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

Proposition 8...Supreme.court will hear arguments to repeal March 5th!

When Proposition 8 (gay marriage ban) passed in California - supporters of the right for gays to marry - sprang into action.

Activists staged raucous highly-vocal protests in the streets which came close to turning into full-scale riots.

Meanwhile, in the trenches, foot soldiers tried to ferret out the names of individuals and businesses who donated funds in support of the anti-gay marriage initiative, so that their homes and businesses could be picketed.

Indeed, a cat & mouse game has persisted.

Supporters of Prop 8 filed a lawsuit in California Courts asking bench warmers to issue a directive that the names of contributors be kept private, for instance.

Legal counsel challenged the constitutionality of the State's Political Reform Act and urged the court to take action on the grounds that donors were being harassed and that some had received death threats.

In essence, Prop 8 supporters were seeking extraordinary relief (and a protective order) from the Courts.

The act, passed in 1974, requires campaigns to reveal personal information on people who give more than $100 to campaigns. The law is intended to prevent money laundering and other illegal campaign activities.

The long and short of it?

Prop 8 supporters were not only asking for "special treatment" - but making a pitch to the court to be exempted from the law - as well.

A Judge did not find their arguments meritorious, however, so he dismissed the case.

Not to be out-maneuvered, anti-prop 8 supporters proceeded to lodge a lawsuit specifically drafted to effect a repeal of Proposition 8, if granted by the Justices in the High Court.

Oral arguments are set for March 5th.

The lawsuit argues that Prop 8 severely alters the California Constitution's quarantine of Equal Protection to minorities because the rights of a minority - in this case the fundamental right to marry - cannot be eliminated by a simple majority vote in an election process.


The court is expected to hand down a decision ninety-days after the hearing in March.

Meanwhile, bodies continue to be strewn about the Prop 8 battlefield.

This past weekend, for instance, former President Bill Clinton was forced to face the wrath of anti-prop 8 supporters when he appeared at the Manchester Hotel in San Diego on Sunday to give a speech.

The owner of the Hotel donated $125,000.00 to the Prop 8 cause.

Rather than cancel his speaking engagement (and run the risk of losing a $100,000.00 fee), Clinton opted to go ahead with his well-orchestrated plans in California.

After-the-fact, Fred Karger at "Californian's Against Hate", was in touch with Clinton's "people" - who swore up and down that before the engagement took place - Clinton made a good-faith effort to switch the venue to another when it came to his attention that the Hotelier supported a cause he has gone on record as being opposed to.

In fact, this past week - after the sting of the highly-publicized protests in the media damaged his name and reputation around the country - the slick politician went so far as to urge that Proposition 8 be repealed!

To me, it was a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking, and I'm not buying it.

If the State Bar Association was unable to switch locales - Bill, if he had an ounce of ethics - should have bowed out of the commitment whatever the consequences.

Meanwhile, the hotly-debated issue rages on.

I'm betting that the High Court will overturn Prop 8.

What then?

Mormons and their supporters will try to oust the Judges (who repealed Proposition 8) come next election.

Then, they'll take a shot at it again.

Yeah, Mr. Smith would be proud.

Those Utah zealots are some Christians, eh?

http://www.julianayrs.com

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!