Prop 8 was a California ballot proposition that made gay marriage illegal. The campaign was financed by the Mormon church. It has been ruled unconstitutional, but the Mormons are appealing the ruling.
Here is an article about it.
http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/the-divine-institution-of-marriage
There were a few churches who got together on it, not just the LDS church. "the Church accepted an invitation to participate in ProtectMarriage, a coalition of churches, organizations, and individuals sponsoring a November ballot measure, Proposition 8, that would amend the California state constitution to ensure that only a marriage between a man and a woman would be legally recognized. (Information about the coalition can be found at http://www.protectmarriage.com/)."
California courts upheld the existing rights of gay couples to civil marriage. Prop 8 was meant to nullify this. The Church of Latter Day Saints opposed it and alto of money came in from out of State that bought some very insulting advertising. It is unlikely that all of it came from Mormons, but church statements are suspected of aiding in the fund-raising.
The exaggeration comes from the statement that churches have no right to interfere in civil affairs; this is incorrect and though I oppose their stand, they have a right to take it.
The LDS church played a major role in how Prop 8 was voted no. Here is a New York Times article about the event. Their participation is said to have made the failure of Prop 8 possible. Without the LDS support, the proposition would have most likely passed.
Edit:
I'm just glad that all those who answered after me read the article I posted which explained that pretty much the LDS church made Prop 8's failure happen.
prop 8 was a ballot proposition/constitutional amendment passed in the 11/2008 California state elections.......adding the provision that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California".
the LDS were part of a religious coalition that donated to the cause - and they donated in-kind to the 'yes on 8' campaign.
individuals who were Mormon made donations as they saw fit. some to the 'yes on 8' campaign......but there were also donations made by Mormons to the 'no on 8' campaign (which actually had more money donated according to 'tracking the money' LATimes).
the Mormons get blamed for the thing, and they did support it - but in reality donations made to the campaign did not decide this......it was decided in the vote --- and Mormons make up about 2% of the population of California.....they couldn't swing the vote if they all voted a few times. (if they were all even registered and voted anyway).
Mormons get a lot of credit for things. It depends on ones agenda.
Proposition 8 was a ballot amendment legalizing same sex marriage. Mormons chose to vote against same sex marriage, as per their legal right. The measure was adopted in favor of what Mormons wanted. Gays, seeking a scapegoat, blamed the Mormons. They assign a lot of power and influence to Mormons.
That claim is interesting in lieu of a Mormon in the ballot for US president did not get the same power or influence in California......go figure.
The LDS church itself spent $200,000 organizing for Prop 8. They denied it and were forced to reveal the truth after legal pressure. That is well documented.
They organized their members to donate about $20 million to the campaign, by far the largest amount. Without it, the result would have been different.
The LDS were part of a coalition to 'protect marriage'. They didn't form it - they were invited to join it and did. They donated only in-kind services.
the Phrog makes a good point -about the population thing. The people of California VOTED the 'yes on 8' side to win - some people who favor gay marriage and are poor losers just needed somebody to blame and the LDS were the target they picked. They then proceeded to vandalize and insult and assault the LDS and have pretty much continued to date. The LDS church did nothing wrong with the exception of filed some things on a wrong form or some such simple thing. Most after-the-vote polls and studies have shown that the real 'swing' on the vote was Obama.......and the African-Americans who turned out (in higher than ever numbers) to support him as President made the real difference in defeating the gay marriage thing.
Other religious organizations that supported prop 8 include the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Eastern Orthodox Church, 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, and Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, Grossmont Union HS District, Asian Heritage Coalition, Porterville's City Council, (wick)
Wik actually has some good info on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008)
The church itself did NOT donate any money to Prop 8. It was members of the church that donated. I will clear something up, there is no such thing as "gay rights". Nobody has a right to be gay. Read the book of Jude. The Bible speaks against homosexuality. It is one of the things that Satan created to lead people away from God and people that support it are no better for they are in support of sin. Marriage is only to be between a man and a woman. Also, gays cannot have kids. Don't even try saying they can adopt. That will mess the kids up. Kids need a mother and a father, not two mothers or two fathers. People think it wouldn't affect the kids. Try again. As I said and as the Bible teaches, homosexuality is a sin. God loves everyone and He created everyone but he did NOT create any homosexual. Nobody is born homosexual, that is a sinful choice people make. If people do not like the fact that it's a sin they can take it up with God since it is His rule.
"Terri Th" is deceiving you. California Proposition 8 maintained the definition of marriage in California law that people were trying to change. It didn't take away any rights; it just attempted to preserve the existing laws. Homosexual couples can adopt children in California, so Proposition 8 didn't really do anything to them except prevent them from changing the definition of marriage. Had they succeeded, my church and the Catholic church could have been forced to place adoptions with "married" homosexual couples.
The reason why we are so hated in connection with Proposition 8 is that so many of us exercised our Constitutional rights in a grassroots movement to support it. But we are so few that those of us who supported it were fewer than the margin by which it passed. All of us could have voted AGAINST Proposition 8, and it still would have passed. But our enemies want to make hay out of the issue, and the Protestants and the Catholics and the Mexicans and the blacks who supported it are too numerous and have far too powerful lobbies to be safe targets for persecution.
What is or was this prop 8 stuff and hows it connected to mormons?
