If Jacob Whipple gets what he's hoping for, at least 1,000 Utahans will turn out Friday night to protest the involvement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in helping pass Proposition 8, a California ballot measure that effectively killed, at least for now, same-sex marriages in that state.
The call for people to gather at 6 p.m. at North Temple and State Street in Salt Lake City is to show solidarity with those protesting in California, Whipple explained. Among those hitting the streets were about 3,000 who gathered Thursday afternoon outside the LDS Temple in Westwood, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, bearing signs including one featuring a photo of a gay couple with the words,"Why is this joy and
love so scary," The Los Angeles Times reported.
=Protest planned=
A protest against LDS Church support for California's Proposition 8 is scheduled for Friday, 6 p.m., at North Temple and State Street in Salt Lake City.
"We want to show we share their pain, and here, at the heart of the church, we want to stab it," said Whipple, of Salt Lake City.
The 29-year-old former LDS Church member, who served a mission in Argentina, was helping to get the word out late Thursday about the Utah protest. He said he and others were seeking support through e-mails, text messages, social networking Web pages and old-fashioned phone calls.
Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Utah Pride Center, said her organization would "absolutely" be there to stand with others.
"We want to show we share their pain, and here, at the heart of the church, we want to stab it," said Whipple, of Salt Lake City.
The 29-year-old former LDS Church member, who served a mission in Argentina, was helping to get the word out late Thursday about the Utah protest. He said he and others were seeking support through e-mails, text messages, social networking Web pages and old-fashioned phone calls.
Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Utah Pride Center, said her organization would "absolutely" be there to stand with others.
"Millions in California, including our friends and families, stood up and voted for equalitywhile the LDS Church stood for discrimination," she said. "Friday's message will be one of hope for steady progress towards equality and fairness - a message everyone can believe in."
The LDS Church got into the thick of the California battle when officials issued statements encouraging members to actively support the ban. All told, Latter-day Saints are estimated to have given, by some counts, as much as $22 million to the effort.
But while many rallied for the cause, other church members have stepped up in protest. The hot issue has created rifts in ward houses and after the initiative passed, a church leader Wednesday called on members to treat one another with "civility, with respect and with love."
Whipple, who is engaged to Drew Cloud, 24, of Orange County, Calif., said the two men - who had planned to marry on April 11, 2009 - will go ahead with their ceremony and celebration, "whether it's recognized or not."
"Gays are people, too," he said. "We're your neighbors, your friends. . . We deserve every right everyone else has."
And it's for this reason that he will join the others in circling Temple Square, the international spiritual hub of the LDS Church, as well as the headquarters office building. It'll be part of the journey the returned missionary began when he left LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University after two years of study.
"I gave up on trying to pretend to be straight and started to live my life."
According to a written statement: "The Church acknowledges that such an emotionally charged issue concerning the most personal and cherished aspects of life family and marriage stirs fervent and deep feelings. The Church calls on those involved in the debate over same sex marriage to act in the spirit of mutual respect and civility towards each other. No one on either side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information."
ProponentsThe ProtectMarriage.com[50] organization sponsored the initiative that placed Proposition 8 on the ballot and continues to support the measure.
Republican presidential nominee and U.S. Senator John McCain released a statement of support for the proposed constitutional amendment.[51] Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich released a video in support. Both characterized the court ruling as being against the will of the people.[52] Other notable supporters include Republican State Senator Tom McClintock and 20 other Republican State Senators and Assemblymembers.[53]
Religious organizations that supported Proposition 8 include the Roman Catholic Church[54], Knights of Columbus[55], Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America[56], The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)[57][58][59], a group of Evangelical Christians led by Jim Garlow and Miles McPherson[60], American Family Association, Focus on the Family[61]and the National Organization for Marriage.[62] Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, California's largest, also endorsed the measure.[63][64] The Bishops of the California Catholic Conference released a statement supporting the proposition.[65] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) publicly supported the proposition and encouraged their membership to support it, by asking its members to donate money and volunteer time. The First Presidency of the church announced its support for Proposition 8 in a letter read in every congregation.[66][67] Latter-day Saints provided a significant source for financial donations in support of the proposition, both inside and outside the State of California.[68] About 45% of out-of-state contributions to ProtectMarriage.com came from Utah, over three times more than any other state.[69]
The Grossmont Union High School District in San Diego County, California publicly voted on a resolution endorsing Proposition 8. The Governing Board voted 4-0 to endorse the amendment of the California State Constitution.[70]
The Asian Heritage Coalition held a rally in support of Proposition 8 in downtown San Diego on October 19, 2008.[71]
The pup's synagogue came out against Prop 8 because the leadership there understands discrimination when they see it.
