Proposition 8 inspires star-studded musical

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

The Proposition 8 battle has prompted a star-studded music video that is available at the website Funny or Die.

Written by Marc Shaiman and directed by Adam Shankman, the piece shows gay marriage backers and foes debating the issue in song against the backdrop of a Sacramento community college theater. John C. Reilly and Allison Janney lead the gay marriage foes -- all dressed in dark Sunday-best suits. The anti-Prop. 8 crowd includes Neil Patrick Harris and Andy Richter.

The musical begins with the gay marriage supporters singing about "a brand new bright Obama day.... Happy days for the gays." The anti forces then move in, singing: "Nobody's looking, let's spread the hate ... Proposition 8!"

Jack Black then appears as Jesus, who takes part in some mediation. By the end of the video, everyone seems to oppose Prop. 8 (in part because of the lawyers and tattoo removal required to end those same-sex marriages).

The video posted just recently. Early reviews?

Gawker: "This reminds us how smart Obama was to keep celebrities from too-vocally supporting him.... Because usually they seem really obnoxious and do more to aggravate than they do to inure. Oh, plus the music sucks."

Playbill has some of the cast names: The "Proposition 8'ers and The People That Follow Them" include John C. Reilly as Prop 8 Leader; Allison Janney as Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife; Kathy Najimy as Prop 8 Leader's #2 Wife; Jenifer Lewis as Riffing Prop 8'er; Craig Robinson as A Preacher; and Rashida Jones, Lake Bell and Sarah Chalke as Scary Catholic School Girls From Hell.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[Tyrone]

The attempt by the gay rights groups to equate the Leviticus admonition against eating shell fish, which has no penalty for violating, with the Leviticus list of forbidden sexual acts that Leviticus explicitly list death for violating (incest, homosexuality, bestiality), shows just how dishonest the gay rights group promoting this are.

[Sergio]

Quite Frankly: This whole argument is rediculous. Gay's have nothing more than an illness which they are trying to impose on normal people. Knock it off, you want to visit your friend in the hospital go ahead, you want to buy property together, go ahead, you want your rights have them. Just stop trying to cram your way of life down normal peoples throat.

[Jack D. Ripper]

Well, the GAYSTAPO, can scream, shout, call me BIGOT.............It's all good, Attack Christianity, you only show your true colors. And it ain't PINK Baby. It is NAZI RED. I don't agree, and stand by my Faith, attack my faith, my Religion, my "Family Structure". It is all good. God Bless.

[Julie]

I am a christian, and I accept ALL people. I don't see why other people don't.

[I contribute to society, please contribute back.]

Good video, yes on the fringe and in the face of the religious right but hey, it caught their attention so I guess it accomplished something.

I'm 23 year old homosexual male with a masters degree in chemistry from SDSU.

I work 60 hours a week as a research administrator developing drugs for MS victims.

I own my own home, I pay taxes, I dont drink, smoke, or party. I have never even seen marijuana in real life. I vote republican on most issues.

I also donate to my alma mater each year and provide a $3,000 scholarship each year to purchase musical instruments at my old highschool.

I am in a committed monagamous relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years and would one day like to marry or at least have any and all possible benefits of a marriage bestowed upon us.

Its depressing knowing I can't have what any heterosexual can because of my sexual preference which really has nothing to do with anyone else. Please let me live my life as I see fit.

[Jay]

There are a lot of stupid comments here, but I love the long comments by Fred Marsh, Kerry, and Jim. The musical is great, especially considering that it was written so quickly, and shot on one day. I just wish Shaiman had done it before the election. I know that there are some real Christians who support equality, but the right-wing Christians are treated too kindly in the skit. I think some nonviolent civil disobedience actions targeting Catholic, Evangelical, and Mormon churches are in order.

[Prop 8 is Hate]

Please support No on Prop 8 protests with our official "Prop 8 is Hate" bumper stickers!

Here is a link to our store: http://zazzle.com/Prop_8

[bm]

Well said JW I agree 100%

[greggs]

The comments to this video really show how hateful people can be. Shame on you for your hatred of your fellow men and women who share this Country with you, share your churches and pay taxes. No wonder the world hates us, you cannot even get along in your own Country without having to control and hate others. Yes, this is about HATE.

Shame on all those who voted yes knowing that others voted for your rights and you voted against someone elses....I'm speaking to blacks, hispanics, asians, women, disabled, elderly....we all voted for your rights and when it came time for the return favor you all ran with your tails between your legs in hate and judgement. You all need to thank the God you worship that he is forgiving for you judging others.

Oh, and for the uneducated Majority Rules guy, you need to go back and read the Constitution, which was written so that the minority runs the Country, not the majority. Obviously anyone with a junior college education who took political science would know that. It must be a joy being married to you.

[Jason Porter]

Maybe it's reporting "news" like this that led to the LATimes going bankrupt?

[Jim]

Marcus,

Rights that I (assuming my marriage was invalidated by the passage of Prop 8) no longer have under a domestic partnership:

1) The right to enter into the domestic partnership regardless of whether my husband and I live together. Married couples do not need to cohabitate before they marry. Domestic partners do. This is not just a silly definitional thing. My husband and I worked in two different cities when we got married, and therefore would not have been permitted to register as domestic partners at that time. (We had registered previously, and viewed our marriage as an "upgrade.")

2) Rights of survivorship. The law is not clear whether or not the house I owned before my husband and I got domestic partnered will revert to my husband in the event that I die suddenly. Though the intention of the domestic partnership law was to make this legal, there simply isn't the body of legal holdings to make me confident that it will be the case without spending money on attorneys to back it up.

3) Power of attorney. When my husband took his job out of town, we bought a house in the city where he would be working. If we had been married, he could have signed all the purchase documents. Since we were "only" domestic partners, we needed to hire an attorney to put together power-of-attorney paperwork so he could purchase the house on my behalf as well as his own.

4) Medial authorization. In the event that I am incapacitated and my husband disagrees with my parents about what course of treatment should be pursued, my parents are legally next of kin, not my husband, and they get the final say. If we are still married, my husband has the final say in my treatment, as it should be.

5) Privacy. My domestic partnership is a public record in a statewide database. When we married we had the option of making the marriage private, and therefore not searchable by anyone curious to see who's gay.

6) Parental rights. A lesbian I know was advised to legally relinquish and re-adopt her own, biological daughter, because being "domestic partnered" at the time the baby is born did not give her partner parental authority as being married would have.

Those are just the ones that I've personally run into. I'm sure others could list more.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if the straight community will defer the word "marriage" to the churches and all register as domestic partners, I'll be perfectly happy, because that will be equal. With, literally, thousands of laws and court holdings governing marriage, there's simply no way "separate but equal" can keep up with everything.

Of course, several people have posted lists like these in numerous places, but since people keep asking, I have to assume that everyone thinks those of us who have experienced the inequality personally are just making it up...

[stats]

The sooner we get past the myths here the better. This wasn't a vote based on race; it was a vote based on education. (See Nate Silver, stats guru, for further evidence.) That said, a musical probably isn't going to change many votes.

Here we need to look to an Obama model. We need a popular pro athlete (or someother hero of the "Joe the Plumbers") to come out of the closet and lead the charge. Plus, we need other athletes and Joe the Plumbers ready to defend this person. (Kudos, Steve Young, a Mormon pro football player with an anti-prop 8 sign in his yard. People should remember that. Same with others.) A small inroad here will repeal prop 8.

I love this piece. But remember next election, we need to be on the offensive. We need to be taking from their base constituents. We need to moves the less educated to the anti-prop 8 side.

[Majority Rule]

We win. Majority Rules. Majority is always right. Not everyone can be allowed to play reindeer games - these are the rules. Please stop talking about this and creating your silly musicals. Marriage and weddings and ceremonys are only for US!!! Move to another country if you don't like it. And now, we do not want to hear anymore about it.

[Ron]

As an atheist, I have to ask if anyone really thinks that you are going to change the minds of people who accept 2000 year old fairy tales as the truth about the universe. Besides MRI studies have shown that the brains of conservatives have a difficult time processing new or conflicting information, so give it up, and try to enjoy life a little. I am. Both the video and this discussion are very funny.

[Kerry]

I really enjoyed the Prop 8 musical, and thought it was very well done--I liked the creativity and the comedy that they interjected into a topic that is serious, and clearly controversial. I am a Christian, and I support equal rights--I was very much against prop 8. There are many other Christians who support equal rights as well. Surveys state that religion influenced this vote. I'd like to share another side of that equation.

To me, the Bible is the Word of God, but it was written by human hands. Since Human Beings are not perfect and we are all flawed, it makes sense to me that the people writing the words down instilled their own human experience--their personal biases and beliefs. I also believe that the Bible must be taken into the context of the time in which it was written, and the societal beliefs or prejudices of that time.

With regards to the passages in the Bible that describe homosexuality, one thing is strikingly clear. None of these passages incorporate the theme of love within them. The relationships that are described in these passages have nothing to do with love--they have everything to do with lust, and one person wielding power over another. I don't believe that these passages reflect the majority of same sex relationships today.

I can't imagine that God would ever condemn love between people--regardless of whether couples are straight or gay--God IS love. I have friends who are gay, and they are kind, compassionate and deeply spiritual people. Their relationships are based on the principles of love and trust. I believe such unions should be celebrated, and that they deserve the same rights that the rest of us enjoy.

[Steven Mairs]

Lydia Christiansen's erroneous assertion that, "you homosexuals have the freedom to form Civil Unions which give you the same exact rights as a married heterosexual couple" is false - a typical characteristic of the views advanced by who would convert America to a theocracy a la Iran. Federal law does not recognize same sex civil unions or even marriages performed within the few states which allow them so homosexuals absolutely do NOT have the same rights as married heterosexual couples. For one thing, if Lydia's circuitous logic were true and the same rights were already extended, what would the religious zealots have to oppose or the gay rights movement have to advance? Same sex couples are shut out of benefits ranging from social security and retirement benefits to immigration rights. If you really want to get your facts straight, I suggest not relying exclusively on so-called Christians who preach hatred from the pulpit and right-leaning sources such as Faux News.

[Lee]

I'm just glad it gets people talking about it. The more we talk, the closer to equality we get. Love and let love.

[Scott]

Hey, all you pro gay marriage people need to stop trying to make rational, factual arguments with the anti gay marriage people, they don’t deal in facts they deal in emotions. The key to this video is that the bible says that eating shellfish is just as bad as being gay. They are all ignoring this in their posts because there is no rational way to defend their selective use of the bible and besides, they want to eat at Red Lobster after Church on Sunday.

[Rob]

Looks like Jack Black and the rest of these knobs have a lot of free time now that the economy is going into the tank. I expect more of this as the economy gets worse, money dries up and Hollywierd becomes more irrelevant than ever.

[steve]

so i'm not from CA but from what i have heard is that marriage and civil unions/domestic partnerships in CA had the same rights as marriage. that being said what rights were taken away? wasn't it just a title of the union itself? so it basically comes down to definitions? please enlighten me....

[Chris]

This video, like the gay agenda, is nothing more than a piece of crap on wheels.

Homosexuality is wrong, period. Trying to change that law is like trying to change the law of gravity. Best of luck trying to do that!

And the fact that Jack Black is part of that rubbish is more a statement about what kind of filth people are trying to spread than any kind of statement of truth.

[ann]

http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/EverlastingGospel/tabid/78/ctl/PlayMedia/mid/414/MDID/3671/PID/1842/SID/2/SQT/3-2008/7/Gay-Marriage-A-State-of-Disgrace/Default.aspx
To know gods word you must undearstand it. God made man and women to have children. God punish people used his word an he punish men who sleep with men and he punish women who sleep with women. For those who miss used god word please read Gen chapter 2 vers 7-25 also read about why god distory sodom and gomorrah chapter 19 read all to vers 38 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodom_and_Gomorrah
and about Nohas Ark Gen chapter 6 - chapter 9:29.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah's_Ark
... If you love God you can do anything you want. But if you love God you will only want to do what pleases him. Far from erasing the rest of the bible, to Agape God means to treasure his Word and seek with all your might to follow the commands that are there because his word is his self-revelation. He tells us what pleases and displeases him. You cannot agape God without seeking to do those things he desires.

Jesus said precisely this in John 14:16 “If you love me, you'll keep my commands” because obedience to God means making God's will your will and setting those other things you love including yourself beneath your love for him. Agape conforms all things to the will of God and what cannot be conformed or reformed, whatever interferes with holiness, obedience, and his call in your life, you'll want none of it. Instead, you will want him, you will seek him, you will hunger and thirst for his presence and delight in his law, he will be your pearl of great price for which you will be willing to sell everything you have.
When he's on the way to Jerusalem and the crowds have thinned and his disciples think they're going to the glorious crowning of Jesus as victorious messiah, he turns to them and says, if you would be my follower, you must deny yourself and take up your cross (Matt 16:24). We're not going to a coronation but to a crucifixion. If you love me you will follow. He meets a rich man (Matt 19) who asks “what must I do to inherit the kingdom of heaven?” who says, “I've kept all of the commandments since I've been a boy.” Jesus looks at him and loves him and says, give away everything you have and come follow me. Your money is your idol, give it up. He was saying to the man, “Love me with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your strength, and you will have eternal life.” What did the man do? He turns away. He cannot do it.This is a hard teaching isn't it? It makes me wilt. I can't do it. If to agape God with all my heart, soul and mind, means that God must always be first in my life, and if that is what is required to have eternal life, then I don't know about you, but I'm with the rich man. I'm doomed. I can't do it. I can't even do it for a moment. I don't love God like that. I wish I did, but I don't. I want to but I'm powerless.

The Ten Commandments
1. Do not worship other gods.
2. Do not worship idols.
3. Do not misuse God's name.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy.
5. Honor your father & mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet

[Just Sayin']

"This video is actually blasphemous to Christians and will change no minds, imo - in fact, it will just backfire. It shows typical Hollywood irreverance and misunderstanding of Christianity. Jack Black as Jesus is really bad.

Posted by: Steve | December 03, 2008 at 10:10 AM"

Since Jesus' message was about love, I think it's pretty certain that Jesus himself would find the corruption of his message and people propagating hate in his name under the guise of Religion would be more blasphemous than a symbolic role in a short musical film.

[stuff mcgee]

best thing i have ever seen---it made my week---marriage should be universally allowed---it should not be an issue---people who use the old testament to back their claims are idiotic-there was something else in the bible---treat others the way you would like to be treated---these liberal Hollywood got one right. period.

[Rattiemama]

The voters may have passed prop 8, but it's not over. Voters passed all kinds of racist laws during the civil rights movement which were eventually overturned. This is no different. Just have faith and keep pushing. Eventually everyone in this country will have equal rights.

I love the video and have huge respect for the actors willing to face all this hatred to speak up for what they believe in.

[jessie lynn grady]

Larry said: "Notice how the No on 8 hate mongers denigrate the very concept of both democracy and religion. Also notice that the No on 8 hate mongers assert that people of faith will immediately cast aside their religious values to chase 30 pieces of silver."

Larry isn't very bright. He thinks that "Democracy" means that one group of people gets to vote on the rights of other people, like they are a tax increase or a new school.

No one voted to give slaves their freedom, and no one voted to give women the right to vote. You don't vote on equal rights.

Larry also thinks that "religion" gets to dictate anything in a country where "freedom of religion" also means "freedom FROM religion", and the Supreme Court has consistantly, for a couple of hundred years, ruled on the side of Separation of Church and State.

I also call FAKE; you Larry Sue, didn't vote against gay marriage because of moral convictions, you did it because (and it's obvious) you hate queers.

And hate should never "win" over anything.

[Marie Saint John]

LMAO wow, the Christards look more and more stupid and mean every single day! This video demonstrates every single hypcorisy beautifully! All that hate in the name of some invisible Space Ghostie. Ugh what a bunch of nuts.

[Fred Marsh]

Wow, so many idiots, so small a space. You are a bunch of hateful people, and for that reason alone, your vote shouldn't count. Look, this isn't a millage hike to pay for a zoo. This isn't a tax hike to pay for a new bridge. These are people. Good, kind, charitable, committed people. If two dudes getting married was going to affect YOU in any way, I'd say yes, go ahead and vote on it. But allowing gay marriage doesn't force you into one, and it doesn't make you pay for one, and you don't even have to go to the wedding. And your ugly 'religious convictions' don't apply to someone who doesn't believe in your religious convictions...or give a crap about them. Not in America. You scream "It's immoral!" but again, no one's making YOU do it. Or are you about to tell me that you're saving straight marriage so that the gays will not go to hell? Seriously, what is your motivation? I KNOW! It's because the vote gave you a chance to figuratively punch a gay person in the face. Sorry but they're already living together by the millions. Why does letting them legally share property and inheritance and happiness and things like that offend you so much? It doesn't, not really; you just enjoy being hateful. And that's not "religious", it's you being things that I can't put a name to here.

And AGAIN, your religious convictions are SO fake! What about that "shellfish" thing? No one ever answers that because you are liars and phonies. The only reason this video offends you is because it shows you to be the heartless, nasty, ugly, soulless phonies you really are. The truth hurts.

And "Viv", you are one of the biggest jerks of all, expecting people to be "tolerant" of your nastiness and abuse and cruelty. Like you'd just be tolerant of me if I took away your right to marry the person you love. What are you telling me, you'd say "Okay!" and walk away? Hit someone in the face and they're going to hit you back, dummy. The question is, what did they ever do to you?

[Randy]

Hey, it's comedy people! Like my first boyfriend said: just relax and enjoy the ride. I do agree with a couple of the previous postings that religion is for stupid people, but I thank god they have it. Imagine how awful they'd be without the ten commandments!

[Marcos]

Could someone please list in detail all of the rights that Gay couples in Califorina do not currently have that other non-gay couples do.
Thx

[Mark Smith]

You morons who keep blabbering about how 'gays aren't tolerant' don't understand the meaning of the word. You can't seriously expect a group of people that you happen to hate to just say "okay" when you treat them like crap. Gays are perfectly tolerant of yours an any other religion, until it starts hurting them. That's like me stealing all your property and ruining any dreams you have of lifelong security, and then demanding you be tolerant of that.

As for your other retarded shoutings that "it was a fair vote", that too is absolute b.s. No one can expect a "fair vote" from people who hate them. Put a black man in front of 300 KKK members. Ask the KKK if the black man has a right to live in an all-white housing development. Watch the KKK vote "No". Now tell me if that's fair and that the black man should move out.

You're just stupid people and I LOL that you're so upset.

[Austin]

Now we know what Plato meant when he said that "poets" should not be bastions for moral thinking in society...

[Kathryn]

Sadly, I see that no one has addressed my question:
What about my church and its congregation? Proposition 8 not only removed the ability for same-sex couples to get married, it removed my church's ability to marry them.

If "marriage" is reserved for the Church and "civil unions" for all else (and go ahead to tell all couples not married in a church that they aren't married), then our church has marriage ceremonies and the couples married therein are "married."

[Sean K]

JW: that was the most pedantic meandering off topic thread in the whole discussion.

[Jay]

I wish the video had shown how dysfunctional the relationships of the people who voted for Proposition 8 are. There are really frightening statistics about child abuse and polygamy among Mormons, and they voted in favor of Proposition 8. Similarly, the largest demographic of people who do not get married are Blacks (something like 70 per cent of Blacks are born out of wedlock, and yet they voted in favor of Proposition 8. To say nothing of all the Roman Catholic priest abusing children. The video should have taken on the disconnect between those people who think they are "protecting marriage" by discrminating against gays. What they are doing is simply practicing homophobia.

[Jay]

I love the video, but I think it is far too optimistic. It assumes that the Bible-thumpers who voted in favor of Proposition 8 will respond to logical arguments. They won't. And for all their profession of Christianity, they ignore what Jesus said was the greatest commandments of all: Love thy neighbor and to tread others as you want to be treated.

[James]

A simple majority is not the deciding factor of issues of fairness in this country. Just because the majority feels something should or should not be, does not make their opinion constitutional, justified, or rationally/logically supported by the laws of the land. We have equal protection clauses in most state constitutions as well as in the national constitutions. Never before has the amendment process been used to take rights/privileges away from a particular group of American citizens. This ballot should never have been put up for vote by the electorate. It doesn't make any reasonable sense to do so. First of all, most people are heterosexual and thus are not going to have much motivation to care one way or the other whether gays and lesbians can get married or not. Thus, when it comes to voting, they will be thinking about themselves and not about the freedoms of gays and lesbians. The courts have the final say on all legal and electoral matters. It is the system that has been used for matters of controversy since this country was created. It has the common sense and decency to understand the issue for what it is rather than what superstition, negative stereotypes, common misunderstandings, and false claims might say against the freedoms of gays and lesbians to marry. The court made a decision about this matter on May 15, 2008 in California. And they believe that not granting the same equal access to the institution of marriage to gays and lesbians as their heterosexual counterparts would unnecessarily burden them and their families/children. Thus, they argued in favor of legalized gay marriage. They also stipulated that no religious institution or priest/preacher would be forced to give a marriage ceremony to a gay couple. As well, the idea that homosexuality will be taught in schools, which was one of the major fear tactics used to provoke the simple majority in California to vote against gay marriage this last election, is completely false. The only thing that would be taught in schools is that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, can legally get married in the state of California. That is all. There is nothing wrong with this. Absolutely nothing. Schools should be able to teach about the reality of the world as it is today and that means allowing for kids to know that gays and lesbians exist. They won't be taught that homosexuality is right or wrong, because that is something everyone must decide for themselves. However, the schools cannot be censored from teaching about any subject, no matter how controversial, because that would inhibit the students' abilities to learn about the world with all of its complexities. If people don't want their children to learn about gays and lesbians, then they should be put into a private or home school that will help keep their heads in the dark. Darkness and hiding things from kids only gives more power to the topic in their minds. Anything forbidden becomes alluring and the kids will become more curious about it to the point of exploring it on their own initiative. If parents really cared about their kids, they'd allow them to see everything in reality, regardless of their personal beliefs about what is right and wrong. Do we keep children from knowing what murder is just because we think it is morally wrong? No, we teach them what it is and explain to them what leads to it... However, murder and homosexuality are completely different. One is about harming others and the other has nothing to do with harm to anyone. A more appropriate comparison would be left-handedness and homosexuality. Just because a minority of people are left-handed, does that mean we should not allow them equal access to education, marriage, and the like? No. That is absurd. The same goes with same-sex oriented people. They cannot be disallowed from a civil institution without compelling reasons to do so. The Supreme Court of CA does not find any compelling reason to keep gays and lesbians from partaking in the institution of marriage. However, they find compelling reasons of undue burden and harm to gays and lesbians if they are kept from marrying. So, please, respect the due process of the law and allow the courts to decide on this issue. The electorate has no appropriate means of deciding on this issue by themselves. The judges and legal experts have better expertise when deciding on controversial issues such as this, because they are much better at keeping personal feelings from clouding their judgment on the issue.

[leonard nash]

Marriage is for people in love. 1/2 fall out of love and get divorced. Let 1/2 of all gays and lesbians experience the heart break of divorice like the 1/2 of those that have had their "Forever" become " Thank GOD it is over...." experience. " Equality in disillusionment"

[Heather]

This is funny. All the indignant commentators above who took offense or criticized the video frankly have no sense of humor. Too much bitter blood I suppose. But then bitterness is the essense of intolerance. I personally find it terribly sad to see citizens of this country not respect it's basic tenants. Everyone should have the liberty to marry their beloved. The Jesus I look up to was kind and benevolent to all. (yes, to all) Christians who spend their time trying to make illegal the loving and faithful commitments between people are not loving Christians in my view.

[Viv]

I think it's ironic how gays speak of peace, stopping the hate, and demanding respect, yet they are the ones that are rioting in the Mormon temples, shouting vulgar phrases to those that support prop 8, vandalizing property, and sending "white powder" to Mormon churches. I think Mormons deserve respect too as well as other Christians and those who voted for prop 8.

Those gays are the ones that "h8"

[concerned mom]

I find it hilarious that movie stars actually think they can influence the belief systems of Mormons, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and many other folks who hold their own private beliefs about marriage. As if anyone with a brain would be influenced by what divorced, self-absorbed, actors think the definition of marriage should be. LOL! What a joke. I guess the only ones who will be convinced by Hollywood will be the weak and feeble-minded.

[wow]

Sad that so many take this so seriously. It's a JOKE people, funny, parody of musical theater. The reactions on this board show who ignorant some people are. Wow, the joke just flew right over their puny heads.

[Elen]

OMG, this was toooo funny. Some of these comments are so sad, don't take yourselves so seriously people. The fact that you are offended shows how uneasy you are with your position.

I'm gay and was extremely disappointed when Prop 8 passed. I had to explain to my ten-year-old daughter, why people our state voted to take away my civil rights (marriage is a civil contract in our secular state btw--do whatever you want in your church).

Anyway, I found the musical hysterical. And of course the music is AWFUL, it's supposed to be. Don't you people get the joke??? Laugh at yourselves once in a while, gay people certainly laugh at ourselves.

[Judas]

I don't care if something is considered "blasphemous."

We don't live in Biblelandia.

Let's not allow ourselves to be anesthetized by hearing the phrase "equal rights" too many times. The meaning of the phrase is vital to the U.S.

[Michael Jeffrey]

The fact that our society has come to this is absolutely astonishing. That these people cannot see the absolute absurdity of what they believe is dumbfounding.

God created marriage for a man and a woman period. I am no religious nut like this video trys to show me and others like me as. I have been saved by the grace of our God and I know that every word of the Bible is true.

May Jack Black be brought to his knees and receive the One who he and these others mock: Jesus, the One who not only created each and every one of us but also died and bore our sin so that we might be made righteous in Him.

[Bajesus]

Christians, as a rule, often show their lack of intelligence by spouting select bible-book verses only when it's convenient for them.

I, for one, spit on Christians and blame them for instilling fear and anxiety in our world.

Why would actors waste their time trying to convince such an awful, misguided group of monkeys who have no interest in accepting anyone but other brainwashed monkeys?

I feel bad for kids of Christians and rejoice when they break that cycle of retardation.

[Don't you get it?]

It's not just about 'gay marriage'. It's about one small sector of society deciding that their point of view on lifestyles is more important than another's that has morality, tradition, stability, religion, law, etc., etc all supporting the institution of marriage as between 1 man and 1 woman.

It's also about the denigration of morality in society. If we allow gay 'marriage' (an obvious oxymoron), what about NAMBLA, polygamists, open sex in public places, etc., etc? People against prop 8 keep arguing that it's 'about love', well anyone in the the aforementioned groups could argue the same thing.

Put away your arrogant 'high mindedness' and keep your Hollywood morality to yourself. I couldn't care less what you do in your own home. Let's all decide that we don't want to be Bonobo monkeys.

Oh, Melissa, here's how you refer to your gay partner, "Hi, here is my gay partner, we have a civil union". No problem there. MoveOn.

[IT]

Obama may personally oppose gay marriage. However, he also opposed Prop8. Just more of the lies from the Pro-Prop8 crowd.

Just think if we'd voted on the action of those Activist Judges in Brown Vs Board of Education, or Loving Vs Virginia.... we'd still have segregated water fountains.

I'm looking forward to voting on the marriages of Catholics and Mormons next. If they can tell lies about me, I can tell lies about them, for example child abuse.

If my rights are up for a popular vote, so are yours....everyone is a minority in something. Mormons are only 2% of the population in California. Do you really want to go there?

[The Ugly American]

I'd have more respect for these people if they had included both an Obama & Biden impersonator in with the Christian gay-haters. If opposing gay marriage makes you a bigot, then meet President and Vice President Elect bigots. (Hat tip to blogger Dirty Harry for the last sentence)

[bettie]

I always get a kick out of black folks who use the Bible to support their condemnation of homosexuality and/or their vote for Prop. 8.

Clue to the uninformed: The Bible condones slavery. Repeatedly. Even sets out rules for how a master should treat his slaves and how a slave should behave in the presence of his master. And with such Biblical approbation, the Bible was used by U.S. slaveowners pre-emancipation to justify slavery; since slavery was condoned in Biblical verses it must be God's will.

So yes, those religious folks sure do pick and choose which Biblical verses to follow, don't they?

[Jasonjack]

This is not about civil rights. this is about a specific definition used both to promote permanent, loving families and procreation.

Those who say Christ taught tolerance in the way you think should carefully read the sermon on the mount.

Christlike tolerance is Christlike love, which is not the same as there not being a right and a wrong choice.

[merryjoe]

Excellent video. Funny and sensible. Organized Religion is the scourge of society worldwide, and the sooner people wake up to this fact, the sooner the world will become sane. "Imagine no religion. . . . ." Can't happen too soon for me.

[NoOn8]

Please support our "No on Prop 8" efforts by buying and displaying one of our bumper stickers or protest t-shirts!

http://www.zazzle.com/prop_8

[brooke r.]

i LOVED this video. and i don't think it is blasphemous to christians at all, being one (i'm an involved christian, i'm at church 2-3 times a week) and so i can say that. heck - i even sent the link to it on to my pastor who i know won't be offended. i know, some of us will be offended, but maybe that's the folks that voted yes on prop 8?

[Homonomore]

PS: If they act like this when times are good, how will they behave when times are bad?

The root cause of homosexuality according to a millennia's worth of data and most psychologists to this day, the root cause of homosexuality is self hatred brought on by irrational reaction to early childhood pain or trauma. When we realize this reality, can we really be surprised when those who are hateful unto themselves lash out against the most vulnerable among us? Hateful haters of goodness, morality and their redeemer, Jesus Christ. Pity the pink mafia.

[Brian]

Lynn Jensen: Sure I can explain why it is a happy day for gays because Obama was elected. He plans to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act which is the only thing that stands in the way of 48 states having to recognize the gay marriages of CT and MA. As soon as it repealed, the Full Faith and Credit Clause will nullify and void any and all laws or state constitutional amendments that ban recognition of same-sex marriage. Yes, California can refuse to perform same-sex marriage within the state but they will have to recognize all other marriages from any other state. So although he does not support gay marriage. He doesn't support banning it either. Hence he was against Prop 8.

[Sam]

Well gosh. If ACTORS are for something then everyone else must be in the wrong. If short plump actors who make millions playing nebish losers are for something then man.... count me in!

Wait. Are these people in the same industry where some of the most powerful people are gay? And these actors have to get permission from these same people to get jobs to get money to support the actors Bel air pretensions of grandeur?

[YeahRight]

Alfi I love your comment "Please don't equate prop 8 to civil right. During civil right movement blacks only asked to be treated equally. They never asked to be called white."

Civil Unions are the ONLY answer. Its the only way our country can ever be at peace about this issue. Both sides are too invested in their own views.

I wish people would research the LDS church before they make comments about them that aren't even true. You say the Christians lied, but the only lies I hear are coming from Anit-Prop 8 people. They obviously don't understand about the LDS church's history and beliefs and the obviously don't understand the word marriage.

I hear people now saying, I voted NO before but I've changed my mind after seeing the way the gay supporters have responded. I agree with a previous poster in that its time we draw a line in the sand. The only way my conscience can be clear is to be standing with traditional marraige. Even if one day gay marriage is legal in this country, that doesn't make it right. I have to put God before my country. This has nothing to do with "hurting people's feelings." This has to do with my own personal beliefs.

Marriage isn't a right. A 30 year old man can't marry a 14 year old girl. A man can't marry more than one woman or vice versa. Its between 1 man and 1 woman. Period. Nothing anyone ever says will ever change my belief in that.

Tolerance would mean that I am not going to get people bashing me for my beliefs, but recent events have shown that the people who claim to be tolerant are actually very far from that.

[Kathryn]

Rigobear / Concerned
"The term marriage is a church item. To be used in church or mass to describe your religious connection."

Did you read my earlier post? My Church has same-sex marriage, officiated by the pastor. My church, not city hall or banquet hall or outdoor gazebo or all the other places people today get married. Have you told people not married in a church that they should not call themselves "married"?

Should the couple who've been together 20 years and married now 3 months, in the church, not call themselves married? How about a young couple who met two weeks ago and flew to Vegas for an Elvis wedding? Are they "married"? If you have to ask if these couples are same-sex or not to determine their married state, then it isn't about church at all, is it.

Mary
"No parent ever wishes his/her biological child to be gay. No parent ever is prepared to hear those dreaded words informing him/her that his/her biological child is gay."

Perhaps no parents want to hear it, but that's life: sometimes you hear things that are surprising, and not what you expected. But it doesn't mean you throw out all your plans-- you adapt. And so if a mother hears from her daughter that she is lesbian, will the mother will immediately throw out the wedding dress she'd been saving? No, as I directly saw in the case of one church wedding back in October. She got married in a lovely ceremony in the church she's attended from childhood, just as she'd always thought she would.

[B]

Truth about Mormons and their love for others...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_Massacre

[RND]

I'm befuddled with regards to the use of the word "protect" - you're protecting marriage, kids, families from what exactly? The same with "traditional marriage" - traditional marriage was property agreement where the woman was the property! Marriage has evolved, it's inevitable.

And Mary, I honestly hope you do not have a gay child if only for the fact of the torment and pain said child would go through having such a hateful, bigoted mother.

[Briguynla]

Human Rights are not something that can be voted on. Its been proven before and will be again. To all those in favor of 8, just remember what backwards people you are going to appear to others in 10 years. There is no difference between this and the ban against inter-racial couples. In fact, wasn't that last big political fight the mormons were involved in? Any minority supporting the Mormon church in this situation, needs an education on the background of the mormon church. They have a long history of racism, hatred, bigotry and in fact there are some massacres if I'm not mistaken, try Googling "Mountain Meadows Massacres". They are one of the nations shadiest religious groups. Just remember, the Mormons brought this on themselves. This is not stopping anytime soon and they will continue to be bashed just as they continue to bash others for being themselves. Good always wins in the end and I guarantee they will loose this battle in the end and the real God who loves people will work his magic. Not their Missouri hallucination-created multi-wived-bigot-leader god.

p.s. this is not directed at all mormons, just the Church institution itself. I infact know a lot of Mormons who were and continue to be against hatred and against what this group did.

[Jeffrey]

No special rights for a special interest group who couldn't figure out how to have a normal relationship with the opposite sex without drama.

[Nathan]

Wow, that was awful. I'm sorry folks, this is simultaneously offensive and ignorant. Take a look at the subtext - especially the predominantly black religious crowd. Great job setting up a straw man and tearing it down with fervor.

I found it as difficult to watch this tripe as it is to sit through a Sarah Palin interview. Both are like nails dragging down a chalkboard.

*vomiting*

[Eric]

This fight in the courts acutally has very little to do with gay marriage. It will have to address what must happen to basically re-write the state constitution. State law already says that for this to happen, the state legislature must vote and approve it with over a 60% majority. This is not what happened with prop 8. This kind of consitutiional revision cannot be made with a simply voter majority. It has to be approved by the state legislature and then voted on by the people. THIS is what makes Prop 8 invalid.

We have been down this road before as Americans and this question has already been answered. Seperate IS NOT equal!!!

Do you think the voters of Arkansas would have approved school integration in the 60's? Of coruse not. Thats why the courts had to enforce it. The courts are there to protect minorities from being discriminated against by a majority.

[JW]

In answer to both the sketch and some confused commentators:

Christians (including Mormons) typically believe that the Law of Moses (the Torah, Genesis to Deuteronomy) was fulfilled by Jesus.

This fulfillment, however, is not usually understood to mean that all the elements of the Law were superseded. The Ten Commandments, for example, were reiterated by Jesus as valid, and continue to be considered valid by Christians. The gender-specific description of marriage in Genesis ("a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife") was also reiterated by Jesus.

Other parts of the Torah were specifically dropped or revised by either Jesus or the apostles. Dietary laws (the laws governing shell fish for example) were dropped because of revelations to Peter and other apostles.

Capital punishment for sexual sin is generally accepted as having ended (Jesus famous statement about only those wihout sin may cast the first stone seems to indicate this), but it's clear from Jesus' statements on marriage, lust, and adultery, as well as Paul's writings condemning sexual transgressions (including homosexuality) that the Law's injunctions against sexual sin did not end, though the punishment was relegated to excommunication or less instead of death.

There is no inconsistency in Christian teaching on any of this. It is perfectly logical to eat shell fish, reject slavery, and still believe in Biblical teachings regarding marriage as properly between a man and a woman.

[George]

Homosexuality and Christianity are both punishable by death in other countries.

[Mark D]

I've always loved Allison Janney. Now I love her even more! This video is hilarious. I can't believe the christians are feeling "discriminated" against with the passage of prop 8. Cry me a river... maybe they'll start to know how it feels.

[andrew marciniak]

Al Keys, the state is NOT mucking around in religion's 'tenets'. On the contrary the public (not the state) is vocalizing their right to free speech. However from the other side of the fence, organized (and TAX EXEMPT mind you) religion paid an extremely large price tag to influence state law in this matter. Therefore it is religion that has been mucking around in State affairs.

Whatever... keep your sacred institution...as the video says... all it takes is a little cash to undo what was joined by God... unless you're Catholic then you have to pay a LOT more for the anullment.

[jane]

Obviously, Hollywood is not know for their intelligence.....they are dumber than dirt and all they can do is sling dirt because they lost and no one cares what Jack Black and the other D-listers conjure up.....thank God and Jesues their is still an intelligent, loving morale majority......ha,ha, losers!

[Ben]

Since we had to use the legal system to overcome segregation and to implement the Civil Rights Act, maybe we shouldn't be that comfortable with majority rule (actually that's the reason we're a republic and not a democracy).

Besides, since the majority of Americans believe that dinosaurs existed 6,000 years ago and that Russia doesn't border the Pacific, maybe we should be working on general education and not worrying about who gets married.

[Tina]

AWESOME. Loved Neil Patrick Harris, and Jack Black is almost how I see Jesus (laid back, all about making things easier on people [like removing kosher issues in the NT], and pro-love) -- although with a bit more chub.

I loved it!

PS -- to those who say that the rest of CA will secede from SF and LA, all us coastal folks have been hoping for that for a LONG time now....

[G.P.]

I feel so sad for the poor Christians being maligned by this parody. Next thing you know, they'll be treated like second-class citizens. Sort of like gays ...

[stunned]

Why is the concept of "separate but equal" suddenly OK again? I thought we already went over that one...

[Nick Van der Graaf]

Matt in LA writes: "Keep up the good work anti-prop 8 folks. Now everyone will see how extreme your position is, and will hurt your chances the next time around."

Please tell me, your fellow straight man, how it is that just letting other people live their lives is an extreme position? I live in Toronto; gay marriage has been legal in Canada for a few years now. It hasn't affected anything, except, as the silly video points out, the wedding industry is busier than ever. I'm still straight, as is my wife, we're attending a straight friend's wedding in April, all the straight people are still straight, etc. etc. etc.

What's the big deal? Why are you so interested in passing laws against other people's decisions on how to run their personal lives? I thought conservatives wanted government OUT of people's lives. Do you not see the contradiction?

Yes, you can argue that your Holy Book disapproves of homosexuality. But would you please remember what other societies around the globe are like which allow religion to supplant secular society - think Iran. Think Saudi Arabia. They have all kinds of crazy laws governing people's personal lives, because God told them to do it. Hey, Matt, do you and your wife practice oral sex in the privacy of your home? Oral sex - I don't recall too many pro-fellatio passages in the Bible - was illegal in many U.S. states until a couple of decades ago. How would you like to be on the receiving end of being prosecuted or discriminated against because of legislation like that, based on religious sentiment?

You know, I make these remarks and I'm not even anti-religion. I think society is better for having religious elements in it. But I DO know that secular society has no business passing laws that discriminate against citizens because of their private lives.

Promoting gay marriage promotes loving stable families and relationships. That is good for children, for the economy, and for society in general. I look forward to the day when gays and lesbians in America have full legal and Constitutional rights.

[Scott]

The Video is intended to be funny and it is. It is really really funny. Uptight religious fanatics have no sense of humor; (hhmmm is a sense of humor an essential component of the human condition? Draw your own conclusions.....)

This video is not about trying to change the world. It's about free people in a free country expressing themselves.

Anyone angered by this video needs to go jump in a lake!

[Jim H]

For those who think this is "full of lies," did you happen to watch any of the false and lying ads your churches paid for? I thought, for sure, Jesus, or Joe Smith, don't lie, right? But I guess if it reinforces your prejudices, it's okay!

[Jeff]

If the church doesn't want to be attacked, they should stay out of politics!

[c]

What do we want?

EQUAL RIGHTS!

Whend do we want it?

*NOW!*

[James Wilson]

It's over and done with. Gay marriage is illegal in the State of California again. If you want to marry your gay or lesbian lover go to MA or CT. This is the second and last time that the voters have voted against gay marriage. Marriage is sacred and should remain a holy vow between a man and a woman.

[josh]

For the argument that "the vote of the people should determine whether gay marriage should be legal"

This should not be a ballot measure to be decided by votes but by judges who are sworn to PROTECT the rights of all individuals. The reason for this is because you cannot rely on a majority vote to dictate a right of a minority group. If we used this same process in history of major rights, the majority would have voted against things like interracial marriage, women voting, etc. In retrospect it seems embarrassing and shameful that our society was thinking this way. The love between 2 gay people is no different than the love a heterosexual couple feel. Just because you dont know how to talk to your kids about the world doesnt mean a group of people should be denied the same status as you.

Traditional marriage? fantasy
Marriage has been redefined and has morphed so many times, its just traditional in the sense that your world is very small.

[Jeff]

I wasn't going to write anything else, until I saw cbk16's comment. This is all I have to say:

Your comment is akin to, "I don't know why those blacks complain about discrimination, we give them their own restroom and drinking fountains. In fact, we are going out of our way because we spend extra money to build separate facilities."

Under civil unions, couples do not have the same rights as married couples. Three examples: their rights are weaker in terms of wills and estates, they have almost no say regarding the care of their partner in medical care such as hospitals, and under civil unions the Federal government does not recognize that as "legal marriage" and, therefore, cannot sponsor their partner for permanent residence.

But I guess we shouldn't change the definition of marriage - it's only people's lives and rights at stake.

[Jason Estanzin]

",,, this video is a piece of crap and the writers will likely never make the big time"-
- chris

Whoops! a little late there Chris! Shaiman has a Broadway, film and tv career AND a marriage older than my college son, won Tony, Grammy & Emmy awards and several Oscar nominations. A little late to predict his lack of talent or a career in the biz...!

[Kevin]

The video is funny and definitely not aimed at people who voted yes on Prop 8. It is not offensive but just a parody. People should know that it is wrong to vote on people's rights. If we did that, we would still have SEGREGATION in the South.

[Jeff]

I think the short of very funny and clever - its probably not big news, but it is pop culture news. People need to lighten up. It's something put together, yes by actors, who oppose Prop 8. They are trying to use their popularity to bring attention to something they oppose. If you voted for Prop 8, that's your right. People (even actors) have the right to say how they feel against Prop 8.

Some people act like protests, court cases, and demonstrations against Prop 8, even though it passed, is something only the left does. Abortion is illegal. Yet, people still stand outside abortion clinics with those awful pictures, trying to persuade people to be against abortion. They also bomb abortion clinics, which there is very little outrage from "Christians". Under Bush, the US doesn't pay its fair share of UN money because the Administration believes the UN supports pro-abortion programs around the world. I can only imagine how much conservatives would be carrying on if a Democratic Administration didn't pay something like UN dues or other similar programs, citing the fact that other countries supported anti-gay measures.

It's sad how people want to make arguments for civil rights when its the civil rights they care about, but when its civil rights for people they disagree with the argument changes from individual rights to what's good for society. This does not only apply to Prop 8 and marriage, but you see that with everything from censorship to speech.

[JoHanna White]

When will people stop believing that domestic partnerships offer the same rights as marriage, because they do NOT. Go do some research yourself and stop believing everything people tell you.

BTW many Christian churches married gay/lesbian couples before the June ruling and will continue to do so.

That said, I love this video!

[Mike Tidmus]

I love the fundamentalists' threats about boycotting movies with these actors. Last week they were all dissing the gays for threatening boycotts against donors to Prop 8, which took away the right of a single class of tax-paying citizens to join in civil marriages.

Go have a shrimp cocktail.

[james]

You "yes on 8" people are on the wrong side of history. You may have squeaked by this time. Enjoy your slim and temporary majority while it lasts.

Didn't you try this with interacial marraige, segregated neighborhoods, ending slavery? and on and on and on.

The Mormons will forever be tainted for this.

And hey! where in the constitution does it say: All men are treated equal except for gays and lesbians?

Time is on our side.

[Israel Sushman]

I find it interesting that when successful creative people make their views known they are dismissed as "Hollywood Losers" or "airheads". Actually, I think most successful actors, writers, artists, and musicians have studied and worked very hard to get where they are; and like the successful business people who the Right admires so much, may even have a better perspective on social & political issues than a many who are less successful, clever, or creative.

[cbk16]

Prop 8 is not discrimination, Gay can have civil unions, the majority just don't want to change the definition of marriage. All the hate the anti prop 8 people have voiced against people of faith since the election is what is true bigotry.

[Joe Winter]

Eventually the older right-wing christianists will die off and then gay marriage will be legal. We just need to be patient.

[Insurrextion]

I still don't know why liberals associate "Hate" with a person who opposes gay marriage.

[rigobear]

It seems there are two sides here. One is the pro prop 8 backers, whom not all seem to be religious fanatics as said. Then there is the liberal thinking out of the box anti prop 8 folks some who are married. This is what I see a group of people wanted a law passed that gave them rights associated with marriage. Twice they placed it before voters hands and twice they were defeated. It seems that the minority is the Anti prop 8 folks. They are trying to say that they have a right to marry. I for one seem pointed to say marriage is a union of two individuals whom want to remain together for the extent of there lives. So the word marriage is obsolete. IF gay couples are insistent they want the term marriage i think its wrong. The term marriage is a church item. To be used in church or mass to describe your religious connection. Now if this is about rights and equality in regards to insurance, property ect. Then i say we need to ratify our law and change the word from marriage to "UNION" two people in Union are called United. Lets say two people of the same sex want rights because one has property he she wants left to his Union mate or to be recognized as monogamous. Then this is fine. The trouble here is wording and the law. The law has no place in Religion. This way united couples have a share in all aspects of rights they however cannot use the word marriage which comes from a Theological belief. This will relieve the religious aspect of marriage and make it more acceptable in society. Kind of how they have a million names for Latinos, Hispanics ect.. So if someone asked a gay person in California or a straight person the word is still spouse they are however UNITED in union. "Example: Do you have a spouse answ: Yes I am united and this si my spouse." Otherwise the hate between the two groups will continue to grow. Although it has been recognized that homosexuality is not a norm it is not the laws place to deny spousal right rather ratify what is needed in the law to be ratified and corrected for any misgivings. I am United with my mate and Married thru my religion. thanks

[Larry]

Classic McCarthy tactic: the haters calling the innocent, the haters.

Notice how the No on 8 hate mongers denigrate the very concept of both democracy and religion. Also notice that the No on 8 hate mongers assert that people of faith will immediately cast aside their religious values to chase 30 pieces of silver.

Say No to the No on 8 hate mongers.

P.S.

Notice how the Times finds anti-democracy, anti-traditional values hate mongering to be funny.

[Rupert Pupkin]

OMG, that was wretched. Could it be more stereotypical and frankly, just god-awful? I believe in rights for all and voted against prop 8, but that was just painful to watch.

A musical??? Um, who's preaching to the choir here?

[Joseph Porter]

I love the way the religious right and their followers are all crying foul now, accusing us of hate speech and intolerance. Having been a true victim of hate speech and intolerance my entire life, I find this not only laughable, but offensive. All we're doing is defending ourselves in the aftermath of an attack. It's not enough for you to victimize us, we have to now be silent and uncomplaining after your victimization? I have a good idea. Why don't we switch places? You can call me all the names you want (I'm used to it anyway), and I'll strip you of your civil rights. Deal?

[truthbetold]

I think it's strange how so many commentators are treating this as a serious attack on the "Yes on 8" campaign. Where's your sense of humor? This is hysterical. Through satire, it shows how the whole opposition to same-sex marriage is just ridiculous.

[Michael]

Contrary to a lot of opinion expressed here, Individual rights should not be subject to a popular vote.

[timesreader80]

this video was great! :) boo all the haters!

[Andrew]

Great and spacious building indeed. Hehe...