Please Don’t Hate(h8) Me Because I’m Mormon: The Strawman Problem

This delightful post comes from Dennis at Thinking in a Marrow Bone.

Read the original and comments here.

Since the passage of Proposition 8 in California, there have been several protests aimed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These protests are of course understandable. California Latter-day Saints did, after all, play a formidable role in donations and phone calling in support of the measure. This participation was formally encouraged by the general leaders of the Church in Salt Lake City. Considering how big of a deal this is for so many same-sex couples and others in support of same-sex marriage, these protests are inevitable and I welcome this exercise of free speech.

What I disagree with, however, is the “stop the hate (H8)” rhetoric. As if everyone in favor of Prop 8 is hateful and bigoted. Especially Mormons. This message is coming off to be awfully disingenuous and overly dramatic, and also sidesteps the major issues that need to be debated. Just because someone is not in favor of gay marriage does not mean they are hateful. Nor does it mean they are bigoted. They simply disagree with you, in terms of what should count for marriage.

I recognize that there certainly are hateful people. I have seen hate on both sides. Still, I think that most supporters and opponents of Prop 8 do not hate each other nor are they bigoted. For this reason, I hope that we can extend the same-sex marriage debate to a higher plane.

…

In addition to avoiding demonizing, I would hope that people on both sides will drop their straw man fallacies. I want to focus in this post on a few straw man arguments that are continually made by Prop 8 protesters. I welcome respectful dialogue about these issues — and I will exercise my right to discriminate against straw man arguments and ad hominen attacks (from both sides).

My major contention is that many Prop 8 protesters want to have an “equality for all” rhetoric but continue to eat a marriage philosophy that inherently discriminates.

Let’s be clear that almost everyone is in favor of discrimination in terms of marriage. I haven’t ran into a lot of people who will admit being in favor of siblings marrying, for example. Or even cousins marrying. Or groups of three or more. (I’ll simply set adult-minor relationships aside.)

Here are my questions to opponents of Prop 8: Is it conceivable that two siblings could love each other and want to marry? Is it conceivable that their love is just as genuine as the love between two gays or lesbians? If so, then does it mean that an opposition to their being legally married is hateful and bigoted?

You might say, of course, that this example is too extreme — how many siblings want to marry each other? But prevalence is irrelevant in regards to civil rights arguments (which Prop 8 opponents are making). Moreover, I could make the same argument for polygamous relationships, which are quite prevalent.

You might argue that such relationships are unnatural or a crime, or even question that such love could genuinely exist. Here, though, you would be guilty of the same kind of judgments that have been made throughout the years towards lesbian and gay relationships. Would this make you a bigot? Bigotry does not depend on the existence of clearly identified and politically dexterous groups of people.

You might argue that a sibling-sibling marriage is clearly not good for society — you could perhaps make an argument concerning birth defects. Again, these arguments are irrelevant to civil rights concerns. Moreover, these arguments do not pertain to same-sex sibling partners or to those who are unable or unwilling to have biological children (an argument that gays and lesbians ought to be sensitive to).

Or, perhaps, you might argue that we ought not discriminate against two siblings who want to marry. If this is the case, then this betrays the fact that there is much more behind the Prop 8 debate then discrimination towards same-sex relationships. Rather, it is a question of whether there ought to be discrimination at all in terms of marriage. If Prop 8 protesters think there should not be any discrimination whatsoever, then they are being disingenuous about their desire to radically change the meaning of marriage — to the point that it becomes nothing more than a social contract between two or more adults who want to live with each other for any reason.

The merits of this radical change, I would argue, are certainly worthy of debate. Perhaps our nation will decide to go down this path. But it’s not a civil rights debate. Rather, it is a debate about the fundamental meaning of marriage — and its consequences certainly will impact everyone. I see these potential consequences, not hate or bigotry, as a reason for why many are in support of Prop 8. They believe that this fundamental change of marriage will destroy the family as we know it. It might not harm current families, but it certainly will change the way many of our children and their children view what marriage is. Prop 8 opponents might argue that these issues will have to be taken one step at a time. This may be true, but it is naive to think that voters are not going to be thinking down the road.

If opponents of Prop 8 think that the legalization of same-sex marriage will not change marriage in this way, then that is an argument I welcome them to engage me with. And not only me and other Mormons — but other groups of people like many African-Americans and Hispanics (who, unlike Mormons, it is not politically correct to make scapegoats out of).

Hopefully we can have this debate without demonizing each other.

Technorati Tags: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,Mormons,Mormon,LDS,church,religion,prop 8,proposition 8,marriage,same gender marriage,same sex marraige

intolerance and high school

Another guest post from my friend Mary. She teaches an early-morning mormon seminary class for high school students (it starts at 6:10am). Her students are studying the new testament this year.

Hello friends and family,

I thought you might like to see what it is and has been like here in San Diego as we have tried to advocate for traditional marriage and work to pass Proposition 8.

Though our family has experience plenty of prejudice and hateful commentary, I think the experiences of my Seminary students (ages 14-17) best illustrate the atmosphere that surrounds us.

Their strength in the face of immeasurable peer pressure has amazed me during the entire campaign season and continues to do so as activists wage war on LDS beliefs as the scapegoats for their anger.

My question to myself throughout this entire ordeal has been, would I be as strong as I see these teenagers being?  Have I given as much socially and emotionally as they have to the cause?

Fighting for your beliefs is never about selfish martyrdom, but it may often be about personal sacrifice.  That these kids have been asked to give such a personal sacrifice at such a young age should strengthen all of our resolve (meaning those of us who can vote) to protect their tomorrow.

We talked on Election Day about tolerance.  I encouraged them to have tolerance toward and love everyone no matter what their belief.  And for all intents and purposes, they had already been following that principle.  But it prompted discussion regarding what they are asked to do in the face of intolerance and hatred directed AT them, and they wrote the following anonymous experiences on slips of paper.

These are from them, in their own words, when asked: “How have you seen or experienced prejudice or intolerance in your life?”  I did not ask them specifically about Prop 8 but their answers are telling:

• “People won’t talk to me because of my opinion of Prop 8.”
• “Called a bigot at school.”
• “A girl in my CPU class yesterday was saying bad things about the guy who was dressed up in Yes on 8 stuff.  I defended him.”
• “People are calling me bigoted and judgmental for my beliefs in the sacredness of marriage.”
• “Eggs thrown at me for my beliefs.”
• “People in class wouldn’t hear my side about Prop 8.  Wouldn’t even listen to my opinion and got mad at me for not agreeing with them.”
• “Everyone gangs up on me in class for my political beliefs.”

If you want to know how the same-sex marriage agenda will effect religious beliefs, you need look no further than the local High School.

I am very proud of the work that everyone did in California to pass this Proposition.

It may only buy us time, but it will allow us to look further into the consequences of such a decision.

Thanksgiving Holiday and Religion and Voting

Please don’t tell me that religion is inappropriate in the public square. Please don’t tell me I’m not allowed to vote according to my conscience. Please don’t tell me my belief in a divine power invalidates my opinion.

Regarding marriage and same-sex couples, there are plenty of non-religious arguments to support the wisdom of traditional marriage. I can and will argue them any day of the week while listening to the opposition with patience and sincerity.

Pilgrims came to this country seeking religious freedom. Today I am most grateful that I can believe in God. That I can worship Him openly. That I can believe in right and wrong. That I can express my beliefs by voting. I am grateful that everyone in this country is free to vote and express their unique beliefs.

George Washington approved Thanksgiving as a national holiday:

“…that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

George Washington, Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789: full text here

I am grateful today for George Washington and all the wise men and women of our nation’s history. I’m grateful for wise men and women who lived ordinary lives and influenced public policy through their every-day-good lives. There is such a thing as right and wrong.

I think its interesting to be celebrating Thanksgiving amid cries to strip churches of their tax exempt status. So, I am grateful today for people willing to stand up for wisdom, for goodness and for truth.

happy thanksgiving: posts you should read

posts worth reading this weekend:

Thanksgiving and Religious Freedom (thank you Beetle B)

LA Film Director (and Latter-Day Saint) Resigns over Prop 8

Another One Bites the Dust (pearl’s perspective)

and enjoy the pumpkin pie, and the sweet potatoes with marshmallows. and the turkey. happy thanksgiving!

Martyr McGehee

This post comes from Liz, originally posted here

Fresno, Calif — There is, in the world of communication, a specific style of unhealthy conversation, aptly named “one-upping,” in which the speaker embarks on an emotional telling of his tragic story and, instead of validating it (or in this case, even acknowledging it), the listener tries to trump it. This is the case with Lesbian mom, Robin McGehee, who is being raised up as a martyr for the No on 8 campaign.

Robin, whose 5-year-old son, Sebastian, was enrolled in St. Helen’s Catholic School in Fresno, attended a publicized “No on 8″ candlelight vigil, on Nov. 6th, following the vote that reestablished marriage as a union between one man and one woman. She is also the Central Valley program coordinator for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and has been interviewed several times on television. And while she never walked around campus sporting a “No on 8″ pin, McGehee was, nonetheless, open about her sexuality.

After her appearance on television and her “No on 8″ rally attendance, she was approached by Father Salvador Gonzalez, Jr., of the Fresno diocese, and asked to resign from her volunteer post as president of the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). Her visibility as an opponent of traditional marriage was seen to be in direct conflict with the Catholic Church’s teachings that marriage is between one man and one woman.

That’s it. That’s the story folks. However, if you read it here, you will get an earful of sentimental background fluff, building up and lauding McGehee for her participation in school projects, her donations to fund-raisers, and her various volunteer efforts with walk-a-thons and holiday-themed parties – efforts that many mothers in this state make on a regular basis for the enhancement of their child’s education. We get it, we do; she is a great mom. But this blatant immortalization effort is a transparent attempt to build up a martyr for future, inaccurate claims of victimization. Oh, and let’s not forget where the story conveniently breezes over the fact that darling little Sebastian has two mommies AND two daddies:

“[McGehee and her recent bride Kathy Adams] have two children 5-year-old Sebastian and 2-year-old Jackson. Also, two fathers, William ‘Aj’ Kruth and Aaron Olson, are a part of the family.”

Homosexuality or Polyamory? Honestly, I don’t know. But it’s obviously a hugely altered definition of a family. And this is what we have to look forward to with legalized same-sex marriage. Suddenly we live in an “anything goes” society. I think even those in favor of gay marriage might take issue with this. But, setting random and unsettling redefinitions of family aside, let’s forge onward with McGehee the Martyr.

Contrary to popular gay belief, McGehee’s story does not compare to the intolerant and bigoted targeting of Scott Eckern which lead to his resignation as artistic director for the California Musical Theater over a $1000 personal donation to the Yes on 8 campaign. Let’s take a look at these two cases in a side-by-side comparison, shall we?
Scott Eckern

25 years at the California Musical Theater.

Robin McGehee

Six months as president of the PTO.

Scott Eckern

Forced to resign from his paid position, his job, his livelihood.

Robin McGehee

Asked to resign from her volunteer position.

Scott Eckern

Publicly targeted and forced to resign for the personal, legal donation he made to a cause he believed in.

Robin McGehee

Privately asked to resign from a leadership post for not only living, but championing a lifestyle that is in direct opposition to the teachings of the church she was volunteering for.

Scott Eckern

Vilified for participating in a democratic process and having an opinion.

Robin McGehee

Has not been vilified.
Has not received hate mail or slanderous accusations aimed at her.
Is still free to live her homosexual lifestyle and be involved in her child’s education, just like any other parent…just not in an authoritative, leadership role. The church even asked her to keep her son in school, but she and her partner made the decision to pull him.

This is a case in point for the “six consequences” which caution that, following legalization of same-sex marriage, churches will be accused of hate speech and discrimination simply for standing behind their beliefs that homosexuality is immoral. It is already happening even with Proposition 8’s success. Robin McGehee was not asked to resign for being homosexual, she was asked to resign for being a vocal opponent of Proposition 8 and a highly visible proponent of the No on 8 Campaign. The Catholic Church is well within its rights to monitor the teaching and volunteer activity and leadership of the children attending its private schools. Thus, the real victim here is the falsely vilified, unjustly slandered Catholic Church, not Ms. McGehee.
And yet….

Collateral Damage: Tolerance vs. Collateral Damage: A young casualty of Prop 8

…notice the “bleeding heart” title of the latter?
The Catholic Church is misrepresented, and yet the gay community cries foul and promptly writes a heartrending, fervor producing, purely sentimentalist story that is conspicuously lacking in thoughtful reasoning. But that is, and always has been, their platform; “It feels good, we feel good, help us to feel good and you’ll feel good too. Forget thinking, it’s not important. Just feel (*imagine lulling, hypnotic music and the pungent smell of incense*). What we do in our lives won’t hurt you in yours.” Mm hmmm. Zzzzzz.
NO! BAD! WAKE UP!

Wake up, people of America! Wake up and step away from your collective Id for a moment. Give your Super-ego the chance to sound that warning bell that’s saying: “ERRR. Wrong! Wrong! Warning! Warning! Don’t try to fix something that’s not broken. Don’t tamper with marriage!” Marriage between a man and a woman works. The traditional family unit is what society relies on to exist and survive and thrive. Evidence shows the homosexual lifestyle to be dangerous and destructive. Now is not the time to be Id-driven, allowing our feelings to govern and control us. We must give research it’s day in our cranial courts. We must allow logic and self-restraint to temper passion and emotion. We must protect marriage to protect our little ones, our innocents, and to ensure the continuation of our society and government.

Technorati Tags: eckern,mcgehee,prop 8,proposition 8,catholic,california,lesbian,gay,homosexual,same gender,same sex

Official Pomegranate Apple Button!

  

In the words of my friend pearl:

The more people who link to [The Pomegranate Apple Blog], the more visibility traditional marriage defense will get. Copy and paste. Copy and paste. Copy and…. Well, you get the point.

If you have a blogger blog, copy and paste the following code into an html code box. If you have a wordpress blog, copy and paste the code into a text box.

<a href="http://thepomegranateapple.wordpress.com"><img src="http://thepomegranateapple.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/pomegranate-apple3.jpg">

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Pattern from the button:  ©Verity Freebern over at Pattern Of The Day

Homosexual Behavior/Relationships and Health

One time I was discussing with my brother, who is a doctor, and he mentioned that there are host of diseases and medical problems among homosexual men that are extremely rare among heterosexual people.

We were discussing the prop 8 argument that homosexuality isn’t harmful to society.

I finally had a chance to look up some information:

A list of diseases which occur with significantly higher frequency in homosexual men:

Anal Cancer (1998 study showed homosexual men 10 times more likely than heterosexual men) 0.
Chlamydia trachomatis
Cryptosporidium
Giardia lamblia
Herpes simplex virus
Human immunodeficiency virus
Human papilloma virus
Isospora belli
Microsporidia
Gonorrhea
Viral hepatitis types B & C
Syphilis (1)

Some of these are almost never seen among heterosexual people. Some of these are found among heterosexual people, but occur in much higher percentages among homosexual populations.

0–James Goedert, et al., for the AIDS-Cancer Match Study Group, “Spectrum of AIDS-associated malignant disorders,” The Lancet, 351: 1833-1839, p. 1836 (June 20, 1998).

1
Anne Rompalo, “Sexually Transmitted Causes of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Homosexual Men,” Medical Clinics of North America, 74(6): 1633-1645 (November 1990);

“Anal Health for Men and Women,” LGBTHealthChannel, www.gayhealthchannel.com/analhealth/; “Safer Sex (MSM) for Men who Have Sex with Men,” LGBTHealthChannel, www.gayhealthchannel.com/stdmsm/.

There are also some medical issues, some very serious & some just annoying, which are virtually non existent among heterosexual populations (except for in developing countries where there isn’t proper waste management), with high incidence rates among homosexual populations:

Hepatitis A, 2
Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, 3
Epstein-Barr virus, 4
Neisseria meningitides, 5
Shigellosis, Salmonellosis, Pediculosis, scabies and Campylobacter. 6

2
“Hepatitis A among Homosexual Men — United States, Canada, and Australia,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC, 41(09): 155, 161-164 (March 06, 1992).

3
Anne Rompalo, “Sexually Transmitted Causes of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Homosexual Men,” Medical Clinics of North America, 74(6): 1640.

4
H. Naher, B. Lenhard, et al., “Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in anal scrapings from HIV-positive homosexual men,” Archives of Dermatological Research, 287(6): 608- 611, Abstract (1995).

5
B. L. Carlson, N. J. Fiumara, et al., “Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis from anogenital specimens from homosexual men,” Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 7(2): 71-73 (April 1980).

6
P. Paulet and G. Stoffels, “Maladies anorectales sexuellement transmissibles” ["Sexually-Transmissible Anorectal Diseases"], Revue Medicale Bruxelles, 10(8): 327-334, Abstract (October 10, 1989).

This doesn’t prove that homosexuality is harmful to society. We can say people can risk whatever they want. However many of these problems aren’t necessarily helped by having “safe sex,” unless by that you mean not engaging in certain kinds of sex. (for example, anal sex commonly causes tearing, and the intestine walls are very thin and subject to damage (thus leaving the participants vulnerable to spreading/infection to HIV) (but there are many other problems too).

The high rate of STD’s (including the rare diseases) is also do to the high rate of sexual partners among homosexual men. Even among “committed” relationships, it’s a common expectation that there will be multiple partners per year.

I would just hope that if same-gender marriage is ever accepted by society that the special health considerations of homosexual behavior will be taught in health education classes.

Welcome to Wonderland

The Queen of Hearts campaign for gay marriage rights: compiled by the beetle blogger (see original post here)

In Chapter 12 of “Alice in Wonderland,“ the Queen of Hearts memorably declares, “sentence first, verdict afterwards!”

Queen of Hearts: Now then, are you ready for your sentence?
Alice: But there has to be a verdict first.
Queen of Hearts: Sentence first! Verdict afterwards.
Alice: But that just isn’t the way.
Queen of Hearts: [shouting] All ways are…!
Alice: …your ways, your Majesty.

Borrowing a page from Lewis Carroll’s foolishly imperious monarch, gay rights activists have adopted a “vote first, campaign afterward” approach to trying to win marriage rights for same-sex couples.

You may have seen them–thousands of gay marriage advocates took to the nation’s streets in many cities in many states on Saturday, hoping to galvanize support” for same-sex marriage. It was a demonstration aimed at Proposition 8, the anti gay-marriage ballot referendum here in California.

In the last 12 days or so, protesters have been picketing Mormon churches and other religious institutions that have supported Proposition 8 and launching a legal effort to have the referendum itself declared unconstitutional.

“If I lose my temper, you lose your head. Understand?”

Anti-Prop. 8 organizers have targeted Mormon, Catholic and evangelical churches. Sentiments like this one, found on the anti-Prop.8 website “JoeMyGod,” are common across the left-wing blogosphere: “Burn their f—ing churches to the ground, and then tax the charred timbers.”

Thousands of gay-rights demonstrators stood in front of the Mormon temple in Los Angeles shouting “Mormon scum.” The Mormon headquarters in Salt Lake City received threatening letters containing an unidentified powder. Religion-bashing protesters filled with hate decried the “hate” at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif. Vandals defaced the Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills, Calif., because church members had collected Prop. 8 petitions. One worshiper’s car was keyed with the slogans “Gay sex is love” and “SEX.” Another car’s antenna and windshield wipers were broken.

In Carlsbad, Calif., a man was charged with punching his elderly neighbors over their pro-Prop. 8 signs. In Palm Springs, Calif., a videographer filmed unhinged anti-Prop. 8 marchers who yanked a large cross from the hands of 69-year-old Phyllis Burgess and stomped on it.

“Off with their heads!”

Corporate honchos, church leaders and small donors alike are in the same-sex marriage mob’s crosshairs, all unfairly demonized as hate-filled bigots by bona fide hate-filled bigots who have abandoned decency in pursuit of “equal rights.”

Painting the Roses Red–All ways here you see, are the QUEEN’S WAYS!

Painting the Roses Red

We’re painting the roses red,
We’re painting the roses red!
We dare not stop or waste a drop,
So let the paint be spread!

We’re painting the roses red,
We’re painting the roses red!!
We’re full of dread, And many a tear we shed…
Because we know…They’ll cease to grow…
In fact they’ll soon be dead!

Businesses have been painting the roses red, trying to appease gay rights activists to avoid boycotts while still maintaining their principles.

And yet we go ahead…
Painting the roses red!
We’re painting the roses red,
We’re painting the roses red!

Yes, painting the roses red!
Not pink…
Not green…
Not aquamarine!

We’re painting the roses red!

In case you missed it, Election Day is over. The vote was Nov. 4. Traditionally, the time for demonstrations, rallies, protests, pre-emptory lawsuits and so on is before the election.

That’s when moving public opinion can do you the most good.

Proposition 8 was no secret, particularly not in California. Nor was it a secret that it was doing well in the polls and that various religious institutions were putting big money into the campaign for passage. Where were all these protesters then? Why weren’t they out on the street corners waving flags then?

“Who has been painting my roses red?!” Gay activists have been ruthless in identifying donors from the donor rolls for punitive action

Gay rights advocates did not, for instance, make much of an effort to win support in minority communities, where homosexuality remains a greater taboo than it is non-minority communities — even though Barack Obama’s name on the presidential ballot was sure to spark a heavy turnout in those communities.

White Rabbit: Your Majesty, members of the jury, loyal subjects… and the King… the prisoner at the bar stands accused of enticing Her Majesty, the Queen of Hearts, into a game of croquet, thereby and with malice of forethought, molesting, tormenting, and otherwise annoying our beloved…
Queen of Hearts: Never mind all that! Get to the part where I lose my temper.
White Rabbit: …thereby causing the Queen to lose her temper.

“All ways here you see, are the QUEEN’S WAYS!”

Gay rights advocates’ legal claim now is that the people don’t have the right to make the rules. It sounds eerily familiar–doesn’t it Alice? Prop. 8 represents too great a change to the California Constitution to be approved by a simple majority vote.

With the Supreme Court we have in this state, who knows what the outcome of that legal decision will be. The point is, the time for that argument was before the election; before asking for nullification of the result looked so much like the complaint of sore losers.

Contributing Sources:

The Queen of Hearts campaign for gay marriage rights–by Eric Zorn

The Insane Rage of the Same Sex Marriage Mobs–Michelle Malkin

Alice in Wonderland–By Lewis Carroll

original post: http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/queen-of-hearts-campaign/

CTA response to Student’s email:

Beetle Blogger has an amazing story on her blog. It’s the response of a the CTA/NEA coordinator to a student email. Go here for the full story. And here for all the emails.

In a singular act of political activism last month, the California Teachers Association board, with the leadership of CTA President David Sanchez, flexed it’s political muscle during the campaign, donating over a million dollars toward defeating proposition 8.  In this highly controversial move, CTA representatives raided the teacher’s union funds for  political causes that had been earmarked for lowering class sizes.  Now that the money has been lost and Proposition 8 has won, the heat is on.

In a letter questioning CTA choices in this matter, Folsom High School student Camilla X, wrote to CTA officials protesting their use of teacher funds and received this shockingly worded reply from CTA/NEA coordinator, Jim Rogers….and this is a direct quote:

“Thanks, Sweetie, but it’s over for now.  And it’s really none of your business.”

Why is the opposition to traditional marriage so unwilling to discuss or converse about the issue? or just be polite?

Technorati Tags: camilla,cta,david sanchez,jim rogers,california,prop 8,proposition 8,marriage,education,same-gender,same-sex,family,children

A post about Margie of the El Coyote Boycott

Margie Christoggerson donated $100 to the Yes on prop 8 campaign. She happens to work at a restaurant named “El Coyote.” Though she did not donate in the name of her restaurant, and though she donotated her own money…she has fallen victim to the movement of “tolerance” and “equality.”

Her name is identified as “Mormon” on the gay and lesbian  prop 8 blacklist.

The following is a post written by one of Margie’s friends. If you are in the area, please go to the restaurant, or send the Coyote a supportive message: elcoyotecafe@hotmail.com.

I’m including the video below– this where her customers ask her to deny her religious convictions. Originally posted here

I was going to write about the persecution of my friend, Marjorie  (Margie) Christofferson, who has been targeted by the gay community for giving 100 bucks to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign.  But instead of talking about their hatred which we have seen displayed so clearly I want to talk about Margie.

Margie is a wonderful, beautiful older woman in my ward. She owns El Coyote Mexican restaurant,  a big gay hang out in Los Angeles.  Even though she doesn’t agree with their lifestyle she has never discriminated against any of them.  And I know through my church relationship with her she has been nothing but kind, thoughtful and always willing to lend a helping hand.  She is the first one to pitch in whenever we have an event.  She was even willing to lend her house for a Relief Society party that because of circumstances beyond anyone’s control had to be canceled. She participates in the Relief Society discussion always giving a fresh perspective on the Gospel.

Margie is tall and sleek.  She has a most regal air about her.  She has a smile that lights up a room.  She is the epitome of grace and intelligence.  Until this recent event I didn’t even know she owned El Coyote-that is because she doesn’t feel the need to brag or boast about her own accomplishments. She is humble and without an ounce of pretentiousness about her.  I always liked and admired her, but these recent events have deepened that.  Every time I see her, I smile, give her a hug, maybe a chat for awhile.  But I had no idea of the true character of this remarkable woman until the other day.

At the press conference she gave, the gay community were trying to force her to give money to the NO on Prop 8 campaign (Hello! It is over, what good would it do now? As long as we are going to give money to obsolete causes, why not pony up some cash for the Build the Titanic fund as well?  After all, that ended up sinking too!) yet she said she would not.  She would not apologize for standing by her beliefs and as upset as she was, she still stayed true to the Gospel.  So the boycott was on.  If she wasn’t going to apologize, if she wasn’t going to give money to their cause, if she was going to stand up to their bullying, well she was going to have to pay.  It would’ve been easy just to give into what they wanted and not sacrifice her livelihood.  Yet she was willing to do just that to follow her faith.

A friend of mine told me today that he heard someone say, “Today we are all Mormons.”  That touched me, but not as much as Margie’s courage and strength in the face of personal adversity.  To know such a woman is truly an honor.  You don’t meet many great people in your life, they are a rarity.  I have pledged to do whatever I can to help her get through this. If Margie is willing to sacrifice so much for what she believes, the least I can do is support her and stand by her.  The people who are vilifying her don’t even begin to know what kind of wonderful person they are hurting.  They will never have the moral fortitude to looks such heated opposition in the eye and not blink.  They will never be as good, forgiving or loving as my good friend Margie Christofferson. May God watch over her now.  May all those who supported Prop. 8 support her now.  She given so much for us, it is time to pay her back.

Originally posted here