The Common Ground Initiatives were designed to match statements that the LDS Church had made considering the rights of LGBTQ people. It was a way to forge some common ground after the hurtful support by many LDS members of the Proposition 8 campaign in California. It could have been an opportunity for some healing between the LGBTQ community and the church.
Apparently, that healing doesn't matter to the Eagle Forum or the Sutherland Institute. They're now launching their "Sacred Ground" initiative which is meant to protect only a very narrow definition of family. Although I'm not sure how that would actually work - I happen to belong to that narrow definition of family, and I seriously doubt that if any of the common ground initiatives pass, that my family will somehow be destroyed.
Most of the Common Ground initiatives are common sense. One of the initiatives is to protect gays from being fired from a job simply because they are gay (it's legal in Utah currently) or thrown out of their apartments for being gay (can you believe this is still legal here?). I'm waiting to see the convoluted justifications for opposition to this particular inititiative as "sacred".
The latest poll shows that the people of Utah are way ahead of these archaic think-tank organizations and legislators. Most Utahn's support basic rights for the LGBTQ community. Wouldn't it be great if all who polled in favor of these rights contact their representative or senator to tell them they support these rights?
Needless to say if the "Sacred" Ground initiative is successful (they've already defeated one of the initiatives), this isn't going to help boycott issues - something we should be concerned about in this economy. I suggest that a gay-friendly travel guide is needed quickly, so that LGBTQ people and equality-minded straights visiting in Utah can be sure they aren't financially supporting their Gay suppression by coming here. In fact, as a equally-minded straight living here, I wouldn't mind having such a guide as well.
More Info:
http://utahlegislaturewatch.org/2009/01/31/common-ground-initiatives-nemesis-the-sacred-ground-initiative
Equality Utah
Eagle Forum
Sutherland Insitute
Apparently, that healing doesn't matter to the Eagle Forum or the Sutherland Institute. They're now launching their "Sacred Ground" initiative which is meant to protect only a very narrow definition of family. Although I'm not sure how that would actually work - I happen to belong to that narrow definition of family, and I seriously doubt that if any of the common ground initiatives pass, that my family will somehow be destroyed.
Most of the Common Ground initiatives are common sense. One of the initiatives is to protect gays from being fired from a job simply because they are gay (it's legal in Utah currently) or thrown out of their apartments for being gay (can you believe this is still legal here?). I'm waiting to see the convoluted justifications for opposition to this particular inititiative as "sacred".
The latest poll shows that the people of Utah are way ahead of these archaic think-tank organizations and legislators. Most Utahn's support basic rights for the LGBTQ community. Wouldn't it be great if all who polled in favor of these rights contact their representative or senator to tell them they support these rights?
Needless to say if the "Sacred" Ground initiative is successful (they've already defeated one of the initiatives), this isn't going to help boycott issues - something we should be concerned about in this economy. I suggest that a gay-friendly travel guide is needed quickly, so that LGBTQ people and equality-minded straights visiting in Utah can be sure they aren't financially supporting their Gay suppression by coming here. In fact, as a equally-minded straight living here, I wouldn't mind having such a guide as well.
More Info:
http://utahlegislaturewatch.org/2009/01/31/common-ground-initiatives-nemesis-the-sacred-ground-initiative
Equality Utah
Eagle Forum
Sutherland Insitute