Posted on 11/07/2008 6:26:14 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's growing tourism industry and the star-studded Sundance Film Festival are being targeted for a boycott by bloggers, gay rights activists and others seeking to punish the Mormon church for its aggressive promotion of California's ban on gay marriage.
It could be a heavy price to pay. Tourism brings in $6 billion a year to Utah, with world-class skiing, a spectacular red rock country and the film festival founded by Robert Redford, among other popular tourist draws.
"At a fundamental level, the Utah Mormons crossed the line on this one," said gay rights activist John Aravosis, an influential blogger in Washington, D.C.
"They just took marriage away from 20,000 couples and made their children bastards," he said. "You don't do that and get away with it."
Salt Lake City is the world headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which counts about 62 percent of Utah residents as members.
The church encouraged its members to work to pass California's Proposition 8 by volunteering their time and money for the campaign. Thousands of Mormons worked as grassroots volunteers and gave tens of millions of dollars to the campaign.
The ballot measure passed Tuesday. It amends the California Constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual act, overriding a state Supreme Court ruling that briefly gave same-sex couples the right to wed.
The backlash against the church — and by extension Utah — has been immediate. Protests erupted outside Mormon temples, Facebook groups formed telling people to boycott Utah, and Web sites such as mormonsstoleourrights.com began popping up, calling for an end to the church's tax-exempt status.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
I’m too busy scratching my bewildered head to look for one...
Well, you see... one man sticks his *CENSORED* into the other man’s *CENSORED* who then s*&ts out a baby turd.
And that turd grows up to be a liberal.
:-O
(sorry, sorry... I just couldn’t resist)
“Anybody know any way to suppport Utah besides vacationing there?”
I know Utah is bigger than the LDS Church, but it is a way to help, but all of it will go to help the needy or disaster relief.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDS_Philanthropies
http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/
C’mon up - you are all citing the reasons I moved to UT from CA 5 years ago.
Those who like them should see about patronizing them over Hollywood and other places this year.
Many Southerners have made Utah their home. St. George, Utah was largely settled by Southerners who raised cotton back in the day. I was in Southern Utah a few years ago and the lady at the motel had a thick Southern accent. She told me she and her husband were driving through Utah and ended up never leaving. There are many good people of all faiths that live in that state. Most of my extended family are there. I'm thinking I'd like to move back home...
“Time for conservatives to visit Utah. Take it from me, it is a beautiful state with millions of friendly, God-fearing citizens.”
I think that’s a wonderful idea. I was wondering where to do my 2 weeks vacation next summer. Now I think I will go to Utah and spend a lot of money to show them my support and see some beautiful scenery.
Brice Canyon is beautiful as are the Wasatch Mountains near Park City.
The most beautiful state. Monument Valley, Zion, Brice Canyon, the Book Cliffs and the Grand Staircase. A geological wonderland.
The people are nice too, when I can I try to spend Independence day in Utah fireworks in the park at Kanab are awesome against the red sandstone amphitheatre.
This makes me want to move to Utah from the United Blue States of America.
Boycotts work both ways.
There are many corporations funding the repeal of Prop 8.
This link takes us right to the corporate sponsor page to repel Prop 8:
http://laglc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=SU_CORPORATIONS
Yeah, I’m sure that up ‘til now, Utah has just been teeming with fag tourists looking for a good time.
Utah.....queer free and proud.
Utah ought to put up signs at the state borders: “Now boasting the country’s safest rest areas!”
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