SOCIAL: Prop 8

[Geoff Davis]

I've been really surprised at the traction that Prop 8 has been getting here
in California.  Andrew Sullivan's blog has a pretty surprising reason:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-mormon-fact.html

It's actually even bigger than previously understood. Yesterday, I linked to
stories<http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-mormon-chur.html>alleging
up to 40 percent of the financing for the California proposition to
strip gay couples of their right to marry was coming from LDS Church
members. Now, the numbers claimed by the opponents of Proposition 8 are even
higher <http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid64163.asp> - more like a
staggering *77 percent*:

Californians Against Hate released figures Tuesday showing that $17.67
million was contributed by 59,000 Mormon families since August to groups
like Yes on 8. Contributions in support of Prop. 8 total $22.88 million.
Additionally, the group reports that Mormons have contributed $6.9 million
to pass a a similar law, Proposition 102, in Arizona...

Karger said Californians Against Hate came up with the figures by
cross-referencing donor information from the California secretary of state
with Brigham Young University alumni lists, church memberships, and other
personal documentation that could identify Mormon Church members. He said
the surge in support has been an attempt to boost the church's social
standing among the greater religious community.

"For whatever reason, they're trying to get some respect from other
religions," he told The Advocate Tuesday. "They've always been looked down
upon by the Christians, the Catholics, and evangelicals." Success with the
marriage amendment would give the church credibility, Karger said.

(Photo: Same-sex couple Shani Lyons (L) and Melanie Franklin (R) exchange
rings during their wedding ceremony October 15, 2008 at City Hall in San
Francisco, California. Same-sex couples are rushing to get married before
the November election in fear that anti-gay marriage initiative proposition
8 will pass and gay marriages will once again be illegal in California. By
Justin Sullivan/Getty.)


This is about consolidating the Mormon church into the wider Christianist
movement. If the Mormons can prove their anti-gay mettle, they will be less
subject to suspicion from evanglicals. Just ask Hewitt. It''s a project dear
to his heart. You can help counter-balance the Mormon money flood by
donating here. <https://secure.ga4.org/01/unfair>
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