A wildfire of contention has swept the country since California citizens passed Proposition 8, prohibiting same-sex marriage.

Many believed the huge voter turn-out for President-elect Barack Obama would mean legality of homosexual marriages. Though Obama supporters overwhelmingly dominated popular and electoral votes, more than half of Californians voted yes on Proposition 8 to preserve traditional marriage. As LDS members poured millions of dollars into the campaign, the LDS faith became a national target of criticism.

Opponents of Proposition 8 have channeled much of their anger toward the Church for its involvement in the form of hostile demonstrations and in many cases, vandalism of Church property. In response to the animosity, the First Presidency of the Church released an official statement encouraging respect and civility on both sides of the matter.

An excerpt of the statement reads, "Attacks on churches and intimidation of people of faith have no place in civil discourse over controversial issues. People of faith have a democratic right to express their views in the public square without fear of reprisal."

Protests have erupted outside LDS temples and churches, and promotions made to boycott LDS-owned and Utah businesses such as Utah ski resorts are under way. Utah gay activists said they condemn the acts of hostility and vandalism, but many feel the Church's involvement is credited with passing the measure.

"Protesters do have the right to express themselves. It may seem convenient to isolate the Church, but the less than 2 percent of Mormons alone in California didn't pass Proposition 8," said senior Elizabeth Clayton, 22, from Newport Beach, Calif. Clayton was actively involved in the campaign to pass Proposition 8. "Protesters believe supporters to be intolerant, but what they don't realize is some of their own actions are intolerant as well," she said.

The First Presidency of the LDS Church said they are "keenly aware" of the differences of opinion on this "difficult and sensitive matter." "The end of a free and fair election should not be the beginning of a hostile response in America," read the statement.

Twenty-four-year-old BYU alum Jimmy Winterton, attending dental school in San Francisco, said protesters outside his ward building last Sunday were respectful toward members. "They just seemed like nice people taking a stand for what they believe in," he said.

Elsewhere in California, however, some have experienced the latter.

Kaitlyn Thatcher, a senior broadcast journalism major from Placentia, Calif., said some family friends were heckled as they recently attended the Oakland, Calif., LDS Temple. "There were protesters yelling and screaming at them, literally as they were entering the temple doors," said Thatcher. "I don't think any of them thought they'd see the day when they'd have to fight to attend the temple. Also, there were no police there to monitor the protesters- only temple security guards."

The Church said it does not object to civil unions or domestic partnerships, as long as they do not "infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches."



Copyright Brigham Young University 19 Nov 2008