8: The Mormon Propo$ition (2010) Directed by Reed Cowan and Steven Greenstreet

"You know, I am not asking to go to a Mormon Church, but I am not going to have them bar the doors of City Hall."-a protestor, after the passage of Prop 8.

This documentary shows how the Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints organized itself into one of the most efficient, secretive, coordinated, and effective political action groups, mobilized and galvanized with the sole goal of passing Proposition Eight, the ballot initiative defining marriage in California as being between one man and one woman; taking away the rights granted to Californians just months before.  It is shocking, distressing, and very troubling on many levels.

Some patriot inside the Mormon Church released hundreds of pages of documents from within the church, showing their internal memos. The Mormon Church hired a survey to test the waters of their political effectiveness.  The figures came back showing them they did not have the positive image to lead the fight, so they decided to find ways to hide their involvement, and dilute their prejudice.  They formed an alliance with the Catholic Church, much more palatable to the majority of Americans.  Then, they formed the National Organization on Marriage, a political action group.  They new image was important, and they decided the leader of the organization would be a middle aged mother, preferably neither Mormon nor Catholic.  And that is what they got.  Then the Prophet addressed the faithful from Salt Lake City, calling on them to give of their time and means to do everything they could to pass this legislation.

The Bishops of the church then went around to people's homes, and said "This is what you make, and this is what we think you can afford to give."  And then they sat there waiting for the check.  The first duty of a Mormon is Obedience.  They take vows to give of their Means and Time in the Temple, and their immortal souls are on the line if they fail in their protection and promotion of the Church.  The money came flooding in.  More money was spent in the Yes on Prop 8 fight than any proposition fight ever in California history.  $83 Million.  Mormons represent less than 2% of Californians, yet the Mormon Church nationwide supported them monetarily, with time and work, and with bussed in protestors.  And the leaked documents show the internal gloating of the Elders of the Church that the actions of the Church could not be linked to the Church.

So, what happens if you are gay in the Mormon Church?  Gays are not accepted.  Defending your gay child can leave you cut off from the church, and thus, from heaven.  It is interesting that in 2004, Utah had the highest suicide rate in the nation.  Further, disproportionate numbers of these are teens, many of whom are identified as gay.  40% of homeless teenagers are gay.  Needless to say, this number is much higher in Utah.

Now stop and think this through; a group of religious figures decided that they knew the will of G*d, and therefore, they committed the extraordinary resources of the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, hid the money, and funneled it to buy an election, to impose their will from Salt Lake City, upon the people of California.  This is the only case in American History where rights were taken away from people.  The money that the Mormons gave to the Church is Tax Exempt, and then it was spent to take American's rights away, to satisfy their religious opinions.  I wonder what issue the Mormon Church will take on next.

Why is the Mormon Church not taxed?

This documentary asks that question, but that is all it does.  I think it could have been much more effective if they had delved into that; the legality of what they did.  Nor does it adequately deal with the issue of LGBT suicide and homeless gay teens.  It mentions them, but moves on.

Also, let's look at what really happened.  The Mormons spent an estimated 70 Million Dollars on Prop 8.  It won by four percent.  Four percent.  What would have happened if they had not made this extraordinary effort?  Gay Marriage would be legal in California.  Now the question I have is how many of these races can they buy?  What if there was a proposition in Ohio, Arkansas, Washington, and Arizona, all at the same time?

Still, I cannot express the depth of my disgust and horror at seeing a church interfere in the political process.  What would they say if the Politicians tried to interfere with their church?  This is something that every American needs to be aware of, it is something they need to investigate, and decide is this the kind of country that they want to live in?

For further reading, I highly recommend Father Daniel Helminiak's What the Bible REALLY Says About Homosexuality.


Gay Movies:

La Mission***Burnt Money***8: The Mormon Propo$ition***In The Flesh***The Sensei***The 24th Day***Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon***ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction***East Side Story***Dorian Blues***Creatures From the Pink Lagoon***Satyricon***Ice Men***Richard O'Briens Rocky Horror Tribute Show***Prom Queen***The Kids are All Right***Between Love and Goodbye***The Mudge Boy***That Man: Peter Berlin***A Single Man***Almost Normal***Outing Riley***Outrage!***Law of Desire***Love is the Devil***Cowboy Junction***Horror in the Wind***Bedrooms and Hallways***Cut Sleeve Boys***Big Eden***For A Lost Soldier***Midnight Cowboy***Redwoods***The Massuer***Boy Culture***Breakfast With Scot***The Fluffer***Flesh***Little Ashes***L.I.E. ***Dorian Gray***9 Dead Gay Guys***Shank***I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry***Beautiful Boxer***Bangkok Love Story***Schoolboy Crush***Shelter***Back Soon***Dog Tags***Theft***The Mulligans***The Velvet Goldmine***Swashbuckler***Smoke Signals
***C'Thulhu***Milk***The Picture of Dorian Gray***Brideshead Revisited***Notes on a Scandal***RocknRolla***Mamma Mia!
***Priscillia: Queen of the Desert***The History Boys***Brokeback Mountain***The Broken Hearts Club*** Yaji and Kita: Midnight Pilgrims ***Surge of Power ***In & Out ***Mambo Italiano ***Touch of Pink ***To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar ***Wolves of Kromer ***Rocky Horror Picture Show ***Taboo ***Deathtrap 


Gay Themed Series:

Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Dante's Cove
Hex
Carnivale Season One
Carnivale Season Two
Rome Season One
Rome Season Two
True Blood
True Blood: Season Two
The Book of Daniel: The Complete Series
Torchwood: Children of Earth
Torchwood: Season One


Gay Animation:

Pirate's Booty***Sensitive Pornograph***Loveless: The Complete Series***Loveless: Hope on the Run***Loveless: Soul of Chains***Loveless: Lost and Found***Embracing Love: A Cicada in Winter***Embracing Love: Cherished Spring ***Stonewall & Riot***Drawn Together Movie: The Movie***Drawn Together: Season 2***Drawn Together: Season 3

Recommended: Yes

Movie Mood: Serious Movie
Worst Part of this Film: Ending