I am not against Gay individuals having the right to insurance on their partners behalf, nor hospital visitations, or even tax exempt benifits, there are many things that I feel gay individuals should have the right to, and I would not deny them those rights...just don't call it marriage. The other thing is stay away from the education system...trying to indoctrinate children to the lifestyle. I don't really have feelings one way or the other until I see my church being attacked for standing up for what it believes in. Then I take it personal. I don't expect anyone to believe as I do, but I want the same respect. I'm not out forcing people to believe that I am right in what I believe but I will stand up for it when nessesary. I get on here and sometimes I think it's pointless and the reason is that you have too sides who feel so strongly about their issues and neither is willing to back down. It's not productive. I also don't think that the gay people on here realize just how much this has torn so many people apart. You know what, I haven't had to worry about my rights until now. It's given to me because I am not faced with the gay lifestyle situation, but the thought of something being forced on me does make me want to strike back and fight for what I believe in. It's caused strong emotions in many, not just me. Because of that I have given thought to how it must feel to be denied what you want and believe in and I can only begin to imagine how frustrating that must be. The one thing our church does teach is that everyone should have their agency...freedom to choose...whatever that may be. So there is a mind struggle and a heart struggle for all involved. I have to say I don't see eye to eye with Miss Diana but I respect her stance and really would love for her to have true happiness...the question is how can we come up with a solution that all would be happy with and acceptable to all without interfering with others rights being denied.

rcdrc, I am sorry, I can feel the pain and anger from your post. But, I do have to stand up for dragonfly here. Her and I have had our debates, and I doubt we will ever see eye to eye, BUT there's no cause to direct your anger directly at her. That is not to say that those are not valid feelings though. You said "Then maybe, just maybe, you will experience 1 grain of sand of understanding the PAIN and HUMILIATION that you have caused MILLIONS of Americans in order to satisfy your own religious agenda." I really hope there comes a time when LDS members can TRY to learn from their own teachings and realize what genuine pain they are causing. I don't know if that day will ever come though. BUT the day will come where GLBT rights will bring equality, and you won't have to worry one iota about some obscure "church's" doctrine. They will not win this fight.

If someone wants to donate money for a cause they believe in, why is that called hate? These gay groups bully people and whine until they get their way. They want to respect and people to accept them and when anyone disagrees with them they threaten, humiliate, boycott, and vandalize. What do you think would happen if straight people did that to gays? Guess they can't take their own medicine. "It's my way, or I'll make life a living hell for you."

It is refreshing but rare to see two sides actually communicating on anything these days. We don't have to agree to get along. The world seems to have forgotten that. I have gay friends and co-workers, and I am active LDS. I am no bigot, but I do not support gay marriage. There just is no way to have gay marriage without infringing on religious rights. "Separate but equal" will be the best we can do. Give "marriage" to the churches, and give "civil unions" to the state. That way, everyone gets a civil union (contract between two people) and the churches can perform marriages in agreement with their doctrines. Of course, actually compromising and solving the problem will not allow the loud-mouthes bullies and true bigots to continue thier name-calling, boycotts, websites, etc...

rcdcr TRUTH HURTS and it shows by your vulgar comments to me, especially not knowing how I feel. YOU ASSUME to think I hate gays, well you are wrong, to each their own. You're right I don't agree with your lifestyle, and yes according to my beliefs I think it's wrong and nothing more then a choice. Do I think that there are some who are born that way, yes I do, but I also think that there are many who are using that excuse to find acceptance and approval for a deviant lifestyle of sexual pervertion? Nonetheless I will say that a normal Heterosexuality person will never understand someone who is faced with homosexual tendencies, we can't begin to understand the trails faced or the pain caused because of it. I use to feel that no one would choose that lifestyle because of just that. But with tolerance and the stigma taken away from being gay, and acceptance from the first kiss on Ellen the barriers have been broken down, the taboo of being gay is not what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Hey I give the gay(LGBT)task force credit for what they've accomplished. It's mainstream and after spending much time reading on their websites I've learned much of what they have in store. You know it boils down to having respect for others who differ in opinion and beliefs. Not targeting anyone because they don't feel the same as you. That's what this is about....and the boycott against this car dealer is because someone has targeted him because he donated money towards something he felt strongly about, and when I say target, I'm talking about the map with all his info and name and business.If it weren't for that map and that info then this conversation wouldn't even be taking place. By the way...I KNOW I will answer to GOD for all the choices I make and CHOOSE, in fact I fear HIM MORE THEN YOU! and at night I sleep quite well. Bytheway your comment "Your ignorance is causing the downfall of America" is just well stupid if you ask me.

meoscar1, I'm sorry, it's not over, and we should not just move on. This will most likely be a subject of controversy for years to come. People who are gay are still members of our society, they are tax paying citizens, and yet they do not have the same rights or protections as straight people. Most states do not have any laws to protect from sexual orientation discrimination. That means a person can lose thier job or their apartment JUST becasue they are gay. And there is no legal way to fight it. You can fight discrimination based on religion, race, and gender though. How is this equal treatment? And yes, gay marriage is one of those things I consider a right that they are being denied. I, for one, will continue to try to convince people that we need equality, and I'm not giving up until the battle is won.

This is a subject that hits a raw nerve in so many. It is sad that we, as a people, have continued attacking and finger pointing people that have the courage to stand up for what they believe. No matter your position,this country stands for freedom. That may be freedom of speech, or life the way you feel it is right. Either way, by donating Garf stood up for what he believed in. It's a shame that the map was published with all the information about those who donated to Proposition 8, allowing blatant harassment of these people. The Gay community should also be commended for standing up for what they believe. This proposition was voted on, regardless of the outcome, it is over. Let's move on and continue the fight without harassing those involved, no matter the side they are on. This is unproductive and vindictive. Harassing those who donated is the same as harassing those who are Gay. If a community wants respect, they should fight for it with respect.

I have gone to other blogs and seen the ignorant things people have discussed on this boycott stuff. What a load of crap. All they are doing is confusing the issues. You don't see me boycott Indigo Girls or Melissa Ethridge. I respect them and their talents. I love their music. You don't see me boycott beauty salons, art galleries, schools, or even the business on the corner owned by a gay person. This is not about hate. This is not about discrimination. What people do in the private lives is theirs. That is their rights as given by God. This is plain and simple; I love my wife and my kids. I will fight to protect what I value most. My boys know that I am their father and my wife is their mother. Because they know their place, they will be able to find themselves in life easier. Not that it guarantees it, but it does increase the odds. I love my wife and view her as my absolute queen. People will disagree with me. That is their right. How they choose to live their life, I respect. But it does not mean that raising money for a cause I hold dearly is discriminitive. Because I may have voted through a democratic process for something you may not agree with, does not make me a martar. Thus, if you choose to boycott people that donated money through a democratic process without even knowing the perspective in which they gave... I will go out of my way to give those businesses extra opportunities to earn my business. Nobody is perfect, but even with a mistake that Garff may make, I will give them every chance to keep my business. I challenge all those that believe the same as me, to go out of their way to do business with those being unfairly targeted. Give your business to the Manchester Grand Hyatt, to Ashton's software companies. I will be buying my car at Garff. Not because I am boycotting any other business. But simply, Garff has been unfairly targeted for donating money to a cause I so dearly value. Where will you do your business?

Dear Dragonfly, My guess, after reading your post, is that you probably have not lived a life full of hatred and blatant discrimination being pointed in your direction EVERY SINGLE DAY simply for being who God created you to be. Hatred and discrimination from the very people (heterosexuals) that CREATED you. I wonder if you have the capacity to 'try that on' for even 5 minutes. I wonder further if you feel that you will not have to answer to God for your absolutely vulgar and degrading treatment of HIS Gay creations. For, you see, Dragonfly, being Gay is nothing less than a gift from God. Of this I am certain. Nothing a Mormon, Catholic, Baptist or ANY other denomination can say will change that fact. If God did not intend for Gays to be part of this world in MILLIONS of numbers, we simply would not be here. Most amazing is that MANY religions have called for boycotts on companies that STAND UP for HUMAN BEINGS HAVING EQUAL RIGHTS, and you religious folks demanded boycotts on ALL of those companies. Do your research. That is a fact. Why then, are the victims of some of the most vulgar and blatant discrimination and violence in our WORLD'S history not supposed to stand up to RIGHT this WRONG that YOU are perpertrating against MILLIONS of U.S. Citizens? You will, one day, have to answer for what you have done. This is NOT how God intended for you to treat his Gay creations AND IN YOUR HEART YOU KNOW IT. The shame that you folks on the wrong side of history will feel for the CRIMES you have perpertrated against HUMANITY will follow you every day for the rest of your lives. As it should. Then maybe, just maybe, you will experience 1 grain of sand of understanding the PAIN and HUMILIATION that you have caused MILLIONS of Americans in order to satisfy your own religious agenda. Your ignorance is causing the downfall of America. Not Gay poeple, who are just trying to live their lives on a LEVEL playing field. Wake up to yourself!!!

Hey dragonfly, You do know that the LDS church condones the use of boycotts? I went to LDS.org and found a story I remember hearing at Conference: “I remember that once in our city there was a controversy over Sunday closing for businesses. President [Joseph Fielding Smith] and Sister Smith decided that they would only do their shopping at places that closed on Sunday and obeyed the Sabbath. One of the stores they had enjoyed was a little store near the city. One day this store announced that they would begin selling on Sunday. So President and Sister Smith made a point of going to the owner and explaining to him that they had enjoyed shopping at his store but would not be able to continue because they did not want to patronize a store that didn’t obey the Sabbath...It may also interest you to know that the President informed the manager of one of the nation’s largest stores that they could no longer patronize his store either, for the same reason of Sunday selling. President Smith was absolutely fearless, yet always courteous, in defense of gospel ideals.” The Story is called "The Soul of a Prophet" if you want to read it in it's entirety. Eventually that store owner converted to the LDS church and closed his store on Sundays, then the prophet started shopping there again. Will you also classify that as bullying? That store owner was being discriminated against because he didn't observe the Sabbath. Was that a hate crime from the prophet? Was the church teaching it's members to commit hate crimes by following the prophet's example? OR is boycotting an acceptable way to stand up for your beliefs?