Artist calls for boycott of LDS performances over same-sex marriage debate

Updated: 12/09/2008 6:19 pm | Published: 12/09/2008 5:50 pm

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Salt Lake LDS temple (ABC 4 News)

PROVO, Utah (ABC 4 News) - It’s the latest salvo in the battle over same sex marriage. An openly gay entertainer is calling on the music industry to refuse to license certain material to LDS musical groups.

It's a call for action - gay artists boycotting the LDS Church's involvement in the passage of California's Proposition 8 - the banning of gay marriage. Jon Powell says, “They can't have it both ways. They can't say they love us and take away our rights.” Powell is leading this front. He's a former member of The Church, and of BYU's Young Ambassadors. His website states, "I feel all gay artists should not allow their art, music, dance or theatrical piece to be used to promote the Mormon Church.... Please do not support them and do not allow them to use your work to support their message of hate."

Powell has talked with one artist in particular, Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the musical “Wicked” which the Young Ambassadors wants to use in their show. Powell says, “For me that material is so blatantly hypocritical... the use of it in the Young Ambassadors show.” Part of an email Schwartz wrote to Powell says, "I'm looking into it, and if this is truly a Mormon "promotional" group, rather than just student singers, I will try to do something about it."

Randy Boothe, Artistic Director for the Young Ambassadors says they are rehearsing other numbers in case wicked is pulled. Boothe says, “At this point we have not received any response yay or nay.” He says everyone has a right to express their opinions on Prop 8, but questions if this call for a boycott will shake the group. Boothe says, “I don't know if this will impact us greatly, we'll certainly be sad not to be able to include any of the artists that Jon might contact whose music we might be interested in.”

The Young Ambassadors have had to deal with material being pulled in the past, but not for this reason. They had an incident with the licensing of “Tarzan” last year.

Powell says this goal of his isn't geared toward only the Young Ambassadors, but to any group affiliated with the LDS Church.

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GraciesDaddy - 12/18/2008 8:09 PM

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As a NeverMo, from what I've read, it's easier to escape the Crips or Bloods than the Mo. If you leave a gang, you're just dead... not tormented with a Living Hell.

Miss Diana - 12/17/2008 9:33 PM

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mistermusic, why do you feel this need to belittle people who are different from you?

mistermusic - 12/16/2008 12:42 PM

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Why don't you all just ignore this Miss Diana. She is obviously threatened by Mormons and has deep emotional wounds from a marriage or lack thereof. Lots of time on her hand too. Please take pitty on the poor lonely Miss.

mistermusic - 12/16/2008 12:24 PM

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There has always been a divide between the sin of homosexuality and truth as defined by the Creator. Do you think the Mormon Church will suffer because a few mediocre musicians will not allow their music to be performed? I really doubt it. The division will just be further drawn and the light of truth will be revealed. This actually helps the cause of truth it more clearly separates those with pure intents from those who pursue evil. Good pure folks looking for those things lovely and of good report will not be seduced by those doing evil. They will not unknowingly hear their music and elevate them to any status they do not merit based upon their own lifestyle. I think we should all be grateful to this Jon (who's most meaningful performance experiences happened at the Mormon school where his tuition was paid for by the Mormon sacred tithes and offerings) for purifying our entertainment. We all know where corrupt hearts abound evil will be sold, if not in one lyric, maybe the next. By Jon's gift we all can fear less about our children making icons of evil minded and solicitous people.

mistermusic - 12/16/2008 12:24 PM

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Joey J - 12/16/2008 12:24 AM

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joey - 12/15/08 All other considerations aside, it is really an irrational and irrelevant waste of time to debate the issue. It is, in fact, a scientific reality that the term homosexual does not apply to Homo sapian and that it would be a rather faulty nature that would produce in any quantity a subspecies that was disinclined to behavior that would reproduce itself. There is no imperative for society nor any of its individuals to legally, financially or emotionally support such nonesense. So, to those of you who have rationalized some sort of behavior that you find satisfies some desire you have for diversion, please respect the rest of us to the degree that you not insist that we share in any delusion that it is on the par with the institution centered in the survival and prosperity of mankind or that it deserves the monetary input of taxpayers or employers. Please be man enough, or woman enough, whatever the case, to do what you have to do, believe what you have to believe, like everyone else, and support yourself in whatever consequences it breeds. As to "homosexuality is borned", is that the terminology of your scientific source? It is not naive nor narrow-minded to have well-considered and honest objections to your opinions.

manlam789 - 12/14/2008 10:46 AM

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I went thru lots of the comments. How come American turns to be so naive and narrow-minded? Pls look at the scientific findings, homosexuality is borned, not a choice. We should open our heart to embrace it. One day, it may happen to your family with any possible new born baby. As American is the super power in the world, and one of the leading western countries, we would bring the right mission & interpretation to the rest of the world on homosexuality instead of mis-interpreting it. We should NOT enforcing our religious belief onto homosexuality. It's totally different story. It's not the value of U.S.

Hdtex - 12/12/2008 5:03 PM

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Strip me of my rights I'll see that you loose yours. Fifth generation LDS survivor here and proud to be out, proud, gay man and eager to destroy the LDS cult. This culture war is far from over, and you loony magic underwear wearing cultist will not win.

Hdtex - 12/12/2008 4:59 PM

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Reap what you sow....LDS is a dirty bigoted hateful cult.

Brugge - 12/11/2008 5:48 PM

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I'm grateful for the process of democracy and the right to free speech. I watch and read something about prop 8 every day and appreciate that people want to be recognized and heard. This was evidenced by the voter turnout on prop 8 in November. There is a majority of residents that do not want to recognize "gay unions" as marriage and have already voiced their opinion at the voting booth. Since the gay segment of our population refuses to give heed to our democratic voting process I would like to voice my own opinion. I am a really weary of all the whining from the small, vocal, homosexual segment of society. We all have our own idiosyncratic issues - sexual, physical, mental etc. but choose not to boycott or attack businesses or religion because of our shortcomings. Maybe we should focus on important issues like world poverty, hunger and disease. It's time to grow up, get some therapy and get a life.

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