Posted on 11/07/2008 6:26:14 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's growing tourism industry and the star-studded Sundance Film Festival are being targeted for a boycott by bloggers, gay rights activists and others seeking to punish the Mormon church for its aggressive promotion of California's ban on gay marriage.
It could be a heavy price to pay. Tourism brings in $6 billion a year to Utah, with world-class skiing, a spectacular red rock country and the film festival founded by Robert Redford, among other popular tourist draws.
"At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one," said gay rights activist John Aravosis, an influential blogger in Washington, D.C.
"They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards," he said. "You don't do that and get away with it."
Salt Lake City is the world headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which counts about 62 percent of Utah residents as members.
The church encouraged its members to work to pass California's Proposition 8 by volunteering their time and money for the campaign. Thousands of Mormons worked as grassroots volunteers and gave tens of millions of dollars to the campaign.
The ballot measure passed Tuesday. It amends the California Constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual act, overriding a state Supreme Court ruling that briefly gave same-sex couples the right to wed.
The backlash against the church — and by extension Utah — has been immediate. Protests erupted outside Mormon temples, Facebook groups formed telling people to boycott Utah, and Web sites such as mormonsstoleourrights.com began popping up, calling for an end to the church's tax-exempt status.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
“.........They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards,........”
Now that is funny!
Time for conservatives to visit Utah. Take it from me, it is a beautiful state with millions of friendly, God-fearing citizens.
Okay, I must have missed the biology class where the teacher explained how same-sex marriages could produce natural children. Does anybody have a link to that?
As a former “ski freak,” I’m betting Utah won’t get hurt one bit by gay skiers boycotting...
I'll personally make it up to the state of Utah by visiting Zion and Bryce more. I promise. Most beautiful places on earth.
Ooo, you mean Robert Redford is going to be losing money on this? I sure this is going to cut the LDS deeply. BTW Mormons, I respect you for taking this on like you did.
“At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one,” said gay rights activist John Aravosis, an influential blogger in Washington, D.C.
Oh, STHU !
“They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards,” he said. “You don’t do that and get away with it.”
I think they made YOU the bastard.
Good.
Let’s boycott Sundance Film Festival and Robert Redford.
/s
Well, while the religion and politics mix is something to be debated, and I don't partake of their teaching, I admire their values, so: the only problem is their values don't agree with the ‘protesters’ and the latter's are more valuable?
If I was a skier I would go to Utah and spend my $ there.
They write this like 6 billion dollars is all queer money too.
So....
Let me get this right...
Obama-supporting blacks supported and PASSED prop 8 by a 70% margin, but it’s the fault of those EVIL MORMANS???
These idiots have become so PC-poisoned they can no longer see what’s in front of them.
They? So the fact that 5.5 million Californians (of whom only a very small percentage are Mormon) voted for the homo marriage ban is somehow the Mormons' fault? lol...great thinking there, cupcakes.
I'm moving there next year from CA. Hopefully it will become even more conservative and drive any liberals there back out.
The folks in Utah will likely be nothing but thrilled to know
that fewer queers will be showing up on their ski slopes.
I am amused, a bit, cause the people they are going to hit worst with these boycotts aren’t the Mormons, but the non-Mormon, San Francisco Lite crowd that does things like go to the film festival.
I’m sure it can have an impact on the taxes that come into the state, but the boycott is obviously being organized by people who don’t understand the dynamics of what goes on in Utah. The outfitters, the ski lodges, the recreational businesses in Utah are not run directly by Mormons.
It will hit the people MOST LIKE THE BOYCOTTERS THEMSELVES!
I love, love, love, love the irony!
We love Utah. Have been 4 times in the past 3 years. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I hope they do boycott. We don’t need lefties stinking up the place. Repubs, start making your vacation plans now.
What's wrong with this picture? In fact, does anyone want to contemplate this picture?
Lets see.
The homosexual agenda people say they will boycott (not come to) your Community?
And they think this is a threat?
I would send them a thank you card.
At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one,” said gay rights activist John Aravosis, an influential blogger in Washington, D.C
I imagine this idiot did not even seen the irony in his telling others that they have crossed the line....
Well at least the kids will be safe.
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