8: The Mormon Proposition

(Photo Courtesy: sacbee.com)

In my time, I have seen many different types of social documentaries that have made me feel a whirlwind of emotions from concern to angst to anger. Never, have I felt such intense emotions about such a personal and controversial subject as the one covered in "8: The Mormon Proposition". This film documents, in detail, the campaign to ban same-sex marriage via State Constitutional amendment in the state of California during the 2008 Election season. At the time this proposition went to the ballet, same-sex marriage was recently legalized by the Supreme Court of California and thousands of marriages were performed across the state and many more planned to take place with friends and family; as marriage should be celebrated. This proposition ended all of those hopes and dreams of couples who were ready to make that next step in creating a family built on love and honor and commitment.

A member of the Coalition created to fund campaigns against same-sex marriage, who was anonymous, brought documentation to the attention of a legal expert which outlines all of the battle plans the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had formed in order to defeat same-sex marriage legislation in Hawaii. There, they formed a coalition of religious followers and churches, which behind they stood as funders and unattached supporters, to fight against the State of Hawaii Legislation. They used educational ads which made voters feel that it was their right to stand strong and not allow a government to take away their right to belief in God, Church, Sin, and that homosexuality was an abomination. They funded the majority of the campaign, and some within the coalition say, the ban would have failed without the support of the LDS Church. These battle plans were carried over into California and set in place years before Prop 8 was on the ballot.

In the same fashion that they formed a battle plan with Hawaii, the LDS Church moved into position to lead the pack. Without officially forming a Political Action Committee, the LDS funded and assigned members from within their Church to form the group known as the National Organization of Marriage. By distancing themselves completely from the campaign, the Mormons were free to fund and build a strong opposition and "coalition" to pass the Constitutional ban.

To understand just HOW the LDS Church went about getting all the money to fund Prop 8, we learned just HOW the LDS Church operates in their belief system. The first teaching within the Church is that of Obedience. They believe that the 12 Prophets of the Church have direct contact with God and their word is the same word of their God. They also believe that when they die, their spirit goes to the spirit world. In the spirit world, they become a God and get their own world for which they must create little spirit babies with all the spirit women so that they can create life on their own planet. Its a reward for following "God's plan" and doing what they were put here to do. This is one of the founding ideas behind their original polygamist practice. The more babies they create, the happier and better off they were in following the path created for them. To me, I respect religion and allowing people to believe what suits them best. But the reason the Church was so impartial and "hell-bent" (no pun intended) on stopping same-sex marriage is because they interfere their what they believe is God's plan. It's a very intense set of beliefs, but nonetheless, they are allowed to practice it as such.

In the campaign, the Church used smear ads saying that legalizing gay marriage would do so many different things to upset the balance of life and child education, that the uneducated voters would eventually listen and follow suit. Sickening, but that's what their religion lead them to do. In order to fund the 72% of all the money spent on Prop 8 by the LDS Church (an estimated total $83 million spent on the campaign, you do the math) came because of the tactics used by the Prophets and their Elders. The Prophets delivered a 1 hour speech and following letter to its members, with personal bank statement/income/savings information telling them how much money the Church feels they can donate to the campaign. Elders from the Church would visit each family in the coming days/weeks with blank checks, reiterate how much money they think each family can donate, and then wait for them to write the check. I found it compelling that, regardless of class, income, or family size, a Church organization would actually know the personal financial information of a family and then make assumption about how much they can "do without". Again, the word of the Prophet is the word of their God, so the families were obedient and gave as directed.

They also gave us a glimpse into the lives of what a gay Mormon would go through. The main story followed the lives of two gay Mormon men who got married the day the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage legal. They were shut out from their families, with the exception of one of the mothers, and excommunicated by choice from the Church. They were happy the day they got married, and felt as if the world was finally becoming accepting and changing for the better. Then, the campaign started and it felt like their world was falling apart. We see how many gay Mormons become homeless, and commit suicide. Salt Lake City has the highest teenage suicide rate, with 80% of those being or thought to be known for committing homosexual acts. Families within the Church who's children committed suicide even stated on record that they were happy once they knew their children weren't around anymore. Happy their child committed suicide. . . That's where the tears began to roll down the sides of my face. I can't imagine a life growing up where the feelings of complete emptiness would consume me to drive me towards taking my own life. It's very sad that this does happen and because of the power of the Church, often goes under the radar. I can't type about this subject anymore.

Proposition 8, the Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in the state of California, my home state, passed by a margin of 4%. 52% to 48%. 504,479 single votes made it possible for what was seen as the most liberal state at the time, after millions and millions of OUT OF STATE dollars came in to support banning same-sex marriage, to TAKE AWAY the rights of so many thousands of loving couples. This historical documentary really gives you some serious insight as to how this tragic vote was made possible, and comes to DVD on July 13th. It is worth the watch and will definitely serve as a stepping stone towards achieving equality for LGBT families. One of the many concepts we discussed in IDS 101 this quarter.