Prop 8...Californians Against Hate make headway in Utah with Mormons. Boycott with Garff Automotive ends...

A few weeks ago, Ken Karger and Californians Against Hate (a group Karger founded) called for a boycott of Ken Garff Automotive Group at a Salt Lake City news conference, based on a $100,000.00 donation the family matriarch - Katharine Garff - proffered in support of Proposition 8 (ban on gay marriage).

In a follow-up to that meeting - Mr. Karger contacted me on Friday to inform me that the boycott has been terminated - because of the remarkable headway that has been made with the CEO of the Automotive Group, John Garff.

"A reporter there asked me if I would be willing to meet with John Garff. A few hours later, I was in his office. We had a wide-ranging and very productive two-hour meeting," the gay activist noted in his communication to me.

In addition to that "healing" moment, Karger was elated to report that Garff and his father (Robert Garff) later met with National LGBT community leader, Bruce Bastian, as well.

Bastian is also a Utah philanthropist.

The purpose of the second meeting, according to Karger, was to share perspectives and to discuss a variety of issues in an effort to find mutual respect and understanding over the Proposition 8 issue.

Behind closed doors an actual agreement was made that satisfied Bastian.

Although terms of an actual agreement were not released, sources noted to me that Garff officials have agreed to adopt a nondiscrimination policy for gay, lesbian and transgender employees.

Mr. Karger was so pleased with the meeting of hearts & minds that occurred on that momentous occasion that he elected to immediately end the boycott against the Automotive Group immediately.

"Last Friday, I met with Robert and John Garff. I believe that both Robert and John left the meeting with a better understanding of my work, the LGBT community, and the emotional significance of the passing of Proposition 8 to our community. I believe the Garff family now fully understands how sensitive and important this issue is to our community and to their friends and neighbors."

Meanwhile, the Garff's were anxious to express their feelings on the issues on record, as well.

"In response to the Ken Garff Automotive Group boycott that was called for by Californians Against Hate, I met with Fred Karger, its founder. My father, Robert, and I subsequently met with Bruce Bastian, a national LGBT philanthropist with local ties to Utah. I believe we all came away from those meetings with a greater level of mutual respect and understanding."

Karger concluded his heartfelt message to me by noting that as Utah progresses towards an era of equality for all families, he is extremely grateful to the Garff family for listening to the community in which they reside and do business in.

"I look forward to working together towards a better future for all."

Now, If the rest of those much-married Mormons in Utah would hop on board - maybe the rest of the community that is inclined toward getting hitched with one special person - would also have a shot at marital bliss!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Richard Raddon...quote of the day!

For the past two weeks - since news broke that Richard Raddon contributed $1500.00 in favor of the Proposition 8 initiative - there has been a flurry of activity at my blog site at Wordpress where I posted an article on despicable behaviour I encountered at the hands of Raddon a few months ago.

Post link:

http://julian1st.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/los-angeles-film-festivalrichard-raddon-improper-behaviour-la-times-conflict-of-interest-blogger-disdain-pass-on-it/

When Mr. Raddon resigned his post - in spite of the fact a handful of Board Members at the Los Angeles Film Festival encouraged him to remain on as Director (Don Cheadle, included) - the subject heated up with accusations flying back and forth between the Mormons, the gays, and the Blacks!

Did I forget anyone?

At my blogsite at wordpress, a number of pro-active anti-Proposition 8 folks have been posting comments non-stop.

I've been publishing them as part of the "healing" process.

Today, I laughed when one fellow attempted to post a comment (anonymously, of course!) in which he made the sweeping comment that everyone who posted on the issue - or visited the site to peruse the article - was a bigot!

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Andre Gide once said:

"The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity."

Proposition 8...Mormon Church probed by California Fair Elections Commission!

More trouble may be brewing on the horizon for the Mormon Church!

Fred Karger - the founder of "Californians Against Hate" - has filed a complaint with the California Fair Elections Commission in which he contends that the Mormon Church provided significant funds to the pro-Proposition 8 campaign but failed to report the contributions as required by State Law.

After consideration, the Fair Political Practices Commission has decided to move forward on the juicy complaint issues.

For starters, the agency plans to investigate funding for a handful of commercials, out-of-state phone banks, and a Web site hosted by the Mormons.

Based on the facts uncovered to date, sources close to the investigation assert that the California regulatory agency is compelled to look into whether the church broke State laws by failing to report campaign-related expenditures.

For those of you who may have been in a vacuum for the past few month or so, it is important to note that Proposition 8 - which California voters passed on November 4 - overturned a prior ruling by the California Supreme Court to lift a ban on "gay marriage".

Some argue that in doing so, the organizers for Proposition 8 rewrote the California State Constitution to allow for unjust discrimination against a group of citizens; namely, "gays" seeking equality in marriage, among other things.

Mormons were a major political (religious?) force behind the ballot measure.

Individual church-goers not only donated millions of their own savings to the cause, but also, took it upon themselves to canvass the streets door-to-door to raise additional funds.

If the commission determines through its probe that the Church of Latter Day Saints (?) violated California State reporting laws, the agency could levy penalties of $5,000.00 per violation against the Mormons.

The Church's exempt tax status may be thrown into jeopardy as well.

In response, Church Officials have denied any wrong-doing, of course.

News at 11!

Proposition 8...boycotts taking effect! Yes voters cry foul...

Opponents of Proposition 8 have shifted gears after protests in the streets earlier this week caught the attention of the National media.

Now, gay activists are moving ahead to exert their economic power, by boycotting businesses which voted "yes" on the initiative to ban gay marriages in the sunshine (!) State.

Ron Prentice of ProtectMarriage.com has called "foul".

"No matter what your opinion of Proposition 8, we should all agree that it is wrong to intimidate and harass churches, businesses and individuals for participating in the democratic process," he argued to the media in recent days.

According to Prentice, boycotters are "unabashedly trampling on the rights of others."

Not true!

I agree that harassment, per se, is wrong.

However, boycotters do have a legal right to stand in the street with signs and protest the actions of individuals and/or businesses that engaged in a process that they believe denied their rights.

And, on Wednesday night, an angry mob did just that.

Hundreds of protestors converged on the El Coyote restaurant on Beverly Boulevard - much to the dismay of the owners of the establishment - who have (by the way) collected many "gay" dollars for goods and services over the years.

For some inexplicable reason, El Coyote Manager Marjorie Christoffersen elected to contribute $100 to the "Yes" on Proposition 8 cause, which resulted in the protest outside the popular eatery.

Although the disciple of the Mormon Church allegedly appeared outside of the restaurant - and broke down in tears over the incident - protestors were unrelenting.

As they should have been.

Yes, California voters are entitled to cast a ballot as they wish, and contribute funds for a proposed initiative they opt to back.

Likewise, gay individuals have a right to boycott individuals and businesses who vote "down" their lifestyle and their inalienable right to equality pursuant to the California Constitution.

If the voters who supported Proposition 8 had any integrity, they would follow through all the way.

For example, "Yes" supporters would not seek out "gay" patronage or support any gay businesses, to underscore how vehemently opposed they are to the gay lifestyle and same-sex marriages.

While supporters of Prop 8 are inclined to deny gays the right to marry and equal status - ultimately - businessmen in the area have no qualms about accepting gay pinkbacks.

Indeed, the backstabbers seek the best of both worlds, to their advantage.

Sorry folks, it doesn't work that way!

In the wake of the boycotts now underway, strident opponents to gay marriage are now whining about potential losses and belly-aching about the gay community's bold-faced efforts to hurt 'em where it matters most, in the pocketbook.

The gay community has got 'em by the short and curlies, so why let go?

Fred Karger, a retired political consultant and resident of Los Angeles, put it succinctly when he made a statement to the press recently about the issue.

"People are determining who their friends are and who are not their friends. People need to be held accountable for their financial support."

Those interested in boycotting businesses (and individuals) who donated money in support of Proposition 8 may surf to the "Californians against Hate" website to determine who the culprits are and act accordingly.

http://californiansagainsthate.com/

Robert Hoehn (a VP at Hoehn Motors in Carlsbaad) - who contributed $25,000 in support of Prop 8 - is now suffering a lot of angst over his misstep.

He vowed to a reporter that in the future he'll find a discreet way to contribute funds without being found out by the gay community.

Well, he hasn't learned a thing on the heels of the controversy, now has he?

A boycott of Hoehn Motors should commence immediately.

Let's put that bozo out of business, straight away, folks!

Meanwhile, Ms. Christoffersen (El Coyote employee) left town.

If these individuals feel so strongly about the cause, and that what they did was politically and morally correct, why are they hiding their faces now?

Guilt? Shame? Conscience?

Well, to me, that signals a glimmer of hope...