Prop. 8 boycott talk spreads to movies and more

The boycott effort against businesses whose owners backed Proposition 8 appears to be picking up steam.

Dozens of groups have sprouted up on Facebook.com urging its members to boycott businesses -- restaurants, jewelry stores, car-repair shops and more. Other activists have gone onto Yelp.com and other business rating sites, posting messages telling users which restaurants donated to the "Yes on 8" campaign.

There has also been talk of a boycott of the Cinemark movie chain, whose CEO gave money to "Yes on 8." This could have a major effect on the Sundance Film Festival, which uses the chain's theaters to show movies.

The actions have alarmed supporters of Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage in California.

"Since Proposition 8’s victory, a series of protests against churches, small businesses and individual supporters of traditional marriage have taken place in cities across the state," Ron Prentice, chairman of ProtectMarriage.com, wrote in a statement. "Tragically, some opponents of Prop. 8 who claim to cherish tolerance and civil rights are unabashedly trampling on the rights of others. Protests and boycotts have taken place against a Hispanic restaurant owner in Los Angeles, African American religious leaders in the Bay Area, and a musical theater director in Sacramento, among many others."

Robert Hoehn, vice president of Hoehn Motors in San Diego County, gave $25,000 of his own money to the Yes-on-8 campaign in February. And he called what followed “a really really ugly experience.”

Before the vote, Hoehn said, he he received “dozens and dozens and dozens of really vitriolic messages” and his Honda dealership was picketed.  Since the proposition won, he said, he has received a few messages and phone calls denouncing his support for the measure.

It started with a handful of restaurants including L.A. institution El Coyote, where one of the owners contributed money to the "Yes on 8" campaign. Gay-rights activists have threatened a boycott, but the owners say so far they have not noticed a drop in business. The restaurants targeted include chains such as El Pollo Loco, Burger King, Outback Steakhouse, Yard House and more.

There is now chatter about a "gay day off," in which activists would simply not buy anything.

--Cara Mia DiMassa, Tami Adbollah and Shelby Grad

Photo: No on Prop 8 supporters protest at L.A. restaurant El Coyote.  Lori Shepler/Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Lamotte]

I am a prop 8 supporter, a black male, and a arm citizen. I went to the poll and cast a legal vote in favor of prop 8. Now, the gay rights movement is threatning our churches and community. We are ready for you. You bring the noise to us, noise you WILL get back in return. I especially didn't like the fact that some gay people assaulted a female senior citizen. We ARE prepared to deal with you should you decide to come in our community and threaten to vandalize our churches. This is fair warning.

[busytimmy]

So Lamotte, we are supposed to smile nicely and fade away after we are stripped of our equality in the state of California? We are sick and tired of God and the bible being used to oppress gay Americans. Don't you remember a time in the not so distant past when that happened to you? You can keep the lies taught about gay folks in your church and home, you should not use the ballot box to deny freedom to others. I suggest you remember James Baldwin and Bayard Rustin, two black gay men who fought for your civil rights. Fair warning to you!

[toni]

This has NOTHING TO DO WITH A CHURCH, BUT THE PROPONENTS OF PROP 8 CERTAINLY MADE IT THAT WAY.

How dare they use tolerance as a weapon. People should never tolerate being discriminated against. If it was a black man being discriminated against we would have RIOTS ON THE STREETS. WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE RIOTS OF RODNEY KING. No buildings have burned.

How dare you. We are ready for you too, in court. We will never stop fighting for equality under the law.

[Merdaud]

you are free to support your cause. But know that when Gay people where being sent to Concentration camps in Germany along with the Jews, it was people like you who looked the other way. YES, WE WERE SENT TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS. YES, people like you thought we wer sub-human and did not deserve to exist.

Do not try to use isolated incidents to justify you bigotry and hate. I almost have more sympathy for individuals who have never felt discrimination to be ignorant enough to cast a vote for prop 8. But as an African American, you should be ashamed.

[Zach]

"We ARE prepared to deal with you should you decide to come in our community...This is fair warning."

As a side note, this sounds like the not-so-veiled threats that MLK faced. How ironic. Sick, sad, and ironic.

[Merdaud]

you are free to support your cause. But know that when Gay people were being sent to Concentration camps in Germany along with the Jews, it was people like you who looked the other way. YES, WE WERE SENT TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS. YES, people like you thought we wer sub-human and did not deserve to exist.

Do not try to use isolated incidents to justify you bigotry and hate. I almost have more sympathy for individuals who have never felt discrimination to be ignorant enough to cast a vote for prop 8. But as an African American, you should be ashamed.

[TR]

I am black and I am ashed that black religious leaders supported prop 8 in such large numbers. After all, in an earlier time it was the Bible that was used to justify our enslaving and our second class citizenship. I am straight, but I also feel that nobody has the right to tell others what rights they should or should not have....particularly when it doesn't affect them. 50 percent of straight marriages end in divorce, so it's not like there is any moral authority there.

[Tired justice-seeker]

Okay, the both of you, take a deep breath and sit down. Really. "Fair warning" posturing, fighting words: all that will get all of us absolutely no where. Says a Northern California white lesbian who voted and organized against 8.

Really. All these Civil Rights leaders we're citing (pro and con 8) would be ashamed for us all. From Bayard to James to Martin. To Coretta, who stood with LGBT people on this fight. They showed us all an example. Let's work on following it.

[Taliesin]

Lamotte, it would sound as if you may be about to "reap as you have sown." If you practice hate and discrimination, you should not be surprised if it comes back to you. You want to force your religious beliefs on the rest of the world and you have sought to do so by altering the constitution of CA and violating the Constitution of the United States. Have you ever heard of the separation of Church and State? Have you ever heard of freedom and justice for all? The passage of Prop 8 was all about hate, bigotry and discrimination.

[bill]

i supported 8, i am boycotting business that support no on prop 8, it works both ways

[Carol]

Organizing a boycott is not a trampling of the boycottee's civil rights.

This is an issue for the courts to decide. I'd hate to see misegination (sp?) put to the vote today. I bet there are an awful lot of people who think interracial marriage is a sin. But that's not up for the people to decide. It's for the courts.

[Dew]

While I am not gay, I do support the gay communities effort to boycott businesses who's owners supported Prop 8. I do not agree with vandalizing churches or private property; however, one DOES have the right to protest and boycott whomever they see fit. So, those owners who supported Prop 8 are getting their just desserts.

[NH]

Lamotte, let's remember that boycotts and protests are NOT the same as assault. I do not recall any gay people assaulting anybody.

[Rich]

Lamotte, you think we're going away? You think we're going to sit down while you strip away our rights? Think again, buddy.

You don't have a lock on the term "civil rights" nor will we allow your hateful supporters to pigeonhole us as bigots ourselves. We have every right -- every responsibility -- to boycott hateful businesses, and to boycott hateful churches.

We will fight. We will win.

[sue]

Yes please make that list available of businesses the no on prop 8 will boycott, I will support those businesses that supportred yes on 8. I have lots of $ to spend

[norco]

Where I live churches have been vandalized. Protests continue and grow angrier. For the second time in less than 7 years, lawsuits are being prepared to overthrow the voter's desire. Citizens make up society and our citizens have not denied legal rights to gays. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are one thing, but marriage is part of our socio-cultural makeup. Intimidation, litigation, and outright bullying is what's happening. The Calif. Bar Assn. put a million dollars in the fight against 8 because they KNEW the bullies and litagators would not rest until homosexuality is taught in our schools and employers are afraid not to hire a transsexual for fear of lawsuits. The fanitic wing of the gay rights movement has taken over.

[Dew]

While I am not gay, I do support the gay communities effort to boycott businesses who's owners supported Prop 8. I do not agree with vandalizing churches or private property; however, one DOES have the right to protest and boycott whomever they see fit. So, those owners who supported Prop 8 are getting their just desserts.

[Critically Thinking]

Actually, Mr. Prentice, it's not trampling anybody's rights by protesting and chosing not to patronize organizations that contributed to the Yes on 8 campaign...that's one freedom we do still have, and we will exercise it.

[David]

The Times should talk. On every issue except for education they have been on the wrong side. Because of that, people have been boycotting the paper since 2001 and they are now down to 730,000 subscribers.

[YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS]

i'm glad to hear this. time to pull out all the stops. so proud.

[Chris]

It really makes me laugh every time I read someone comparing the struggles of blacks for equality to that of homosexuals. Last I checked blacks cannot wake up one morning and say to themselves, "hmm I am tired of being black, I think I will be Asian today". However, a gay person can do just that. They can wake up one day and decide to no longer be gay or at the very least make it so no one knows they are gay. Can a black person hide being black or change the color of their skin on a whim?

Beyond that being black is not immoral.

[frank]

lamotte is funny! The black trannys on Polk st. are scarier than lamotte. 'a gay day off'. how about 'a gay month off'. I have already started, I'm buying food from local gay friendly farmers markets

[scott]

I have been fighting against Prop 8 since day 1, and have no intention of stopping this fight. However, I think boycotting is the absolute WRONG way to go. Boycotting is a tactic that the hate-mongering supporters of Prop 8 used. It is intimidation. It is using hate and anger to fight...hate and intolerance. We need to rise above that. We ARE better than the self-righteous proponents of Prop 8.

You are free as an American to teach hate and bigotry in your church. Your church has absolutely NO place in my/your/our government!!!

[dino]

Yeah, and I think we should vote to send blacks back to Africa. How'd that feel?

I'll bet if there was a vote after the Civil War, you'd be posting your ignorance from Kenya or some place. We might even be able to win that vote now.

[Joshua Cohen]

The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to vote. However, no where does it say there would not be repercussions for exercising these rights.

Aside from thew few acts of violence and vandalism that have occurred (nothing, by the way, compared to the race riots of the 60s and 70s), no one's civil rights have been violated by boycotting individuals and organizations that supported Proposition 8.

However, it can be argued that by supporting Proposition 8, the civil rights of approximately 4 millions members of the California LGBT community have been violated and the status of nearly 20,000 families put in jeopardy.

For anyone to think that the LGBT community would simply accept this travesty is simply naive.

[Dan W.]

"This is fair warning."

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

Nobody was assaulted, Lamotte. And consider yourself warned. We are not afraid of bigots anymore.

[Chris]

It really makes me laugh every time I read someone comparing the struggles of blacks for equality to that of homosexuals. Last I checked blacks cannot wake up one morning and say to themselves, "hmm I am tired of being black, I think I will be Asian today". However, a gay person can do just that. They can wake up one day and decide to no longer be gay or at the very least make it so no one knows they are gay. Can a black person hide being black or change the color of their skin on a whim?

Beyond that being black is not immoral.

[Joshua Cohen]

The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to vote. However, no where does it say there would not be repercussions for exercising these rights.

Aside from thew few acts of violence and vandalism that have occurred (nothing, by the way, compared to the race riots of the 60s and 70s), no one's civil rights have been violated by boycotting individuals and organizations that supported Proposition 8.

However, it can be argued that by supporting Proposition 8, the civil rights of approximately 4 millions members of the California LGBT community have been violated and the status of nearly 20,000 families put in jeopardy.

For anyone to think that the LGBT community would simply accept this travesty is simply naive.

[Joshua Cohen]

The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to vote. However, no where does it say there would not be repercussions for exercising these rights.

Aside from thew few acts of violence and vandalism that have occurred (nothing, by the way, compared to the race riots of the 60s and 70s), no one's civil rights have been violated by boycotting individuals and organizations that supported Proposition 8.

However, it can be argued that by supporting Proposition 8, the civil rights of approximately 4 millions members of the California LGBT community have been violated and the status of nearly 20,000 families put in jeopardy.

For anyone to think that the LGBT community would simply accept this travesty is simply naive.

[Joshua Cohen]

The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to vote. However, no where does it say there would not be repercussions for exercising these rights.

Aside from thew few acts of violence and vandalism that have occurred (nothing, by the way, compared to the race riots of the 60s and 70s), no one's civil rights have been violated by boycotting individuals and organizations that supported Proposition 8.

However, it can be argued that by supporting Proposition 8, the civil rights of approximately 4 millions members of the California LGBT community have been violated and the status of nearly 20,000 families put in jeopardy.

For anyone to think that the LGBT community would simply accept this travesty is simply naive.

[James Philip]

I am a Californian who happens to be straight and I voted NO on Proposition 8. The California Supreme Court rightly decided that under constitutional equal protection principles, gay couples could marry in the state. For some irrational reason, some citizens of this state and interests outside this state decided to take away fundamental constitutional rights from gay California citizens. The equal protection clause must and should override the ugly tyranny of these "deciders" who think they are entitled to strip away constitutional rights based on nothing but a ridiculous delusion that they are God's people. I am so sickened by the pure animus and petty hate of these folks who think they are members of some straight masterclass. I think a boycott is an appropriate action because its non-violent protest against such a shameful part of our culture. No eating at El Coyote.

[Sony]

Yeah, well lets vote on making everyone else second-class citizens by giving partial rights. I'm pretty sure that would justify evernthing. Oh yeah! Lets see all the "yes" on 8 people scream and fight! Hahaha And we CALL THIS THIS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY AND EQUALITY! What a silly idea...

Feel the sarcasm?

Hope so.

We'll Fight till we win.

NO ON 8

[Fernando]

I am a straight Latino male who grew up in South L.A. and now live in Downtown L.A. and voted against hate on Nov 4th, which included a vote for Sen. Barack Obama and a 'NO' vote on 8. People have the right to protest for discriminative grievances weather real or perceived. As a minority, I find it very troubling and offensive when people, who share the minority status with me, argue that the voters have spoken and therefore the "Equal Protection of the Law" no longer need apply to the marriage equality issue. REMEMBER, we, all minorities, Latino, Black, Women etc have FOUGHT, STRUGGLED, CRIED and DIED IN THE NAME OF EQUALITY. Religion has nothing to do with it, civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions, and this is an equal rights issue. I expect to get the same protections under the law as my fellow gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and they should not expect anything less. Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination.

A great man once said, "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total, of all those acts will be written the history of this generation." -Robert F. Kennedy

So March on, boycott and raise money for the fight for equality and remember to keep naming those organizations, businesses and individuals who want to keep discrimination as part of our social fabric. Remember, "E Pluribus Unum", Out of Many, One...

[Vic Ferra]

What discrimination did gays faced in this Country? Nothing! If you want to talk about Hilter then go to Germany. There hasn't been any discrimination against gays in this country. Perhaps you were picked on in public schools. But everyone got picked on in school. I got picked on, and I'm not gay, but I got over it. Most straight people don't care what you do in the closet. It becomes a problem when you flaunt it in the open like the Gay parade and such. It is totally disgusting. And you want kids to be exposed to that kind of perversion? That is totally sick! I want you all to do an experiment tonight. Try to plug in an appliance but make sure the male end goes with the male end and the female end goes with the female end. See what will happen...

[Joeblowbama]

I am proud of our new president-elect. He gets it, just like the voters of California. If you "No onH8" people don't stop your gay cracker-ass hate attacks on blacks, Latinos, Catholics and Mormons we've got a man in the White House!....
"Although Barack Obama has said that he supports civil unions, he is against gay marriage. In an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."
"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."
Sources: Chicago Daily Tribune, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

[Vic Ferra]

I am organizing people who supported Prop 8 to stop seeing Brad Pits and Steven Spielberg movies. We will stop patronizing all Gay friendly buisness. Two can play this game.

[Joe Seefus]

I like Ron Prentice. He is obviously very religious and a hypocrite. He stated "Tragically, some opponents of Prop. 8 who claim to cherish tolerance and civil rights are unabashedly trampling on the rights of others." Here is some news for you Ron. You and your group just showed everyone that you cherish intolerance, have no use for civil rights and that it is okay to trample on the rights of others. All this and you seem a bit puzzled by the action of some people who oppose you and your group? Do you truly have no grasp of reality? When in mankind's history has a group of people been oppressed, their basic civil rights taken away from them by the religious right, and that group has not retaliated against their oppressors?

[Jah Kohl]

This issue is DEAD. Respect the mandate and if you don't like it, then move to another state that recognizes same gender union.

Channel that angst and be more productive. There are other issues that deserve more attention: global warming, fake bailout of wall street, $ trillion war, etc.

[Reality Check]

Dishonesty breeds dishonesty. The day these folks who cannot call themselves what they claim to be "Homosexuals", can stand with pride and say to the world I AM HOMOSEXUAL, and not hide behind a nicer sounding word, GAY, then they will be taken seriously. Since you cannot even be honest with yourself about what you are, then how can you be expected to present an honest argument for your right to do anything. You already have the rights that Bayard Rustin, etc fought for . You have all the same rights that the Constitution provides for every citizen. Your cause has nothing to do with withholding any rights, nothing to do with civil rights, and to claim other wise is dishonest and offensive to those who gave their lives, blood sweat and tears to change unjust laws. You can marry whomever you choose. Take a look in the mirror, you rights start with the person in the mirror. You should join forces with the Illegal immigrants, you cause is more closly aligned with theirs. Stop broadcasting what you do in the privacy of your own.

[Taliesin]

If anyone is interested the Sacramento Bee has a database that names names of the donations given to Prop 8, both for and against. I found my boss' name there, not a total surprise as he is Mormon, but still something of a shock for someone who would have you believe he doesn't tolerate hate or discrimination in the workplace. I guess outside the workplace is another matter.

[LawStudent]

Norco,

Churches should never be vandalized. That is wrong. But I wonder how you'd feel if it were white churches that supported segregation being vandalized. Would you have the same sense of indignation?

And you also don't understand why "separate but equal" was struck down as discriminatory. When you have two seating areas in the same restaurant, one for blacks and one for whites, where the same food is served by the same staff - they are getting "equal" service. The only reason to separate them was based on race, and while each race was getting "equal" service, the very fact that there was any need to separate the races at all demonstrated that one race was viewed as being inferior to the other.

The same thing is happening today. Gay people and heteros might be offered the same "equal" package of civil rights, but the very fact that you would distinguish between allowing one group marriage and another group civil unions means that gay people are inherently viewed as inferior. That's why denying gay people the legal right to marry the partner of their choice (which is the language used by the US Supreme Ct and the Calif Supreme Ct) is unconstitutional and wrong.

[BIGDADDYSTHOUGHTS]

Everyone needs to get a grip! If gay people want to be legally married have at it.Those who chose to go down the marriage road have the right to find out on their own marriage ain't what its all cracked up to be!

[JOSE]

Let me get this straight. If you are part of a minority, you should not be able to vote for what you believe in because it might offend another minority. That is a ridiculous as complaining about boycotts. Everyone is just exercising their rights.

I agree on the main principle of Prop 8 but it was badly written. That is why I voted no on 8 even though I do not believe gays should not be married in MY church. I think is morally wrong but I will not force my religious beliefs on anyone. What happen to separation of church and state. EVERYONE should have the legal right to have a CIVIL UNION but MARRIAGE should be left to religious institutions.

[Phil]

Please post a list of businesses that supported Prop. 8 so I know where not to shop. Citizens who support freedom and equality for all, please vote with your dollars until equality is restored. Thank you.

[yfan]

It's appalling to hear about the Mormon Church complaining about being singled out. They should have thought of that before they singled out LGBT Americans to discriminate against and put that in law. Tough luck. The accusations of violence are mostly lies, and where it has happened, is not condoned by the vast majority of our community. But we are not simply going to give up and go away. If you gave money to pass Prop 8, that's your democratic right, but it is OUR democratic right to boycott your business, expose your name from the public donor database. You are not the only ones with democratic rights.

Oh, and anyone who thinks Prop 8 was democracy needs to think again. It wasn't. It was mob rule. The rights of a minority should NEVER be subject to the whims of a majority. When it is, it's called mob rule, not democracy. Democracy is not simply majority rule. It is also the protection of the rights of all minorities, regardless of what the majority thinks. That's why courts exist.

[slashcom1]

I can think of so many other ways - better and more productive ways - that Hoehn could have put that money toward.

It must be nice to have $25,000 available to just donate away like that.

Seems like the business owners who made the largest contributions to Yes on 8 are the ones who are most worried about being targeted for a boycott.

Prop 8 made suckers out of them with their deceptive ads and lies about "protecting their children" from learning about same-sex marriage in school..

Guess what? All those kids had signed parental permission slips to go on that field trip to their teacher's wedding.

Your children saw the "frightening" Yes on 8 ads on TV at home. And in school they learn about history, the Constitution and "liberty and justice for ALL."

You shot yourselves in the foot.

DEFEAT PROP 8!

[Kevin]

I think its Ironic that supporters of Prop 8 were calling and threatening to expose the supporters of No On 8 if they didn't contribute to the Yes on 8 campaign. You can't talk from both sides of your mouth.
NO ONE HAS ASSAULTED ANY CHURCHES OTHER THAN PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AND NO ONE HAS ASSAULTED SENIOR CITIZENS.
STOP SPREADING LIES TO PROVOKE MORE HATRED AND BIGOTRY.
We are asking for equal rights and won't stop until we get them and WE WILL GET THEM. TRUST!
The government and the constitution of the United States is intentionally set up to protect the rights of the minority, and the constitution will prevail.
The Supreme Court has already ruled that it is outright discrimination and against the California Constitution.
Just because the Yes on 8 won by a narrow 3-4 % margin does not mean that you can oppress others. This has already been settled by the California Supreme Court and will be settled once again.
History will tell who is right!
Please don't threaten us we are your brothers and sisters asking for the same rights any other law abiding, tax paying citizen enjoys.

[Kurt Thomas]

Someone should look into how much the Mormons and their allies i.e. Saddleback Church, Black churches in LA, spent this year on the REAL enemies of the family (poverty, lack of education, spousal/substance abuse, and marriage counseling/divorce.)

Something tells me it pales in comparison to the time, energy and money spent on Prop 8 - further proving that this was never about saving marriage but rather keeping gays in their place.

?????

[Steve J]

There is a simple solution to this problem. There should be a two step process to a marriage. Let the state give everyone a civil union license that wants to be a legal couple. Let the churches give a marriage license that follows the religious beliefs of that church. There is no need to deny Gays the same rights that all legal couples have. There is also no need to redefine marriage or try to change the religious beliefs of a church.

[Clint]

Gee Lamotte... as a black man I would have thought you would understand the vicious sting of segregation and discrimination. Guess all those lessons were lost on you and African Americans who think like you. You may say that our experiences are different... but that is ONLY if you are naive enough to believe the stupidity that gay people chose to be gay... just like African Americans we are discriminated against for something we cannot help. Biology made you the color you are and made me the gay man I am. Case closed.

[Erik]

Mr. Prentice, I'm sure your carefully worded statement, in which you even managed to play the "race card", will fool some, but anyone with half a brain can see right through your lack of logic. First, how does "cherish(ing) tolerance and civil rights" conflict with peaceful protests of businesses with whom we strongly disagree on an important topic? Let's remember that discrimination in the south was fought--peacefully--with boycotts against the bus line, stores, and other organizations who sought to deny people their civil rights and their dignity. Second, don't you think the word "tragically" should be reserved for events like natural disasters, murders, and child abuse? And lastly, for now, why was it important for you to mention that a targeted restaurant owner is Hispanic and that targeted religious leaders is African-American? If these individuals wish to discriminate or deny someone civil rights, I don't really care what color their skin is--they are bigots and haters, and I don't wish to line their pockets or further their causes. (Clarence Thomas, Albert Gonzales, and Alan Keyes are just a few examples that prove fools can come in any color.)

[pink triangle]

yeah, right... like these business owners are going to admit when they lose money from a boycott.

[Christopher]

It's utter laughable to hear religious leaders cry over boycotts by supporters of equal rights after so many years of them calling for boycotts of companies who are supportive of equal rights.

Get used to it bigots (religious, racial, ignorant, whatever). Your days of imposing your beliefs on the rest of us are over. We won't stop until we are afforded the same equality that you have all gained over the years, much of the time with the court's intervention (because GOD knows that the will of the majority ain't all it's stacked up to be).

[Concrned]

Here's what I don't understand. Twice this issue has been brought to the voters and the poepl have spoken. It appears as if democracy has worked and yet you people can not understand that??? I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion and you can not belittle people for supporting something they thought was right, by doing so you are showing yourselves to be intolerant. In the end these attacks will only alienate the voting public even more so go ahead with your little protests and boycotts they'll get you NOWHERE.

[amelia]

Homophobia is ALWAYS the LAST oppression to be mentioned, talked about or taken seriously. Now lets talk grass roots organizing, and how it failed so badly in CA. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and HRC...all these elitist activists are crying about losing and blaming the LATINOS AND BLACKS. THAT IS CRAZY..THEY DIDNT EVEN CAMPAIGN TO PEOPLE OF COLOR. ALL OF THEIR CAMPAIGN LITERATURE WAS IN ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!They alienated the brown vote, this is coming from a Latina lesbian, born and raised in LA. I am flying from my new home in NYC to LA tomorrow so I can march on Saturday.all oppression is equal.
"As a mestiza, i have no country. my homeland casts me out;yet all countries are mine because i am every woman's sister or potential lover. As a lesbian i have no race, my own people disclaim me;but i am all races because there is the queer of me in all races." -Gloria Anzaldua, La Frontera/Borderlands

[Eliezer]

How can a boycott possibly win support for gay marraige? How will a "gay day off" change the minds of those who voted for prop 8? Intimidation is the worst thing that No on 8 supporters can resort to. It's easier to draw flies with honey than with vinegar.

The last time I checked, gays in the US were never enslaved, lynched in droves, denied the right to vote or own property, or forced to live in segragation, so for No on 8 supporters to equate gay marraige to the African American struggle for civil rights is embarrassing. Gays have no idea what it really means to be treated as a second class citizen.

The extermination of gays in the Holocaust was horrible, but this is the United States, not Nazi Germany. Being sent to the gas chamber and being denied the ability to redefine marraige are not in the same ballpark.

[Harold]

What will strike you, Lamotte, is a velvet glove. We will use our economic clout to react to those who treated us with intolerance. By the way, what is an "arm citizen"???

[Tom]

Out of interest, does anyone know where I can find a list of businesses that gave money to OPPOSE Prop 8 so that I, and THE MAJORITY OF CALIFORNIANS, know which businesses to avoid? The kids are not getting iPods this year thanks to Apple's support for the No on 8 loonies.

The gay lobby needs to realize that TWICE Californians have said no to gay marriage. Californians did not say no to equal rights. We did not say no to same sex pension beneficiaries. In fact, this state actively discriminates against unmarried, cohabiting heterosexual couples. It takes them 7 years to get the rights that gays get in one year (or less).

Grow up and go home!

[Tem_DC]

CA Family Code 297.5 says there is already equality... period. Death benefits, child custody benefits, everything equal to spouses. READ IT FOR YOURSELF

CA Education code 51890 has the word marriage, enabling schools to teach as young as kindergartners about marriage responsibility. Some schools are teaching more than marriage responsibility they are teaching the dynamics and gender orientation of the parents. This is beyond marriage responsibility. And it impedes upon the religious freedom First Amendment right of the parent. There isn't any "opt out" language. READ IT FOR YOURSELF

Elton John said it nicely in an interview with NBC this morning. He said if the word marriage wasn't being used the people wouldn't be upset. He has been happily united with his partner in civil union since 2005. He doesn't want to get married. You guys could benefit if you'd follow one of your own.

Also, relating this to the plight of interracial marriage is stupid. The couple didn't have equality under another name to use - eg civil domestic union. They had to fight.

Lastly, marriage isn't a civil right. And as such the gay community isn't being denied a civil right. Show me where in the declaration of independence, Constitution, Gettysburg address, ANYWHERE where marriage is cited as a civil right.

[Irritated]

I'm straight - yet totally against Prop 8. I could care less about marriage as an institution.

This was a stupid piece of legislation that should have never constitutionally gotten off the ground. I fail to see how a Secular state, with mixed religious beliefs, would accept an enforcement from one particular religious faith upon the rest of us. It's appalling.

What's next - no booze on Sunday? Women can't drive? Can't work? Only reputable Christians can be hired somewhere? All because some bible-thumping moron with $20 million in his pocket thinks it's "immoral"? Give me a break.

As for Church leaders complaining about being protested - ah well - If you don't want people in your yard - stay out of everyone else's.

Let's see how generous I get next time some plea goes out for restoration work or something.

[SteveJJ]

I suppose that since the California Teachers Union, AT&T and PG&E contributed to the No on 8 campaign, that I should not send my kids to school, cancel my telephone and internet and electricity and gas. Please people, grow up. You lost the election fair and square. Go home and get over it.

[Allison]

I think gays should have the same rights as everyone else but I am not sure that this is about "rights". Why should gays care about the institution of marriage and not stive for something real? Isn't it just a piece of paper in the end? What's really important is the love and the relationship itself. Maybe we shouldn't want to fit in the box that society has built for us. Why don't we live by our own laws and own understandings? I am all for equal rights and I can care less about having the word "marriage" just for the sake of argument.

[amelia]

As a Latina lesbian, i've been doing some serious soul searching and thinking about all this. I am sick of this hierarchy of oppression. There is so much divisive language going in here amongst minorities and the LGBTQ community.
we are all disenfranchised, we are all struggling for representation.

For people of color to put their struggle above the struggle of LGBTQ people is so problematic. I am the daughter of an immigrant from Mexico.Am i supposed to put my Latino/immigration struggle ABOVE that of my struggle to marry my fiance?

No. I am sick and tired of the homophobia that prevails in the Latino and Black communities, and WHITE and EVERY culture!

Homophobia is ALWAYS the LAST oppression to be mentioned, talked about or taken seriously.

So let me get it straight. Should i have to wait for the day that straight African Americans are going to be treated equal to white heterosexual christian men (the elite who run the world), before I can have equal rights? I will be waiting a lifetime before the majority gives up their power.

Racism prevails in every culture. Latinos and blacks are murdering each other at alarming rates in Los Angeles everyday. Brown on Brown killings.

So do i have to wait for the day that all brown people are skipping down their streets holding hands before I can get married?

To the undereducated BIGOTS who lack culture, I DIDNT CHOOSE TO BE QUEER. BUT I AM PROUD THAT I AM... GO GET SOME CULTURE AND AN EDUCATION. STOP THE HATE!!!!!!!!

[Brad O.]

These clowns are just making me even more confident that voting Yes on 8 was the right choice. It is obvious to me which side houses the real bigots. What a bunch of hypocrites. From their actions, it seems that they are trying to convince more people to be against them rather than.

I have absolutely no sympathy or respect for No on 8 people that cry bigotry and hate in a sorry attempt to manipulate people.

[Alex]

I am organizing all No on 8 supporters to stop buying ELTON JOHN'smusic. He went on the record as saying that gays should be content with civil unions and marraige should be for heterosexuals only:

"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," John says. "You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

ELTON JOHN IS AGAINST GAY MARRAIGE! LET'S BOYCOTT HIS MUSIC!!!

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

[andrea]

The good people of Alabama would NEVER have voted to desegregate their school system. If the WILL OF THE PEOPLE had its way, mixed-race marriages would still be illegal and CA schools would still segregate white, Latino and Asian students.

[Richard Cortijo]

We ALL deserve equal treatment under the law! yes on 8 is just plain HATE! Anyone that voted for 8 knows why they did it in their hearts...it was simply to discriminate against another group of citizens that they knew were out numbered. All African Americans ask your Grandfathers if they liked being oppresssed by the majority not too long ago and their rights taken away.

Keep fighting till we overturn it! NO ON 8!!!

[Margit]

You gotta love the African American religious folks who use the Bible to support their opposition to gays and gay marriage.

Clue to the clueless: The Bible condones slavery. Repeatedly.

[Jason]

Where's the similar outrage over fundamental farming and business rights taken away by Prop 2, that's what I wanna know?

[Steve]

Post a list of businesses that support Prop. 8 and I will give them more business.
Also post the list of no on 8 supporters so I know where to avoid. Every politician that rails against the will of California voters is on the list to be terminated from the public dole. Get a real job. Again, marriage is not a right, but a privilege and simply being allowed to exist does not grant privilege.

[Matt]

A lot of people on the Yes side seem confused about a central point here: Legal marriage in California is a CIVIL process, not a religious process. Marriage licenses are given out by the STATE, not by any church. Marriages performed in a church, synagogue, etc. by a religious leader are not recognized as legal unless they are accompanied by a marriage license issued by the STATE government. No church or religious leader was EVER required to perform a marriage CEREMONY for gay people in California. The Supreme Court ruling NEVER required churches or religious leaders to perform marriage CEREMONIES for gay people. It just required the STATE to issue marriage LICENSES to gay people. Prop 8 now prohibits the STATE from giving marriage licenses to gay people, which is taking away a CIVIL right. This has nothing to do with religious rights, since Churches and religious leaders were NEVER required to do anything differently than they ever did. That is because churches perform marriage CEREMONIES, but they do not give out marriage LICENSES, which is what makes a marriage legal in California.

[mv]

AHHHHH HAHAHAHAHHA!!! 'gay day off'. how friggin hilarious!!!! what will it think of next?

[andrea]

Brilliant solution, Steve. I opposed Prop 8, but I agree that this would give everyone equal legal rights while letting organized religions continue to define marriage in whatever way they see fit.

[Rich]

So Lamotte, if I'm reading between the lines correctly, are you threatening to shoot people since you said you are armed? that's frightening and should probably be reported to the police by the LA Times.

[In gods country]

Hello all gay couples,Protesting and boycotting a person or company's right to support a issue is just discrimination,If your parents were GAY you wouldn't be hear, you are sick people who are in my mind perverted. I will sue the gay community if they ever get a right to marry in CA for bringing the Aids epidemic to us !!! I use to tolerate and now I will get involved in the ANTI GAY MOVEMENT !!! You guys lost fair and square get over it I voted for McCain and I now lay my support Obama for he will need complete support of the people to get his job done...Their are more anti gay people than gay supporters you guys are going to keep pissing us off and then you will find your rights right out the FCN door!

[Jim]

The position of protectmarriage.com is hysterical when you remember that this is the organization that attempted to extort money out of businesses by threatening to "out" them as no-on-8 donors and exposing them to BOYCOTTS...

[Xochitl]

Work places are so diverse that by boycotting a company you may be causing someone to lose their job and that someone may be on your side (pro or con).

This topic seems so out of hand. It seems to me that Elton John had it right when he commented on the topic, but I guess that despite being homosexual, he will now be added to the 'no on 8' boycott list.

[Pete]

Thanks for publishing these business names. I will be sure to take my family to all of the businesses which supported Prop. 8. You will lose zero business from the gay men.

[Eliezer]

Alan Hamilton,

So, you support the murder of 70% of blacks in the state of California? Wow, you're more tolerant than I thought.

Oh, by the way, until a few years ago, no cilvilization in recorded history has had marraige defined to be anything other than a man and a woman... so while you're at it, run over the 60 billion or so people that have lived on planet earth for the last 10,000 years.

[Bernard]

Wow. America never ceases to amaze me. I just have one question, why is it that in America, heterosexuals are OBSESSED with homosexuality? Everywhere else in the "civilized" world, there is a separation between church and state, and anyone can get married (by the state), church weddings can be had, but both kinds get the same rights, and nobody gives a ?@!t what someone who is into other things sexually does, provided it's consensual. Only in America, Afghanistan, Iran... places where religious fundamentalists have so much power, do we see these sorts of things, ie. measure 8. There seems to be a perverse obsession with what gays do, so much that the state constitution is altered! These "heterosexuals" who are obsessed with what gays do with their lives need to do some soul searching, and perhaps come out of the closet, before we end up like Iran, Afganistan, ect...

[jakeinla]

Lamotte: There is enough violence amongst yourselves in your own communities. Far more so than we would ever do. If homosexuals came to your neighborhood, it would probably be to do a home-makeover or to clean the place up. Our protests have been fairly peaceful with very few minor altercations. I don't recall the civil rights movement being all Kum Ba Yah.

And to set the record straight. No Senior citizens were attacked. I think it was actually a styrofoam cross that was attacked. Maybe you should stand up for styrofoam rights!

[somebody]

Kurt, I can't speak for Saddleback, but the LDS church has, for decades, run its own welfare program, education programs, and counseling services. It would be difficult to find a church where marriage is taken more seriously - it is a fundamental tenet of the faith. I have also never heard hate for homosexuals preached from our pulpits, only the sad fact that we are bound by the word of God. I wish it wasn't so.

Many of us who voted Yes did so knowing full well this isn't the end. Many of us cast that vote with no hatred in our hearts, but not wanting to pretend that male+male or female+female is the exact same thing as the basic biological unit of male+female. I want equal rights for everybody. But don't ask me to pretend that there is no difference whatsoever between a homosexual and a heterosexual relationship. Somehow, some way, nature made you different, we can't pretend otherwise. That's not hate, that's not bigotry. It's just stating a fact.

Yes, Steve J! Can we please just go Europe-style and have the state handle the civil end and let churches handle the religious end? Let's end the farce of having religious leaders fulfill a civic function.

[Bernard]

Also, the Mormon church stands to lose their non-profit status for financially supporting a ballot measure. I hope being obsessed with what gays do was worth it. Remember that next time you pay tithing.

[John Q. Public]

Lamotte is right. People have the right do have a differing opinion. This is not a rights issue. The state grants licenses to marry, making it a priviledge just like a driver's license. The supreme court overturned the vote beause the Justice said being "married" was a "dignity" that Gays had a right to. Gays should develop Domestic Partnerships into dignified and sanctified Institutions straight people have done with marriage. Stop trying to force your agenda on those that respectfully disagree. What of our right not to want marriage to be redefined as "whatever." Go to the Black Churches to push grandmothers down and you will see many "real" minorities standing together in solidarity. Hmm, maybe the cops will set their dogs on us... Oh, I'm a Bisexual Asian man, not a racist.

[scott]

Vic Ferrera:

That ship has already sailed and you missed the boat. Gay-owned and operated businesses have been targeted for decades. Go ahead and boycott any business that has anything to do with gay people, and you’ll find yourself sitting at home bored and lonely. Gay culture is all around you whether you want to admit it or not. It’s in film, theater, music, fashion, design, and the list could go on and on.

[amelia]

Uncultured, undereducated, religious bigots...i hope all your children are gay.

Poke your heads out of your trailers for one second,and read some books. and please remember that GAY MARRIAGE WAS LEGAL IN CA SINCE JUNE....then the religious Mormon freaks (again, undereducated people), funneled TONS OF MONEY into the state of CA to make sure that all the simpletons and "joe the plumber" types would vote YES on 8...because bigots are easy targets.

Too all the intellectuals, and normal people...IGNORE ALL THESE BIGOTS...homophobia is the first sign of REPRESSED homosexuality...IGNORE their ignorant comments...they have small pathetic lives, and will be sorry when Prop 8 is overturned.

PEACE!

[jason]

InGodsCountry: Wow! So much intolerance, hatred, and ignorance in one little paragraph. Are you a member of the Westborough Baptist Church? Fess up...no? Thank GOD that this country has laws to protect people from ignorant blow hards such as yourself.!

[sameulberg]

"If it was a black man being discriminated against we would have RIOTS ON THE STREETS. WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE RIOTS OF RODNEY KING. No buildings have burned."
Posted by: toni | November 13, 2008 at 12:46 PM

***************************************************

Don't you narcissists realize you are hurting your cause by comparing gay marriages to the plight of minorities' struggle for equal rights? What a bunch of spoiled babies! I guess tolerance towards mankind only applies if mankind agrees with your views. That sounds a little like fascism to me. Prop 8 passed. Try to fight it in court. Heck, send up a referendum in 2010. But don't unfairly target people and businesses who exercised their constitutional right to donate money to a political cause. Just because you disagree with the Pro 8 crowd, you don't have to go a witch hunt and try to banish off all that don't hold your views. This is McCarthyism redux.

[Liz B.]

There's something that needs to pointed out here. Religion does not have the exclusive rights to use the word "marriage".

As defined by Merriam Webster:

the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage b: the mutual relation of married persons : wedlock c: the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage

The key words here, kids, is BY LAW. Not by church. I'm straight and I happened to get married. Amazingly, I didn't get married in a church.

Prop. 8 is an absurd piece of legislature that passed - narrowly - only because the proponents opted to lie and use scare tactics. The beauty of a democracy is that when a piece of trash legislation like this squeaks by, it can be repealed.

Equality for all.

[lee]

There was an excellent LA Times article by a black lesbian activist who revealed a white bias in the no on prop 8 movement. Most of you should read it to gain a new persepctive.

You can't arbitrarily shove every cause under the civil rights banner and expect minorities, many of them church goers, to automatically rally to your side. Gays and lesbians are not segregated in society, they're not told to sit in the back of the bus or separate seats in resturants, nor are they paid any less than straights. A gay Californian in 08 enjoys more freedom than blacks did in the south 50,60 years ago.

The no on prop 8 crowd ran a campaign built on embellishment and out of context parallels to past injustices that rang completely FALSE to most voters. These people had as much as credibilty as the PETA group who likens KFC to German Nazi camps. You lost because you took a page out of Mccain's campaign, basically.

You congratulate and coddle blacks when they serve liberal agendas, but otherwise, you start questioning their judgment? "Blacks who voted against prop 8 should be ran over by a bus twice"? Boy, that's a whole lot of unity and change right there. WE minorities passed prop 8. The white vote alone would have defeated that measure. Yes, continue to badger the kind of people you need to persuade, onto the path of victory!

[ThousandOaksBill]

I voted "no" on Prop 8 but I'm concerned that these protests are bordering on violence. That's the last thing "no" types need to prepare for a second run at the electorate. The battleground of ideas can't turn into a battleground of violence. That's anarchy, counter-productive and in the spirit of zen - will reverse the course of progress.

[HAL]

IF 10 EMPLOYEES OF A COMPANY DONATED TO NO ON 8 AND THE COMPANY'S OWNER DONATED TO YES ON 8, SHOULD THAT COMPANY BE BOYCOTTED BY THE GAY COMMUNITY?

[ron oliver]

oh lamotte give it a rest. nobody assaulted a female senior citizen -- i was there at the rally in palm springs, she's a local, a crazy old broad wielding a styrofoam cross, shoving it into people's faces, screaming about "fidelity" and interrupting speakers at a rally. she was escorted off the premises, and the only damage she sustained was having her wig tilt. your tedious threats notwithstanding, nobody's coming after you or your hateful, archaic church so you can put your gun back under your pillow and rest easy. Keep praying to your make believe god and live your life....the life people like you have insisted on making difficult for your fellow Americans.

[Obama]

The bible is a book of fake stories...there is no proof that god exists. ergo, religious people are basing a large part of their life off of things that never happened for an thing that doesn't exist. all you religious people who think something told you being gay is bad are delusional! wait...i see something written on a tablet in a hat...

[Damion]

The LGBT community has also initiated a California holiday shopping boycott in protest of Prop. 8. The LGBT community and allies are called upon to abstain from purchasing gifts, or accepting purchased gifts, this holiday season.

The "Pink Holidays 2008" protest will highlight the positive social and economic contributions the LGBT community makes in California. Visit www.pinkholidays2008.com for more information.

[Jon R]

A boycott is a great idea. Non-violent, and it hits especially hard when the economy is down. The gay community statistically spends more money on entertainment and luxury items on average. To those who argue discrimination or intolerance, anyone has the right to support a political measure. The flip side of that is anyone has the right to boycott your business.

[Jason]

The idea of boycotting entire businesses because of the actions and beliefs of a few "high ranking employees" and franchise owners is bigoted, sick and vile. These businesses are communities of various individuals with beliefs across the spectrum. Misdirected anger and attacks on group-institutions rather than individuals only makes the boycotters look petty, childish and stupid.

[Chauncy]

You gotta love the African American religious folks who use the Bible to support their opposition to gays and gay marriage.

Clue to the clueless: The Bible condones slavery. Repeatedly.

Posted by: Margit | November 13, 2008 at 01:48 PM
********************************************************************

This board exposes all the racist bigots who don't never read the bible in their entire life. I'm sure Margit picked up that misinformation from a GLB website to use as propaganda. You couldn't begin to understand why African Americans took solace in religion to find hope and inspiration against Margit's relatives that used them as slaves. By the by, it was the work of Christians that helped fight and overcome slavery in America. You might have heard of a certain MLK that is also a Christian that fought for civil rights in the 60's you fool.

[Otto P]

Being a straight man, and voting NO on 8 got me judged by many and even my own girlfriend opposed my thoughts. BUT, as I look at what Gays, Lesbians and supporters have done after the VOTES have been counted, I am kind of regretting I did vote NO. I'm sorry to say, but I'm at freedom of sharing my opinion. I work in Brentwood, and for all of you who have wanted to speak your voice, and want to be heard, thats all fine with me, and support you, but to keep me from getting home to my family because I have to drive through smaller streets because of your walking strikes, its confusing to me. Here you guys are fighting for the right to be free and noticed by state and federal laws, but yet you interefere with everyone elses rights to live in the Nation of Freedom?

To boycott businesses, and newspapers, and whatever else that opposed you and voted YES, its their freedom of decision. For you to say that you are in the same position as black people (I'm Latino by the way), how dare you compare yourself to a WHOLE RACE that had to suffer for years under a slavery and "Whites Only" era, or the daily racial slurs they encounter. I, being a Latino have gotten a lot of benefits from living here and becoming a US citizen. Education, Success, Money, even living in a neighborhood that was known once to be just for white people.......that is a privilege, but I didn't do it by being loud, by scaring others in ruining them if I dont get what I want. I did it in silence and my own hard work.

I feel in my opinion, GAYS have a different kind of "prejudice" judgement, but please don't compare yourself to races, because no matter what, I've never heard of an influential, famous GAY PERSON helping out a minority, so you are lucky that many of us in the minority don't look at that and still support you in your cause, but dont ruin our lives because you are going through what Blacks did for a lot more years then GAYS have, and even us Latinos go through as well.

I support all of you because you have a choice, and me not being religist but believing in God, still believe that any marriage should be acceptable by law, because ones beliefs (religion) should not decide the whole nations law. Whether it was Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve, that shouldn't be taken as a rule of thumb for the whole population. LOVE is blind, and not just by color (race), but also by sex (male or female or both).

Try showing your intelligence, your success, your knowledge, dedication, heart, even your love for one another towards others outside your GAY world, and I guarantee you, you will be accepted. Its an uphill battle, but like you tell the African Americans, its something they worked hard to get, well, remember, GAYS haven't been around (meaning publicly in masses) as long as minorities have been, but you will get that equality sooner or later, just don't ruin other peoples lives and businesses because of it. The economy is in the can already, why make it worse, than imagine all the articles that will come out because you boycotted businesses, and because of it, jobs were lost, even employees that voted NO for you....do you want GAYS to have negative or positive PRESS???? Save these attitudes/powers of dedication and hard work and use them towards fighting the judicial system and the government, rather than waste your time showing the nation what AWFUL things you can do to others!!! Show a positive image, not a negative one!!

[Bruce]

To those militant No on "8" supporters. Please get your facts straight before you go launching into ignorant hysterics.
No one, nor any law took your rights away. Homosexuals have never had the right to be married, neither by law nor decree.
You have the free speech to voice your opposition but as soon as you name call, hate-speech, disfigure and deface property you are displaying your true colors and the hypocrisy of your tolerance agenda.
Your militant actions now are setting back your efforts years maybe decades. The Yes on "8" vote was a defense of marriage more than a rejection of homosexuality. When you learn that you will be able to make progress again in your fight for understanding. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.