated.
Gays protest in other areas.
Gays demand everyone bow down to their degenerate behavior and just accept the mockery of marriage.

Funny, gays always talk about tolerance, listening, diversity, and multiculturalism. Guess they are all talk.

Come on gays, you want to push this into a fight? Let's do this. Last civil war we cleaned house. I guess we need another one since you won't leave the straights alone.

[damnedyou]

"You gays need to get over it already."

Asking gay people to "get over it" is like asking Vietnamese to "get over" that whole Agent Orange thing. They're still Vietnamese, and they were still punished, so there's no "getting over" an event that still hasn't been properly taken care of, such as this one.

"Stop trying to change the religious intitution of marriage, trying to impose your beliefs on religions."

There's this little amendment in the Constitution (you know, that thing that Americans use as the basis of our laws and rights) that requires separation of church and state. This means that, technically, the Mormon church AND the Knights of the Round Table shouldn't have even had the legal ability to fund this proposition. Forget about what you believe as far as religion goes, this was AT LEAST 60% funded by religious groups, which is fundamentally unconstitutional. There was NO separation in this case.

"You already have the same rights."
That's funny, I could have sworn gays and lesbians are still being kicked out of the military (yes, the one protecting YOU) simply for being gay, that there is still NO hate law in at least three quarters of the states that includes gays and lesbians (or disabled people, for that matter) as protected, and about those orphans and kids who are stuck in foster homes or have been abused and abandoned? Luckily for them, they get to stay in those homes (notice it's plural homes) because gays and lesbian couples aren't allowed to adopt. And now, yet another right gays and lesbians don't have—the right to get married. And by the way, that is considered a civil "right."

[emily]

Boycott gays! Boycott everything in West Hollywood and every gay business in California. Since they refuse to honor the vote and demand an entire society to redefine their cultural values for a bunch of people who can't figure out why we have the opposite sex. Stand up against gays and their attempt to crush our society. Boycott it all!

[flip wilson]

Apple and Google donated money against Prop 8. If you supported Prop 8 then don't buy Apple products and don't use Google for anything! Payback! Also, as an employer I now would never consider hiring a gay person again. I don't want anything to do with these whiners and crybabies, who would want to pay someone like that to work for them?

[jason]

zoe, the "if you don't like it, move" attitude is really lame. i could say the same to you. if you don't like the will of the people, move to connecticut.

[MickeyC]

Elton John But it's OK for you to force your religious beliefs on other religions, huh? All the churches that married same sex couples are now legally prohibited from the free practice of their religion. I guess the haters only see religion that supports their degenerate agenda.

[William david]

How about a constitutional ban on DIVORCE11111111111111 iT is a sin according to your cherrypicked bible.

[Mowry]

People have the right to decide where to spend their money. For example, I refuse to buy gasoline at Exxon/Mobile stations as they have spent millions of dollars funding institutes whose sole purpose is to deny that man-made climate change is occurring. I find that reprehensible, so I buy gas at other chains. If you don't believe in global warming, then you have the right to criticize me for it, or always choose to buy gas from Exxon/Mobile. It's freedom.

To the extent that this boycott publicizes the names of people who make donations to various campaigns, I support that. Voters are consumers, and I encourage both sides to put their money where they can feel good about it.

[YesOn8]

All this talk about rights and discrimination and Nazis is ludicrous. Homosexuals have all the same rights as every other American citizen.

And the comparison with Black Americans is offensive.
Homosexuals are not denied the vote and weren't brought here as slaves.

Indeed they have special legal protections under employment and property law not available to everyone.

Pity the No On 8 crowd can't be honest and admit it's not about their rights, it's about redefining marriage to accommodate homosexuals.

If they really cared about equality they would campaign for legalizing polygamy too.

[Molly]

Gay marriage/commitment has been around as long as traditional marriage/commitment - you only have to be a history buff to know this. The fact that religion wants to rewrite history and brainwash its followers should not be our problem. But, now it seems to be. With a little education on the subject one would find out that even our own native Americans accepted same sex relationships.

I digress, I have come to know the faces and hear the incomplete POV's from the "Yes on 8" crowd. I have been chastised and called a plethora of nasty things as they drive by (never to my face)... So, as I read through the comments and reflect back on my experiences - I do not see any immature (5 year old) behavior going on from the "No" folks. In fact, I see a polite and civil uprising against an unfair proposition that gained strength through dishonesty and lies.

[tony]

I don't understand if it was put to a vote why are still hung up on this the people have spoken. In onother article in the LATIMES it was stated that the people who vote for prop8 are the same people that voted for obama/minority/democrates . Dont liberals out number Conservative in california. Look boycott who ever you want its youre choice I will still go and spend my money where ever i want gay owned or not

[Nate C]

The irony of this is awesome. I think it was only 2 weeks ago when the news wsa reporting this furor about a letter that the Yes on 8 group sent to some business who donated $100,000 to No on 8 - threatening to releaes the business' name or something. Al the No on 8 crew was in an uproar because of how un-American it was to attack a business because of a political donation.

...I guess the shoe doesn't really fit on the other foot...

[Peter. S]

Getting married is not a civil right, it is a privilage. Applying for any kind of license is a privilage. A driver license is an excellent example and probably more black and white. Is giving a 16 year old a license to drive a civil right at the age of 16? I can think of no one who believes that. Apply for a marriage license is in the same category.

Civil Rights was a term coined by the black community and they see civil rights as being rooted in Biblical understanding. Hence the reason they voted to define marriage as man and woman.

Churches can support social causes, but not political candidates. So you cannot go after the churches for supporting 8.

In the end we all know that the courts will not allow Prop 8 to stand. In the meantime the tantrum in the streets is doing more to set the gay agenda back than anything else could. The gay community will pay a price far dearer than the right to marry if they allow their lunatic fringe to continue its tantrum. How sad.

[Matthew]

"The beauty of America is the people vote and the people decide."

Actually, no, the beauty of america is the constitution which should not be changed in any signficant way by a 52% majority of popular vote. The constitution is there for a reason--it's not a popularity contest.

[Guy in SF]

Posted by: Elton John | November 12, 2008 at 08:39 AM
“You gays need to get over it already. Stop trying to change the religious intitution of marriage, trying to impose your beliefs on religions. You already have the same rights.”

Now the real truth about Proposition 8 was to write the religious beliefs of some religions into our secular Constitution. There are churches that believe in equal marriage for same-sex couples. What happened to their protected right to freedom of religion under the U.S. Constitution?

[Jess]

Quit wasting taxpayers time and money. Nov 4th came and went. The measure passed. Why are homosexuals above the law?

[xxxray]

To PR: Send all the business that you want to Yes on 8 supporters. Just be aware that the people you are hurting by supporting the "Yessers" could very well be your own current or future gay children...

[Dan W.]

Boycotts are a legitimate way of expressing one's opinion.

So are rewarding businesses that "do the right thing" as we see it. I would like to know who the business owners who donated to No on 8 so I can send them more business.

If a business has more than enough profit that they can give money to a proposition means to enshrine discrimination against me into the constitution, then they clearly don't need my business to prosper.

I also wouldn't patronize a business that supports discrimination against anyone on race, gender or religious affiliation either.

These businesses CHOSE to locate in and market to the gay community. If they gave money to bigots to discriminate, that's just bad business, not to mention immoral.

It's about time bigots were held accountable. People have freedom of speech but they aren't entitled to the dollars of the people they wish to discriminate against.

[Eliezer]

So... If 10 employees of a company donated to No on 8 and the owner donated to Yes on 8, would you boycott the company and possibly put alll those people out of a job?

[RickInLA]

A couple of statements I would like to pass on to the so called "Christians" who so vehemently supported Prop 8. I say "Christian" but that is a misnomer as Christ never said anything about condemning gay persons; that was the work of Paul (a man who never married and hung around men all his adult life). Anyway, that is a whole different argument and post. What I want to pass on are two statements made by the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) about condemning things (or people) you don't understand: "What we call monsters are not so to God, who sees in the immensity of his work the infinity of forms that he has comprised in it..." and he also added: "We call contrary to nature what happens contrary to custom; nothing is anything but according to nature, whatever it may be. Let this universal and natural reason drive out the error and astonishment that novelty brings us". So to the "Christians" you need to understand that we are as human as you and deserve the same rights neither less nor more. And, rest assured, in this matter we will prevail.

[xxxray]

Beviemay: Glad to hear you really want to learn. Go to this website: http://gaylife.about.com/od/samesexmarriage/f/civilmarriage.htm

It's a great place to start your education on the differences of civil union, marriage, etc.

[MsAnthrope]

For gay and lesbian readers:

I am in favor of Prop 8, and my stance has nothing to do with hating gays. I am sure there are some supporters who hate gays (and I don't speak for them), but the majority of us have gays/lesbians in our lives that we love, who are our friends, relatives, or co-workers. I must say I resent being accused of being anti-gay and bigoted. It reflects on the name-callers more than the accused, and nobody with a brain is fooled.

Those of you hurling disparaging remarks at Prop 8 supporters are out-of-touch with reality, and speaking from the position of hurt and anger. In my opinion, if the judges had respected the wishes of the people to keep the term marriage as exclusively for a man and woman uniting, we would have a far smaller problem right now. Gay and lesbian couples who want to commit should have all rights that married straight couples have. But marriage the term is off-limits. The Constitution has been amended because marriage is a traditional union that the people don't want broadened. We aren't ready, and I can't say if we ever will be. I am open-minded enough to consider the possibility that things may change someday. If you want a different outcome in the future, please be sure that you have changed people's minds first. I believe the hurt and anger is because so many misjudged the minds of the voters. (Likely because we have been open to giving gay/lesbian individuals and couples protection, and we are against discrimination based on sexual orientation.)

We still love you, please don't misunderstand.

[Dan W.]

Homosexuality is not a choice nor is it perverse to those with that innate orientation.

There is not justification for anti-gay bigotry, no matter how some people take bible quotes out of their historical and literary context and use them to justify their immoral and un-Christian hatred.

[xxxray]

This is all about how the government sees your partnership. If the word "marriage" or "married" are religious terms, then the question on many, many government forms should be eradicated and replaced with the really more important term "civil union" or something similar. The term married shouldn't mean anything in our government.

The name doesn't matter to me, but the equal rights and responsibilities do.

[C Girl]

I am an avid NO ON 8 supporter and I completely disagree with Marjorie's personal stance on the issue. What I would like everyone to remember is that the people who will really be suffering froma boycott are the waitresses, waiters, bartenders, busboys, and cooks, many of whom are gay and lesbian. They are the ones who will feel the boycott affect their wallets.
I think Marjorie should relieve herself of her El Coyote duties and no longer be associated with the establishment and let the hard-working El Coyote employees get back to business as ussual.

[Dan W.]

"That means that they will only go into stores that are owned by gays and lesbians, further segregating themselves."

----------------------

Not in the slightest. One of the exciting things about the 12,000 marchers in Silver Lake last Saturday was the number of straight demonstrators. There are many straights who see this as a civil rights issue and who support is. The demonstrations last night in Santa Monica was filled with mostly straight people.

Also, there are people indifferent to us who didn't give money to Yes on 8.

The only people who will suffer by this boycott are people who take money from gay customers/clients and then use the profits to fund politicians and propositions intended to inflict bigotry back on those gay customers.

[cbk16]

Could someone post all the Pro gay marriage businesses that I can boycott? Since the majority of the most liberal state in the union voted for traditional marriage, this boycott business will hurt the pro gay crowed a lot more.

[Eliezer]

Some interesting things I've noticed:

Until a few years ago, no civilization in human history (including those that embraced homosexuality) had accepted the concept of gay marraige, and when a majority of Californians vote to keep it that way, they're called homphobic bigots.

The No on 8 backers want government out of their private lives, yet it is the government(the Supreme Court) who legalized same-sex marraige, and it is the government that they are begging to overturn the will of the people.

Why would gays need to redefine marraige when they already have all the same rights as married couples?

[sameulberg]

Welcome to McCarthyism of the 21st century! Everyone is being investigated to uncover Pro prop 8 donations. These "violators of equality" will be flushed out and exposed for their evil doings where they will be blacklisted, boycotted and bankrupted. Even restaurants with many gay employees will be wrongly boycotted, because one of the nieces may have donated $100 to keep marriage between man and woman. Now, the totalitarians are demanding an official position by the restaurant they they are 100% behind gay marriages or face the firing squad. This is paired nicely with the acts of vandalism perpetrated upon many churches that may have supported traditional marriage. The hypocrisy within the gay community (that supports this type of behavior) is really sad and goes to show the narcissism that runs deep within. And if I hear another person compare the gay movement with the civil rights movement of the '60's, I'm going to puke. Where are the gay only lunch counters, drinking fountains and buses? How can you be pulled over while driving gay? Mon Dieu!

[Lane]

A significant portion of the homosexual community seems focused on ending marriage and simply moving to all civil unions. Marriage denotes a deep physical, emotional, and (to some) spiritual commitment that goes beyond legal responsibilities imposed by civil unions. I applaud homosexual couples who want to show their deep commitment to each other through marriage even though I feel marriage should continue to be limited to one man and one woman. Not all married couples have children but the primary purpose for the legal responsibilities and benefits of marriage is to support a cohesive unit for the raising of children. An extension of marriage to homosexual relationships not biologically designed for the rearing of children will necessarily weaken the purpose of marriage and will hurt the deep commitment marriage symbolizes, resulting in weaker marriages. Weaker marriages hurts society. I realize that some homosexual couples have adopted children and many are probably very good parents. However, I feel we have to balance the needs of homosexual couples with children with the need to keep traditional marriage stronger, and in this balancing test I feel we should keep marriage as traditionally understood: the union of one man and one woman.

[Frank Stjerne]

Hey - are we living on the same planet??? Sorry Californians/American, fellew members of the western world, Nato whatever, but this is very, very hard for Europeans to understand, what is going on in your minds.

Why is it so important for some people in your society to define what is good and what is bad for other people in the year of 2008?

Why is it important looking at especially the American history to define a set of right for one sort of people and another set of rules for another sort of people?

Please make up your minds. Is this what you are fighting for when you try to teach the Iraqies what democracy and human rights is about?

Sorry, most of us over here in Europe don't understand you.

Frank Stjerne, Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe - part of the Western World.

PS: We have had gay marriages in Denmark for almost 20 years and our society still stands like the other contries with gay marriages/partnerships: Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Britain, Nederlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, France, Spain, Luxemburg, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland - Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, South Africa, Canada - and more I can't remember.

[Brad O.]

I'm gay friendly and I donated to Yes on 8. Contrary to what the No on 8 camp will try to make you believe, you do not have to be against Prop 8 to be for gay rights.

All this rhetoric about "bigotry, discrimination, and hate" is nothing but a way to try to manipulate people from doing what they believe is right. Diane Feinstein is a classic example of this, "No matter how you feel about marriage, vote no on 8?" My response to Feinstein is, "You are the worst leader this state has ever had. How dare you ask me to vote contrary to what I believe?"

[james]

I am boycotting California all together. I wont be traveling there unless people can build a bridge and get over it. The people voted, this is a done deal just as Obama's campain is a done deal.

[SteveJJ]

Hey, I donated a huge amount of money to the Yes on 8 proposition and I'm looking forward to the contribution deduction on this year's taxes. And by the way, I work for the United States government, so go ahead and boycott your government too while you are at it.

[Zach]

So much ignorance here - think beyond yourselves, people! Inequality under the law makes something a civil rights issue, not just skin color. If your sister goes for a marriage license and says she wants to marry another woman, her lesbianism is as obvious as the skin color of the black man at the Whites Only drinking fountain. I'd hope no one would ever stop "whining" if the majority voted THAT back in! Further, this is not about behavior, however "deviant" you think it. This is about how gay people live their lives in California, a state with a constitution that upholds equality. Prop 8 has nothing to do with gay sex and everything to do with encouraging stable, monogamous relationships. Why would you be against that?

Above all, equality is NOT simply about giving people what they WANT, it's about giving people what's fair and appropriate under the law. That's why those rarely-seen but often-mentioned people who want to marry kids, animals, or multiple spouses can't have what they want just because they want it. Marriage is a contract between two people, and who those people are changes nothing about the contract. BUT, if those people cannot enter into a contract (like children) or are not people (horses), then they simply can not be married. Gays ARE people and CAN sign contracts, so there's no reason they ought not enjoy the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. Nothing more, nothing less!

[JIm]

A boycott of Prop 8 supporters is probably the worst idea the No on 8 group can come up with. This kind of action signals to Prop 8 backers that "the gloves are off' when it comes to pushing moral issues, and evangelicals and other Prop 8 supporters will enact their own plan to boycott No on 8 businesses and support Yes on 8 businesses. They have more money and more people on their side, and in the end it will be the gay community -- and those who support them -- that will lose. Peace is far better than a crushing defeat at the hands of organized religion.

[spm]

Oh dear now I won't patronize El Coyote. Too bad I long ago gave up on them because their food sucks. Darn. I really would like to boycott them or anyone else who voted yes on the stupid and cruel Prop. 8. Any more restaurants we could avoid? I eat out A LOT. BTW I am married hetero with children and friends who are political. We love to boycott twits.

[eye4spot]

Marriage is NOT a religious institution, it is a legal contract...ask any "hetero" where they obtained their marriage license? the county clerks office or city hall...then ask anyone getting a divorce if they hired a lawyer, and if their payments to the lawyer were tax deductible?

You say that marriage is only for heteros because "the bible tells me so" ... It is not your place to force your "moral beliefs based in religious indoctrination" on other Americans who may be legally practicing freedom of (or from) religion... Americans that feel your interpretation of "legal presidents" based on personal religious beliefs is flawed.

I personally have an issue with institution that takes tax funds from the federal government for "Faith based social programs" and turns around and spends 25 million dollars of tax exempt $$ on pushing its beliefs on everyone else.

If religions want to play politics, lets vote on a proposition to do away with their tax exemptions...Let them pay taxes just liker any American based business.

Boycott Mormon businesses & those who supported prop 8 with donations to the deny constitutional rights off all americans?? "Hell" Yeah!

[Pro8Guy]

Wow, since when was gay marriage a right? Since when did the votes cast by Californians not matter anymore? Today apparently.

I know a homeless guy that wants to marry his pet rat, is that going to be a civil right now? The gays are quick to scream about their "rights" and all the hypocrisy surrounding this issue but the true hypocrisy nobody wants to discuss is the simple fact that the people have spoken and their collective voices say "NO!", a gay marriage is not a marriage at all. I love how gays want to tell me that I cant tell them what a marriage is, well it works both ways, YOU can't tell me what a marriage is either. Stop trying to force me to believe that a man and a man can get married. I say they can't and the majority of Californians agree with me, AGAIN! So go ahead and eat wherever you want but get off of WIlshire, go home, and let me and my WIFE live in peace.

[Zach]

No, YesOn8, the "call to arms" won't stop. Get used to the fact that the majority cannot simply vote rights away from a minority. That's un-American, but you're more than welcome to try to rally other people like you to counter-protest. Or you can just move to Iran - I hear they don't have any gays there, if that's more important to you than a free and equal society.

[Eliezer]

Quote from Elton John in USA Today:

"I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership," said John. "The word marriage, I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

EVERYONE BOYCOTT ELTON JOHN! DON'T BUY HIS MUSIC!!! HE SUPPORTS PROP 8!!!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-11-12-elton-john_N.htm

[AK]

"Boycott Utah"

Hahahaha!!

[Gemzrmine]

OK OK OK, this has gone way too far!!!! I must say we as People will fight for a "CAUSE", but is this a good cause to be fighting for?
Why would you boycott because your "Lifestyle" isn't "Righteous? That should be the question at hand. You can't force your "Lifestlye" on all Califorians. It was your right to choose and you choosed a "Lifestyle " that came with a lot of pros and cons. Unfortunately, we dont have to tolerate but accept your Lifestyle Choice. So please stop with the injustice all this anger is oonly making the Economy worst, my best friend is a promoter and he lost over $3K last weekend because of the Protesting. Not only that I sat in Traffic for 2 hours trying to go pick up my children, That's not Fair!!!!!!!!

[Daniel]

What a shame the gay community is going to boycott all the business that supported prop 8. I have a better idea, why don't you boycott the state of California and leave. Go to Connecticut and Massachusetts and have your civic union recognized there as you are trying to get it done here. That way you can live there happily ever after. If you want to come back to California, do so knowing that your "marriage" from those states will NOT be recognized here. Live here in a civic union and leave the marriage to the heterosexuals.

What you don't want to do that. The law is the law, if you don't like this law, enact legislation to change it. The majority, even if it is only 1, have spoken twice on this issue.

Get a clue. Marriage is between a man and a woman and this has nothing to do with civil rights. It is about protecting marriage from what the majority still consider to be unnatural and whether “you like or not” it is based on religious beliefs. This country was
founded on religious beliefs, whether “you like it or not”.

As much as you want the majority of people to accept the gay lifestyle, we will not. We are tolerant, civil and respectful and can live peacefully together. How you choose to live your life is none of my business, just as mine is none of yours.

[TJ]

This is utterly shameful!! It is amazing how "minorities" flip out when they don't get what they want. We had an election and the people spoke. Therefore we need to accept this decision. This behavior is intimidation and shameful especially for our legislators to support this as they have. Don't confuse the difference between the judicial branch and the legislative branch of gov. Stop the intimidation of the work force. Don't disrespect religious organizations. Just as you want respect.. you are not showing any.

[Vivian]

Trying to make sense of it all -- Thank you for your civilized comment. Not everyone who voted for Prop 8 is bigoted (although that depends on how you define the word) or uneducated. However, the Yes on 8 campaign purposefully ran a deceitful and malicious campaign. Churches are NOT going to be forced to perform same-sex marriages (has any Catholic church EVER been forced to marry anyone they didn't want to?) and children heard about gays (horror!) not from the schools but from the Yes campaign and its supporters themselves. Before the deceitful ads appeared, the majority of Californians were AGAINST the Proposition. So no, not everyone who voted yes is uneducated, but the Yes on 8 people disseminated misinformation relying on the fact that many people won't educate themselves on the truth. And they manipulated them.

[RR Ryan]

Good lord, people. You needed this excuse to avoid El Coyote? Have you ever eaten their food? Reason enough, prop 8 notwithstanding.

[Willa]

Comparing what Prop 8 supporters would have done had they lost versus what the gay community and their suppoters are doing now is intellectually dishonest. For Prop 8 supporters, the measure was a politcal and religious statement, and losing doesn't affect their lives. For gays and lesbians, they have had their rights stripped from them. They have a right to protest. That is not whinning.

[Randy]

When children are afraid to enter a business, a school, a place of worship, or a park it is terrorism. The terror can be caused by gangsters, creepy people, or mobs screaming about their rights. Children must have safe passage in their daily lives. No one has the right to say their personal needs and desires are more important than the children. No jihad justifies child abuse of any kind.

[Tim]

This is pretty darned funny. How many times over the years have bigoted, bible-thumping conservangelicals threatened to boycott filmmakers, TV networks, auto manufacturers, major department stores, food brands, etc. etc etc., when there was the slightest hint that the gay lifestyle might be portrayed in even a neutral light? I've never met a conservangelical who wasn't a hypocrite - I guess that's their "tradition" and it's definitely why I left the church that two of my grandparents were ordained ministers in. I've spent hundreds of dollars at El Coyote and always had a great time there, not so much because of the food (which is so-so) or the drinks (cheap, but you get what you pay for), but because of the campy, overdone, Guadalajara-on-acid atmosphere. On a Friday or Saturday night, the place (which is large) was full of gay people. Well, I guess there won't be long waits for tables anymore. The "employee" - or rather, the OWNER, Marjorie Christofferson - has been a very visible fixture, all the regulars knew her. Yes, she smiled and chatted and was friendly to all. Kudos to her for hiring gay people. Shame on her for stabbing her gay employees and her gay patrons in the back this way. She says she's sorry, she loves us gays, she would never do anything to hurt us, and she wishes she'd never done it. Sorry she did it, or sorry she got caught? Oh, and for those conservangelicals who are vowing retribution by boycotting gay businesses - who do you think you're kidding? You wouldn't come within a mile of a gay-owned business and likely never have unless you were completely unaware of it. How are you going to like it when we start pulling our money out of California banks? It's simple to open out-of-state bank accounts and have our in-state wages direct-deposited elsewhere. As long as we have debit cards, we won't be affected. But with the drain on assets to fund mortgages and small business loans, the loan market here is going to dry up even further. Good luck going to Massachusetts or Connecticut banks to get loans.

[PDuff]

Attn: historical morons. We DID have state legislation in support of gay marriages -- twice. Gov. Arnold vetoed it both times, arguing that the courts should decide (although something tells me it was more to hold onto whatever little Republican street cred he had left). And then the court DID decide -- in favor of gay marriage.

So who are the sore losers on this? I'd say those who supported Prop. 8 in the first place after BOTH the judicial and legislative branches had spoken.

WOULD YOU PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES??!! Finally??

[Jeffrey]

The people spoke, the losers act like spoiled brats. You know when the Judges overturned the will of the people, we didn't go out and protest and act like little children.

I guess it's better to go intimidate people and terrorize their place of employment rather than just accept the fact, we are not ready for marriage to be redefined.

Whatever sympathy I had for gays, evaporated the minute you started try to silence the voters, intimidate them, disparage them. If it came to a vote again, I would vote yes.

[FredW]

I'm going to go out of my way to patronize any business that is boycotted by the opposition to Prop 8.

We are spreading the word though our yes on 8 campaign group for everyone else to do the same.

[rjf]

Well I think boycott won't work anythings. The people who urging to boycott Utah because of Mormon residents are in there. Many people are still visit to Utah and they noticed no mormon things. There Utah is popular state because of beauty state, famous ski areas, and etc. I remembered that southern baptist churchs were urging to boycott of disney. The disney Co. are still very popular as big business. So boycott is not work anythings.

[divine]

Well, if the people's vote on Prop 8 is overturned, I can demand to marry my goat, right? Oh, she would look so good in a wedding dress. I'm sure we'll be able to say we have a valid marriage, and make everyone accept it. If not, I'll file a lawsuit.

[Tim]

PDuff, you're asking Prop. 8 supporters to think logically, which is something they have a limited capacity for. Notice how they all chime in to the same mantras and how these are primarily fear-based. Their understanding of democracy begins and ends with "majority rules" - the actual functions of state government and civil protections accorded to all individual citizens (they have a herd mentality, everything is "us" and "them") under the Constitution are beyond their ability to grasp. Educated people confuse them. Trying to inform them that equal rights and protections under the law are afforded to all citizens IRREGARDLESS of race, creed, color, gender - and yes, sexual orientation here in our state - only winds up frightening them. They have to have someone to hate, their religion demands it - Christianity is meaningless without enemies. Guess the conservangelicals will have to watch what they say about Mormons from now on! Notice how all the prominent supporters of Prop. 8 bent over backwards to say this isn't an anti-gay measure, they support full and equal rights for gays and this is only about one little word that they want enshrined in a "traditional" way. Yeah, right. The election is over, they won the vote (but will not win on appeal, which is REALLY going to hit them hard), and just look at all that pent up rage and hate that comes spilling out. It must have been hard for them to contain it long enough to get their ballot measure passed, so I guess what we're witnessing now is the emotional release, heated by the joy of having stuck it to the "pervs" yet again. Well, just look back at history to see how hard they fall. It'll will be more fun that ever to watch them deflate. It's pointless to appear to their sense of fairness, because they don't have it in them.

[Tim]

James Sindell wrote "The gay community should file their lawsuit in Federal, not California, courts. Why? If they truly believe that Proposition 8 discriminates against them and their civil rights, then the Federal courts should intervene for the benefit of ALL gays/lesbians nationwide and not just in California. But is is obvious that this community will not go this route because they know their case has no U.S. Constitutional merit and their argument will be struck down by the high courts. Where's the "true" justice then?"

James, I guess you're not familiar with the U.S. Supreme Court's 1996 decision in "Romer v. Evans" which struck down a Colorado ballot initiative passed by a majority vote of 53.4% to deprive Colorado gays and lesbians of equal rights and protection. The U.S. Supreme Court struck it down on a 6 to 3 vote. Five of those six justices are still on the court, and it doesn't look too good for conservative appointments anytime soon. There's a legal process that has to be followed here, you don't take it to the U.S. Supreme Court until you've exhausted your redress in state courts and move it to federal courts. If you think that gay rights groups aren't itching for the opportunity to take this to the nation's highest court, think again. It's the Prop. H8 supporters who don't want to see it go that far, because their chances would be slim to none from a court that has already decided discrimination against gays is unconstitutional.

[Tim]

"Hey, I donated a huge amount of money to the Yes on 8 proposition and I'm looking forward to the contribution deduction on this year's taxes. And by the way, I work for the United States government, so go ahead and boycott your government too while you are at it."

ROTFLMAO!!! Yeah, good luck with that. I'd recommend having someone prepare your taxes for you next year. I hope by "a huge amount" you mean tens of thousands of dollars. I hope you took out a second mortgage on your house and gave it all to the Yes on 8 PAC. Gawd, that's hysterical!

[Luke in Canada]

As a Canadian looking at what is happening in California it shocks me to see that intolerance and ignorance is still strong in the United States of America, a country that prides itself on freedom and liberty for all. Whenever changes in society seem to happen the mighty religous views pop in to the forefront. Just over 40 years ago I think people used religion to base their views of why Colored or Black people had to drink out of their own fountains and had to ride at the back of buses.

Marriage has always been a factor in civil societies. It is not only pertaining to the Judeo-Christian biblical view. If one stands back and thinks logically about it. Marriages can be conducted at City Halls and by many Christian sects around the world . Just because your "view" of Christianity should not govern who can get married.

I'm glad that countries in Western Europe and Canada can look beyond religious differences and allow marriage or civil unions as a civil right. By the way, in Canada, no religious official can be forced to marry gay people. And I have yet to see any people marry a horse or such as some of the comments here have suggested. Moreover, life continues as it did before.

[GAY FRIENDLY]

I'M GAY FRIENDLY, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BUY CHICKEN BURRITOS AND ENCHILADAS AT EL COYOTE AND POLLO LOCO. BYE THE WAY, WHAT IS TRANSGENDER? COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN THAT TO THE REST OF US IN DETAIL?

[Steve]

I supported Proposition 8 and I now fully support a boycott of Utah! If people against Proposition 8 have the strength of their convictions they will stay away and demand that all others do likewise.

Utah has a multitude of sites of which their serenity and beauty is simply beyond all rational description. In my estimation, there is nowhere else quite like it on earth. The State already has 10 times as many tourists as it's fragile ecosystem can support. And, there are not just Mormons everywhere, but Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and increasing numbers of Hispanics and Blacks! There are likely many other Proposition 8 friendly groups there that I failed to mention.

It would indeed be unfortunate for real Proposition 8 opponents to spend a dime in that place. Don't drive through it. Don't even fly over it! Money would be much better spent in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and at friendly locations and businesses in California or anywhere else for that matter.

[Polly Crackers]

Get your protest gear here... http://www.cafepress.com/NoTime2H8

[Bill]

It is really simple -

Businesses have a right to "speak" with their wallets in support of any cause they agree with.

Customers have the same right to "speak" by closing their wallets to businesses that support causes they oppose.

But that is an example of EQUALITY which is apparently a dirty word to those who believe in discrimination, like those who voted to write discrimination into the California State Consitution.

[Bill]

Hey Blue, I know this is a late response for you but El Coyote is not going to be firing the employee who donated to Prop. 8. She is the manager but also happens to be the DAUGHTER of the owner. Oh...and they ARE Mormons too!

[Yikes]

Why is everyone lacking so much class????

For some reason I can see both sides of the issue......

I'm a gay male that would love to see "civil marriage" for same-sex couples. This would guarantee all equal access, rights, and benefits as "religious marriage."

BUT I EMPATHIZE>>>>>>with the proponents of prop 8.......you don't want to see your children inherit a world filled with people that don't have the same "moral beliefs" as you/your religion sees fit.

As for the boycott.........I don't really care.....lol

More power to the people that chose to take their business elsewhere......I get it.....money made on the backs of a people, to only be then used to put those people down.

BUT>>>>>as for me......Im not really gonna watch where I spend my money. Im not exactly gonna rush to the nearest Mormon/Catholic/Christian church and donate a bunch of money........but I may consider having a chicken taco at El Pollo Loco if the mood strikes.

LOOK>>>>>I don't want some huge revision of the institution of marriage.

HOWEVER>>>>I do want the same rights, responsibilities, privileges, and access to a union with the person of my choosing. (AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CIVIL UNION)

I reiterate......I would be fine with the ideal of Civil marriage........

THE ONLY OTHER SOLUTION I CAN THINK OF>>>>>>

Would be to only allow churches to perform "Marriage".......but then all federal rights, privileges, and responsibilities would be denied.

Under the law, "marriage" is a legal document binding one individual to another............THE LAW CAN NOT DISCRIMINATE.

SO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Government should throw out "marriage" all together. Churches can still perform the ceremony, but wouldn't reap the benefits of that union.

I REALIZE>>>>>>>>>>these ideals are far fetched.......but they are plausible.

Everyone deserves equal treatment under the law..........if the church wants to keep marriage.....FINE!!!!!........

BUT>>>>>>>We should all be equal under the law.

I'm I redundant enough>?

I don't think the "gay community" is trying to impose their lifestyle on anyone. We just want equal opportunity, and having our relationships regarded in the same way, with the same kind of reverence as straight people's relationships.....Its about being equal in EVERY WAY.

PLEASE DON'T LASH OUT>>>>>>

But I fear for the religious community.......But equal to the fear for the gay community......

With both sides being so hard headed and difficult, we lose sight of our REAL goals.....

For the religious community:
Jesus' last command was to go into all the world and teach of his father and his word........>>>My fear is that with such zealous behavior over the issue, are you yourselves hardening peoples hearts???

For the gay community:
We want equality in the eyes of the law. ......>>>My fear is that with such zealous behavior over the issue, are WE ourselves hardening peoples hearts?

THE ANSWER TO BOTH QUESTIONS:

IS YES!!!!!!!!

"Love one another, for God is of love. He who does not love does not know God......For God is love."

[Brad Murphy]

People. Everyone who voted Yes on Prop 8 are okay to do so. Likewise, to those who voted No. I've been to six rally / protests over the last week. There was a terrible injustice when Prop 8 passed.

My grandson is gay and I am so very proud to stand by his side in these marches. He marches with the dignity and peace I passed to my son. I am boycotting because my grandson has the right to say, "This is my husband." He shouldn't have to validate his relationship with years. And he's had two, each more than five. When I introduce my wife, years don't matter. I could never introduce her as my lover, nor as my life partner. . . it would feel temporary somehow. . . less important.

I am boycotting and encourage my friends to do the same. I fought for justice for all when I served, not for some.

May justice prevail! Continue the fight, many great things are happening.

[Robert]

I have to ask why the LA Times forgot to mention that the person at the heart of this issue is NOT just an employee, she is an owner. BIG difference. And why are there people upset that the Gay Community would boycott those who are against their rights? I didn't see anyone on the Yes side get upset when their supporters boycotted FORD, McDonald's, Disney, Google, Microsoft or any of the other businesses that supported Gay rights. And why no mention of the extortion letters sent by the Yes side to No supporters, demanding the same monetary donation or they would publish their names and business info for the same reasons?

I will NOT give my hard earned money to those who would take away my rights. If you are person enough to make donations in this type of issue, then you need to be person enough to stand by that donation.

When the Yes supporters start calling for a stop to boycotts against organizations that supprt gay rights, then maybe it will be fair to call for a stop to the No side. Until then, get over your hypocrisy. It isn't attractive.

[Jack]

I supported proposition 8. Although I did not donate much it was what I could give. I don't go walking aroung calling you people uneducated for standing up for your beliefs so don't do the same to me. And by the way the No on 8 campaign recieved money from Apple, Google, and other big name companies. So what. They all donated to a cause they believed in. And I hold nothing against them for that. I am a big fam of Apple products. I still continue to use them. I love the city of San Francisco and will continue to go there. Amongst other places where gay marriage is heavily supported. So I honestly don't understand what all this fuss is over to be honest. For all you gays keep fighting your fight if you feel that is the right thing to do. But do not ridicule my family and my friends because we stood up for something that we believed in.

[Al]

To the last person that posted that comment about Homosexuals being hypocritical.. There are numerous numerous examples that exemplify people who are being treated unfairly being treated "Fairly enough" by their detractors/persecutors. Are you positing that just because a business hired a waiter that is gay that they therefore cannot be boycotted by people of the same sexual orientation just because there are a few employees that the owner hired of the same orientation? That is insane and THAT shows more of that same hypocritical Hetero-CENTRIC behaviour that has plagued and stood in the way of equality FOR ALL! Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King said it best: Our oppressors WILL never step aside simply because we are uncomfortable or not being treated fairly.. WE MUST FIGHT for OUR just cause!! AND that civil disobedience and YES BOYCOTTING TOO. IS our right and our Duty to fulfill our just cause!!

[Lucky Pierre]

Christian groups call for boycotts all the time. If a company or organization does anything that is even slightly gay friendly, these haters threaten with boycotts. Why is it wrong for the gay community to fight back with the same methods?

[*Former* gay]

The LGBT response to the passage of prop 8 has made me see the error of my ways and I have subsequently ended my support/activism on the LGBT community's behalf. *ALL* US citizens are constitutionally entitled to vote their conscience and their religious beliefs. Their religious beliefs long precede "gay activism," and those beliefs for believers are non- negotiable. Gays and lesbians (only 10% of the population) have the exact same constitutional right to marriage as ""everyone else" (the 90% hetero majority). Marriage is a legally binding contract between two members of the opposite sex -- it doesn't discriminate between gay or straight whatsoever. You could be a gay man and lesbian coupled in a marriage, a straight man and lesbian coupled in a marriage, a straight man and a straight woman coupled in marriage, etc. *This* is the civil right that blacks had been denied -- the right to marry a member of the opposite sex (whether they were straight or gay, or whether the opposite was straight or gay.) Yes, marriage IS a hetero thing. That's exactly the point of it. Domestic partnerships, however, are NOT gender-specific. Vote for domestic partnerships and you'll get better support from the hetero (majority) community.

[Tim]

Jack, if you lacked the good judgment to realize that voting your "morals" would deprive others who might hold to different moral views of their constitutional civil rights and protections, then you are uneducated. If you did so knowing full well what the consequences would be if Prop. H8 passed, then you're not uneducated, you're simply an evil bigot. Your choice.

[Ray]

We gays are upset at churches and religion because they took our identities from us when we were children by making us hide. Once we found the strength to understand ourselves, our families abandoned us because of the teachings of the church. Now that we know ourselves we want to share that with significant others, but again the church has stepped in and instructed followers to support the amendment that takes that away from us too. Gays are constantly under attack from religion and all we want is to be left alone and not discriminated against. Now prop 8 has shocked the gay community into action. We don't have a goal yet, a plan, or a unified voice, but our anger is beginning to take shape. We are apparently the last group of people that it's ok to discriminate against and that must change.

[thelea]

I am upset about this erroneous finger pointing at African-Americans ansd seniors regarding Proposition 8. Why are you so quick to believe whatever you hear? If someone told me 70 percent of gay people or seniors voted against Obama my first thought would be, I don't believe it! This political year was fraught with right wing lies. These right wing religious extremists are trying to deflect their responsibility for Proposition 8 to seniors, Black people and Black churches.Bear that in mind.

"Religious organizations that support Proposition 8 include the Roman Catholic Church], Knights of Columbus, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) a group of Evangelical Christians led by Jim Garlow and Miles McPherson, American Family Association, Focus on the Family[and the National Organization for Marriage Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, California's largest, has also endorsed the measure. The Bishops of the California Catholic Conference released a statement supporting the proposition. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) has publicly supported the proposition and encouraged their membership to support it, by asking its members to donate money and volunteer time. The First Presidency of the church announced its support for Proposition 8 in a letter read in every congregation. Latter-day Saints have provided a significant source for financial donations in support of the proposition, both inside and outside the State of California. About 45% of out-of-state contributions to Protect Marriage.com has come from Utah, over three times more than any other state…

Still, even though gays were fighting to preserve a basic right, it was the anti-equality side in California that seemed to have the most fervor. A symbolic low point for the gay side came on Oct. 13, when the Sacramento Bee ran a remarkable story about Rick and Pam Patterson, a Mormon couple of modest means - he drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic, she raises their five boys - who had withdrawn $50,000 from their savings account and given it to the pro-8 campaign. "It was a decision we made very prayerfully," Pam Patterson, 48, told the Bee's Jennifer Garza. "Was it an easy decision? No. But it was a clear decision, one that had so much potential to benefit our children and their children.”

This is your real enemy. Don't trust exit polls. I think they are pitting one group against the other. African-Americans are less than 7% of the state population, do the math. Many more Whites voted and they put this over, not Blacks. What are the total numbers of each group that voted. Someone dug into the data and found that we're just now learning is that the exit poll was based on less than 2,300 people. If you take into account that blacks in California only make up about 6.2%, we get roughly 224 blacks who were polled. 224 blacks to blame an entire race! The truth is, I have heard that Prop 8 passed because of Republican support. 82% of Republicans admitted to supporting the proposition. They were not the ones who came out to vote for Obama.

I know someone who watches C-Span and they said most Blacks did not even address the question at all. And they do not have the money to fund a tens of millions of dollars Proposition 8 campaign. Note that they also targeted affirmative action for eradication in another state.
Rather than be upset at the phantom African-American menace, fight like hell. I cannot believe that these larger groups who came out in droves to craft and fund this legislation get a pass and Blacks are being targeted for the blame game. There is no right wing black conspiracy against gay Americans. When you tried to align your struggle with that of Blacks you inherited their enemies. These same enemies are now trying to pit one against the other because they fear the combined numbers of both. Even if Blacks stayed home it would have passed because the extreme religious right and republicans would have raised the dead to get them to vote for it. They funded that campaign, not Blacks.
How many gay activists supported the civil rights movement in the 1960’s? Then how do you automatically expect support in return? Have you asked Blacks to support you or did you just assume?

No one gave Obama anything and they will not give gays anything either. Obama stands on the shoulders of a lot of brave people who gave their lives for him to stand on that podium last night.

Never trust exits polls because in all my years of life, no one has ever been seen at a polling place asking anyone anything when they left.

Don't fall for the lies.

And the people have spoken. They have as much right not to want this as we did to want President Elect Obama. Fight this in the court of appeals and not the court of biased opinion by targeting Blacks for hatred and enmity.

Picket at the church headquarters because that is where this all started. And do so with respect and dignity like Gandhi and MLK.

The argument that this is analagous to slavery is insulting. Slavery renders people property without any rights. This is an argument for one with the others intact. If you are not married no one can whip you, sell your children, or work you to death. Please revisit your history books. And as for it being comparable to interracial marriage battles, again erroneous. Obama is biracial. So are the majority of African Americans, who do now wish to go into the sordid details of how that happened. He is not a rare bird to us.
I am Black, German, Welsh, and Native American. I am not rare either.

That is why we were so up in arms about miscegenation laws. Forced sexual relationships were condoned and loving ones were not. It was an affront and we wanted our women protected and respected.

Now let's all unite and fight this bigotry that the last 8 years has fostered and supported. It has placed a yoke around all our necks, Black and Gay.

[Jay]

Boycotts have often been successful in creating change. Gays boycotted Coors and made them change their discriminatory hiring policies. Blacks boycotted the Montgomery, Alabama bus system. Latinos boycotted California-grown fruit. These were all successful.

The Southern Baptists boycotted Disney because the company offered domestic partner benefits to its employees. Focus on the Family is always calling for boycotts of companies that offer equal rights to their gay employees.

[Neil in Hollywood]

Ok...I admit that I haven't read through all these comments. I just want tp make an observation. I am thankful when straight people are respectful and friendly towards me. That's all I really want. I think the equality issue is just a matter of wanting folk to respect me. They don't have to like me, but just be respectful.
I really wonder if straight people can really understand what being gay is all about. All the arguments that I hear anti-gay and/or pro-prop 8 seem to focus on just the sex thing. Sure, by its definition "gay" primarily means that I as a man am attracted to other men. But "queerness" or "gayness" is so much more than that. I don't think straight people can ever really understand gay culture. They can respect and appreciate gay culture, but that can't understand it.

[Todd]

Fred,

Go for it! May I suggest the Chicken Fajitas at El Coyote? The one– and only– time I ate there, that's what I had. And I ended up with food poisoning.

I hope you, your family & all of your homophobic friends enjoy!

[Heidi]

I find it funny that they want to boycott a restaurant based on the owner's religion, while they demand "equality"

Anyway, Gays, I guess you better boycott TELEVISION because the guy that invented it was LDS. HAHA! So if you ask tv crews to come out and film your silly protests, it's a bit hypocritical.