I have a harder time understanding the other side of the coin. If I were to state that I cannot listen music by people that are not heterosexual then I would be considered a bigot and a long list of denigrating adjectives. Since an early age I learned to separate the artist from the art. It is tiring to hear people asking for tolerance and rights while they deny the same to others. Honestly it is getting very old.

comment by aemadrid about an hour later

I fully agree with this post. Ironically, it was reported that 389 shows of Twilight are already sold out as of 12 pm yesterday and expected to make anywhere between $30 – $70+ million . . . I guess we pick and choose our battles – right?!

comment by Zach about an hour later

Well put Jason.

comment by Mike Metcalf about an hour later

That was an excellent, pointed response to a growing sentiment. Nicely said!

comment by Jeff Claeson 1 hour later

WORD.

You should add Napolean Dynamite & Nacho Libre to the list as well.

Plus the church is not responsible for Prop 8 NOT passing, instead it is the people who voted who are responsible.

comment by Shane 3 hours later

As the “concerned subscriber” mentioned, I do happen to understand everything stated here.

But, desperate times call for desperate thinking. This is my life – my very being we are talking about here. The Church has decided to wage war against a particular group of people – and we need to wage war back. Fair? Probably not. Does it all fit into a nice package that makes perfect sense? Nope.

But we have to do what we have to do to get some affirmation – and to help ourselves believe that we are indeed just as valuable as humans as anyone else.

Nope – it might not make a lot of sense, and might not be completely logical. But neither is Prop 8, and neither is the amount of hate the church (your particular “client”) is spewing.

You guys might not be affiliated, but are indeed associated, and to a very serious degree so.

This isn’t about “punishing” anyone – but a recognition that we just cannot stand by as others degrade us. People need to know and understand we see what is happening to us, and we refuse to just sit by and let them.

comment by Sean 4 hours later

@Pete – nope, I don’t think of all Mormons as enemies – but until I see a group of vocal Mormons stand up for what they believe (to be fair, they might be, we just don’t hear about it) even though it might be contrary to church teachings, then I have to assume that as a member of a religion/organization, you subscribe to their values, beliefs, and creed.

But, to be honest, this is one of the most rational and clear-headed discussions on this topic I’ve seen in a while.

Must be us creatives.

comment by Sean 5 hours later

Sean,

I’m sorry. I really am. As a member of the LDS Church I am frustrated with this whole episode and wished the Church hadn’t been involved. I lived in CA during Prop 22 in 2000 and it was an absolute nightmare for me as a Faith that has blessed my life so abundantly took and stand against a cause that I fully embrace.

I appreciate that you are taking a stand but I want you to know that by so doing you are losing critical support for this cause. If you really wish to be seen “valuable” to society then may I suggest that the movement act valuable to a society. The violence, threats of boycotts, terror and such are pushing sympathetic Mormons like myself away. Quite frankly, if there is to be acceptance than this cause needs people like me.

Personally I could care less what blog you read, I just want you to understand that your actions aren’t doing what you think they are doing but rather the opposite. You are marginalizing and generalizing which I’m confident will be more harmful than good.

Again, I’m really really sorry. I wish more than anything that we could get over this and move on.

comment by patrick campbell 6 hours later

This post makes me very sad. I am an active Latter-Day Saint and cherish my religion. But I understand some of both sides of this. I have many gay friends, and my father is is gay. I am certainly sympathetic towards many of the concerns expressed as of late by the gay community at large. I love my father and my gay friends because of who they are as people. I guess that’s really how I view them: as people that I love who happen to be gay. While I don’t necessarily agree with or endorse some of their behaviors I can say that of most people I know and love.

That being said, I just don’t get how people think that members of our Church are “spewing hate” by upholding our values. And I really really don’t get how you think a boycott of anything – this site in particular – helps your cause.

I am not a professional designer – I just dabble a little bit for fun. But I learn things here and mostly appreciate how random some of the posts are. Knowing how much I enjoy the blog, it makes me sad to see you go, Sean.

I really just wish we could all get along.

comment by TARA 7 hours later

Welcome to the refiners fire!

comment by Dalin about a day later

Sorry, but Mormons aren’t spewing hate. I actually had a gay friend write me and ask, “So, do you want to stop receiving e-mail updates about my site?” “No, you can keep sending them.” I campaigned for Prop. 8 and haven’t shunned anyone I know who struggles with same-sex attraction.

Those who refer to themselves as gay (to use Pres. Hinckley’s phraseology, because I don’t believe it correct to say that someone IS gay) are entirely free to coin their own term for a gay union and should not feel like they can only be validated by glomming onto the term for a straight union.

“my father is gay”

Seems like I remember hearing George Costanza saying that.

comment by Christian about a day later