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Activist calls for Utah boycott after California passes Prop 8
We've noticed a sharp drop in the cost of traveling to Utah -- could it be because the state is trying to hedge against a tourism boycott for its role in the recent elections? It wasn't Utah's doing, exactly, but the Mormon Church, which makes up over 60% of Utah's population, poured millions of dollars and hours of grassroots campaigning into passing California's Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state.Activist and blogger John Aravosis of americablog.com blames Utah Mormons for taking away rights, and suggests that a boycott of Utah tourism is a good way to show dissatisfaction for the LDS church's role in passing Proposition 8. He's calling for skiers to choose anywhere but Utah this winter, and he's even urging Hollywood to back out of the annual Sundance Film Festival, which makes up a huge part of Utah's $6 billion annual tourism income.
While gay rights groups have not yet weighed in on the idea of a boycott, other individuals and websites are latching onto the cause, and the backlash against the Mormon Church and the state of Utah by extension has been intense. Aravosis and his supporters can't reasonably expect to change the church's view on gay marriage, but he says he intends to go after the "Utah brand," calling it a "hate state." He does not call for a boycott of California, saying "the Californians are the victims and the Mormons are the persecutors." A boycott may not get Utah Mormons to change their minds about gay rights, but Aravosis hopes it will at least get them to stop trying to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of the world.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Max Nov 17th 2008 4:56PM
and what about Hollywood trying to impose their extreme far left liberal agenda on the world?
George Nov 18th 2008 4:22AM
I assume by calling someone "liberal" you mean a person who is on the whole intelligent, open-minded and compassionate.
Nicole Nov 17th 2008 8:26PM
What a bizzare idea. I'm LDS, and I have family in Utah, but I think the finger of blame is being pointed erroneously. I guess a boycott on Utah travel would make it easier to fly standby to visit my family.
Shawn Nov 17th 2008 9:24PM
Interesting idea, but that boycott involves a lot of non-LDS folks also. I guess about 40% of Utah would possibly be collaterally impacted. I do believe that the consumer voice is the only true impact anyone can have these days, and that something needs to be done. I just wish there was a more direct way to do it. I don't want one penny of my money going to that hate cult, but there is no clear way to differentiate.
Tom Nov 18th 2008 11:08AM
Shawn, it is obvious you know nothing of the LDS beliefs or you would not be saying they are a hateful cult. Take the time to get educated with sincerity of heart and you will understand their position better. I am not saying you will agree with all their beliefs but you will know better their actions. They only ask for the same freedom of belief and exspresion as the liberal gays are trying to impose on everyone else.
Shawn Nov 18th 2008 9:23PM
It's completely immoral of you, and your church, to hide your hate agenda behind the "freedom of belief and expression". Would that be the same freedom of expression that would allow someone to demand blacks be segregated? Or the same opinion that women shouldn't vote? If you're just saying that a demographic of society should be denied their rights is that honestly what you call freedom of expression? I know plenty about your beliefs, I just happen to be calling a spade a spade instead of hiding behind a "freedom of expression" catch phrase.
I assume you are not overly active in your "church's" politics because they pour vast resources into denying the rights of other humans. You don't find the detailed documentation of the last 10 years of concentrated effort to abolish gay rights as hate driven?
Here's what I believe: We're all neighbors, and we all have to live together on the same land. So we need government to regulate actions which can impact our neighbors. I can't shoot people or light buildings on fire because it impacts someone other than me. What I have no right to do is demand that my neighbor think what I think, wear what I wear or do what I do. Who some anonymous gay person that you don't know loves has exactly nothing to do with you and it is the most repugnant arrogance to force your beliefs on to them and deny them their freedoms.
In short - if your "religion" endorses hate in any form or for any reason, you are not in a "religion" so much as you are elitist bigots with a charity exemption and some nice architecture.
skylark130xx Nov 21st 2008 6:08PM
This is a response to Tom
my friends and i have decided to fly to Whistler this year, even with the still weak US dollar, and with the advent of cheap tickets to Utah. i'm sorry that 40% of the population who do not follow will be affected, but that's just how life works out.
Tom, the yes on 8 campaign has disclosed that at least 40% of it's contributions came from folks affiliated with the Mormon Church. how one can defend an organization with words like "same freedom of belief and exspresion [sic]" is beyond me. can you explain this?
can you honestly say that you've "Take(n) the time to get educated with sincerity of heart and you will understand their position better"? cast not the first stone, ya know?
on the other hand... i know of some Mormons (okay, i personally only know one) but many more did not support the passage of prop 8, unfortunately they were in the minority.
timothy Nov 18th 2008 7:55AM
Obama appoints CTO for his administration
Is India ready for 2009 election?
http://india.ezcampaigns.com/
Tony Nicholas Nov 18th 2008 3:47PM
Gays and Lesbians aren't imposing anything on anyone. Merely asking for the same rights that everyone else takes for granted.
Because we can get married, doesn't undemine the position of the Mormon church, or any other religion.
If anything, it's the Mormon's, the religious, for example, that are doing the imposing. Assuming and presuming that everyone has to live by their creed and code.
The Mormons, indeed any other religions, are not being asked to change their beliefs etc., they are being asked to respect the rights of Gays and Lesbians to marry, and indeed live their lives unfettered by religious prejudice!
Whether Gays and Lesbians marry or not, has no bearing on the Mormons, and every other religions, code and creed. To restate the point, you are always free to believe what you believe blah, blah, blah, they can even ban gay and lesbian marriages, and re affirm that marriage is between man and woman inside their own circles.
But they should lay off imposing their code and creed on people who don't share the same beliefs.
mark Nov 18th 2008 4:12PM
Half of my family members are LDS members in Salt Lake City and Vegas. They all respect and love me as openly gay. My fight is not with individual Mormons, only the LDS elders hellbent on attacking LGBT's families and stripping us of Constitutional Rights under the equal protection clause.
I will NEVER travel back to Utah or spend a dime on UT products. UT residents can thank the LDS elders for TANKING the 6 BILLION dollar tourism market. When property taxes and sales taxes in UT increase, tell the LDS elders what a shrewd move it was funneling $40 Million into ANOTHER State's marriage right's battle.
Colorado attacked LGBT people in the 90's and it lost them over $40 Million in tourism. One Seattle woman's website ignited 300 demonstrations in 50 states last Saturday....yeah ONE website.
CO boycott was spearheaded by Hollywood celebs with CO second homes, think of the fury LDS elders sparked attacking ALL of HOLLYWOOD, in HOLLYWOOD.
CO boycott was before Facebook and My Space networking....so Utah "buckle your seatbelts, it's gonna be a BUMPY FLIGHT!"
Melanie Nov 19th 2008 12:48AM
Up until 20 years ago, Mormons taught that dark-skinned people were descendents of Cain. To say that Mormons are not twisted is ludicrous.
Ed-words Nov 27th 2008 9:01AM
Many years ago, Mormon San Fran.pro football star
quarterback Steve Young got a brain concussion in a game that prematurely ended his career.
When a reporter asked him why his Mormon "sacred"
underlinens didn't prevent this, he replied
that he wasn't wearing them to avoid soiling them!