Opposition to Proposition 8 in California, which strips away marriage rights from same-sex couples, is getting a big boost from the support of two Hall of Fame athletes: Steve Young and Magic Johnson. Former NFL quarterback Steve Young has posted several signs at his house urging people to oppose Prop. 8. The proposition’s biggest supporters have been members of the Mormon Church, so Young’s opposition to the proposal brings a very prominent Mormon voice to the other side. In addition, CBS is reporting that Young’s wife has given $50k to oppose Prop. 8. And last night, the Young family released a statement that read:
We believe ALL families matter and we do not believe in discrimination, therefore, our family will vote against Prop 8.
NBA great Magic Johnson has also joined the fight against the proposition. He is now appearing in telephone calls to Californians, urging them to oppose the proposition:
Prop 8 singles out one group of Californians to be treated differently - including members of our family, our friends, and our coworkers. That is not what California is about. So this Tuesday, vote no on Proposition 8. It is unfair and wrong. Thanks.
Given the general opposition to gay rights that the black community often demonstrates, and the support the Mormon Church has given to passing Prop. 8, these are two huge coups and give a real boost to those opposing the proposition.
With just a couple days left until the most important election for gay-rights in our lifetimes, you can still help defeat the proposition with donating money, donating time, and getting out the vote. Visit the No On Prop 8 Web site.
on Nov 1st, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Magic Johnson is hardly a paragon of virtue, admitting to very disturbing promiscuity. How many women did he infect with HIV?
Steve Young is disappointing.
The people of California can simply look at the experience in Massachusetts where liberal judges foisted this on the people. The result? Go to protectmarriage.com to see the experience of a Massachusetts couple who the courts stated that they had no right to opt their kids out of pro-homosexual indoctrination.
We heard about the elementary kids who were bussed to a homosexual marriage by the mayor of San Francisco. But there is now another story of kindergarten kids who asked to sign gay-tolerance pledge cards. See the story at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,445865,00.html
These are kindergarten kids for Pete’s sake.
Say no to indoctrination of kids and yes to traditional marriage. Vote yes on Prop 8.
on Nov 1st, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I live in Massachusetts, Rob. When same-sex marriages began here, the sky did not fall, the skies did not boil, and heterosexual couples are still getting married and divorced at the same rates they were before. Try not to buy into the spin fear-mongers spread. Should that teacher have taken her students to her lesbian wedding? Probably not. I wouldn’t think that would be a normal thing for any teacher to do regardless of who she was marrying.
But whenever there is a big social change, there is always a period of time when people adjust. Some weird things happen. Look at the 60s! The fact is, civilized society is moving more toward recognizing that people shouldn’t be punished for circumstances of their birth and the irrational fear of others. Maybe you can join the rest of the world some day.
on Nov 1st, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Not sure who made you judge and jury on people’s virtues, as far as anybody knows you could be a serial killer who posts online when he is bored.
I don’t know what signing a card aimed at limiting bullying which over time can lead to high school shootings like Columbine has to do with Gay Marriage. Games like “smear the queer” or punching someone and calling them a faggot every day in school from Kindergarten to 12th grade - which happened to a friend I went to school with - were around long before the concept of gay marriage became a political reality. Lawrence King was 15 and murdered at school because he was gay. Valuing human life is not an agenda or a political strategy, it’s what’s right.
Also what is “traditional marriage”? The right to kill your husband and then fake cry on TV about it? Burn your wife and kids up because you are stressed about a job? Behave like Whores straight out of Babylon with secretary or coworker or grocer or school teacher and defile your marriage vows every chance you get? No I got it, “traditional marriage” is the one that always ends in divorce!
If you want a good marriage, work on your own and leave me and my family out of it.
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 4:01 am
On the subject of the kids being bussed to a lesbian wedding … let’s get our facts straight, shall we?
First of all, any parent *knows* your child doesn’t go on any kind of field trip until you sign a permission slip. With the exception of two families, every single parent signed that permission slip. As a matter of fact, the very *IDEA* of the field trip was brought about by some of the parents in the class.
The wedding was the kids’ teacher!!! The parents thought it would be a wonderful surprise for the children to be there to share in their teacher’s happiness.
And now two of the parents are threatening legal action against the Yes on 8 folks for the illegal use of their children’s images in their ads.
Personally, I’m thrilled Steve Young — a direct descendant of Brigham Young — is against Prop 8.
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 am
are kids bussed to a homosexual wedding the same as bussing kids to a McCain rally? No? Hilarious.
You want to protect marriage? Make divorce illegal. Until then, the equal protection clause of the constitution of the united states (and that of all states) should be eno ugh:
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 6:01 am
are kids bussed to a homosexual wedding the same as bussing kids to a McCain rally? No? Hilarious.
You want to protect marriage? Make divorce illegal. Until then, the equal protection clause of the constitution of the united states (and that of all states) should be enough: “no state shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” (That’s part of the 14th Amendment.)
Try that on for size, robroy.
(sorry about the earlier post)
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
So Magic Johnson is unqualified to speak out on any matter with ethical implications because he has some past skeletons in his closet? Aside from the fact that social condemnation of promiscuity is not universal (i.e. there are plenty of people who don’t even think those things ARE skeletons), one needn’t ALWAYS be right in order to EVER be right. I’ve earned a few traffic tickets in my day, but that doesn’t mean I should be ignored at the City Council meeting when I suggest dropping the speed limit of a certain dangerous roadway.
And “foisted this on the people”? Please - do you really expect anyone to believe happily married straight couples, Christian or otherwise, lost anything at all for themselves when rights were extended to same-sex couples? This is akin to arguing that your experience at a restaurant was compromised because you, a steak aficionado, were forced to “let” the guy at the next table order chicken. If you honestly think your union is goign to suffer because of third parties you’ve never even met… then I’d see a marriage counselor immediately, because a bond that fragile must be a pretty weak one indeed.
“no right to opt their kids out of pro-homosexual indoctrination” — Last I checked, one has the constitutional right to enroll one’s kids in either private school or home school… and/or teach them the basic principle (good regardless of one’s specific political leanings) that not everything Teacher says is necessarily correct simply because she carries certain indicia of authority. With these options in mind, the only possible translation for the above rhetorical gymnastics is as follows: “We’re pissed off that we don’t obtain the legal right to re-engineer the entire public school curriculum to suit our tastes just by holding up a cross.”
“Say no to indoctrination of kids and yes to traditional marriage. Vote yes on Prop 8.” — Nice false dichotomy there - as if support for equal rights for gay couples (or for ANY substantive change in the law) automatically translates to support for indoctrination. There are already plenty of places where we manage to have legal requirements without indoctrination. For instance, the requirement that public schools be open to students of all races and religions doesn’t force the children of racist hicks to LIKE their black classmates, nor the Catholic kids to give up their belief that most of their playground pals face consignment to eternal hellfire for their failure to select the one true faith…
on Nov 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Wow the viscious rumors are spreading like wildfire. Steve’s wife Barbara is a No on 8 supporter. She is sympathetic to Gay causes because her only sibling is Gay.
Barbara is very vocal on issues she believes in and Steve is silent on his political views. His silence should not have been construed to his support for No on 8. As often is the case, couples come from different backgrounds and may not see things exactly the same.
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
John S: Young and his wife may be from “different backgrounds” but she is still a Mormon, so it’s still significant.
If it makes you feel better, Dodger (and former SF Giant) Jeff Kent (a California Mormon who fancies himself a Texas redneck) gave $15K to “Yes on 8″
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Steve Young is not gay??!!! since when??
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
As a closeted gay man, I cannot equate people of the same sex as being married like heterosexual couples. When the day comes that we hear about gay marriages ending in divorce in numbers similar to heterosexuals, will the “No On 8″ people continue to tell us they are ones who better represent marrieds?
As for Steve Young, he was probably dragged into supporting the opposing team by his nagging wife, who most likely told him that if he didn’t publicly support the opposition he wouldn’t get any hoochie from that day forward, but I digress.
Charles Barkley, the one who openly insulted White people and got away with it by an abiding Media and a blind public, doesn’t surprise me. I always found it odd that he sided with Republicans, but considering he had a trophy wife I sort of put two and two together.
I got called names like “faggot”, “homo” and “gay” in school quite frequently, so I learned to deal with it as time went on. This whole business of indoctrinating young schoolchildren with pro-homosexual memes is wrong. Only in California.
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Wow! OutSports readers can’t even agree on this issue! How can we expect voters in CA (and FL & AZ) to get it together when we can’t? As a resident of SF, it makes me sad to read some of the comments above, but I guess that is the downside of social media and people with Internet access. As for me, I already voted no on prop 8 and look forward to its defeat tomorrow!
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Kris, I am very sure a number of the “Yes on 8″ comments aren’t from actual Outsports readers. They’re from right-wing trolls.
And if he is really the closeted gay man he claims to be, PerpetuallyPissed is PositivelyPathetic.
on Nov 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I doubt any of our readers would vote Yes on 8. Ours is a public site so anyone can post.
on Nov 4th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Steve Young has NOT taken a public stance on Prop. 8.
It is Steve Young’s wife, Barb, who has a homosexual brother, who is taking a public stance. Steve has made clear that she speaks for herself and not for him. On Sunday, November 2, he told KSL reporter Carole Mikita:
“I have not given anyone authority to use my name whatsoever, in any political matter.”
“Anyone” obviously includes his wife.
“Barb and I love each other very much. It is that love of each other and the Savior that helps us come to the decisions we do. For Barb, who has a remarkable and enviable compassion for others, those political activities are far more public than mine. Those who know me, know I chose long ago not to be publicly active in the political process. I do have strong opinions. I do vote and will vote on Tuesday, but those matters are private.”
He added, “Barb and I and our children love our church and our faith, which allows for a wide diversity of political discourse. In our case, our diversity does not diminish in any way our or my love, respect and sustaining of the leadership of our church, which is deep and profound.”
“Our diversity” obviously leaves room for Steve to respectfully and lovingly disagree with his wife. Steve’s respect for his wife does not give the press justification to pretend to read his mind.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4686916
hthalljr’gmail’com
on Nov 4th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
You want to know why not everyone can agree here regarding certain issues? It’s because human nature takes its course and allows a diversity of opinions to present themselves. The pipe dreams of homosexuals all united as one bloc is not going to happen. Special-interest bloc mentality has been a failure because it’s a manmade concept. They wish it could happen for women but it can’t and they think it has happened for blacks but in reality it hasn’t. By the way, there is no shame in being closeted.
on Nov 10th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I am upset about this erroneous finger pointing at African-Americans regarding Proposition 8. Why are you so quick to believe whatever you hear? If someone told me 70 percent of gay people voted against Obama my first thought would be, excuse me Jesus, that is crap! I don’t believe it! This political year was fraught with right wing lies. Bear that in mind.
“Religious organizations that support Proposition 8 include the Roman Catholic Church], Knights of Columbus, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) a group of Evangelical Christians led by Jim Garlow and Miles McPherson, American Family Association, Focus on the Family[and the National Organization for Marriage Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, California’s largest, has also endorsed the measure. The Bishops of the California Catholic Conference released a statement supporting the proposition. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) has publicly supported the proposition and encouraged their membership to support it, by asking its members to donate money and volunteer time. The First Presidency of the church announced its support for Proposition 8 in a letter read in every congregation. Latter-day Saints have provided a significant source for financial donations in support of the proposition, both inside and outside the State of California. About 45% of out-of-state contributions to Protect Marriage.com has come from Utah, over three times more than any other state.”
Still, even though gays were fighting to preserve a basic right, it was the anti-equality side in California that seemed to have the most fervor. A symbolic low point for the gay side came on Oct. 13, when the Sacramento Bee ran a remarkable story about Rick and Pam Patterson, a Mormon couple of modest means - he drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic, she raises their five boys - who had withdrawn $50,000 from their savings account and given it to the pro-8 campaign. “It was a decision we made very prayerfully,” Pam Patterson, 48, told the Bee’s Jennifer Garza. “Was it an easy decision? No. But it was a clear decision, one that had so much potential to benefit our children and their children.”
This is your real enemy. Don’t trust exit polls. I think they are pitting one group against the other. African-Americans are less than 7% of the state population, do the math. Many more Whites voted and they put this over, not Blacks. What are the total numbers of each group that voted. Someone dug into the data and found that we’re just now learning is that the exit poll was based on less than 2,300 people. If you take into account that blacks in California only make up about 6.2%, we get roughly 224 blacks who were polled. 224 blacks to blame an entire race! The original percentage of black voters who were expected to say yes to Prop 8 was only around 52-58%. Anytime you get a vote that much higher over the projected vote, something went wrong.
I know someone who watches C-Span and they said most Blacks did not even address the question at all. And they do not have the money to fund a tens of millions of dollars Proposition 8 campaign. Note that they also targeted affirmative action for eradication in another state.
I cannot believe that these groups get a pass and Blacks are being targeted for the blame game. Rather than be upset at the phantom African-American menace, fight like hell. There is no right wing black conspiracy against gay Americans. When you tried to align your struggle with that of Blacks you inherited their enemies. These same enemies are now trying to pit one against the other because they fear the combined numbers of both.
How many gay activists supported the civil rights movement in the 1960’s? Then how do you automatically expect support in return? Have you asked Blacks to support you or did you just assume?
No one gave Obama anything and they will not give gays anything either. Obama stands on the shoulders of a lot of brave people who gave their lives for him to stand on that podium last night.
Never trust exits polls because in all my years of life, no one has ever been seen at a polling place asking anyone anything when they left.
Don’t fall for the lies.