Source: East Valley Tribune, Arizona Republic
Mesa protest of Prop. 102 (above). Part of temples gaudy Christmas display (below)
Photos: East Valley Tribune This year's massive display of dazzling Christmas lights on the Mesa Arizona Mormon Temple grounds was challenged by the flickering candles of gay rights activists lining a street across from the temple which has for 29 years lit trees, walls, and statues on the temple grounds in a gaudy display of seasonal spirit.
The peaceful candlelight vigil attracted about 150 people protesting the church's support of Proposition 102, Arizona Republic reports.
"They're shining their light, we're shining ours," said Bobby Parker, an organizer and gay Mesa Mormon, East Valley Tribune reports.
Many members of the gay, lesbian and transgender community view Mormon votes and dollars as the deciding factor behind the passage of Proposition 102.
The proposition amends the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman and maintains the current statutory laws that ban gay marriage in Arizona.
Mormons contributed about $3 million of the $8 million raised in the "Yes on 102" campaign to amend the Arizona Constitution.
The biggest donors to the Yes 4 Marriage campaign in Arizona, before the primaries, were Nancy and David LeSueur and Kathleen and Wilford Andersen, two prominent Mormon families in Mesa, Arizona Republic reports.
Each family donated $100,000 cash, according to campaign-finance records.
Parker and his friend Clinton Bartlett pulled the Mesa vigil together on short notice.
Community members and organizers spread word of Friday night's vigil through Facebook, MySpace, phone calls, text messages, and word of mouth, according to the Tribune.
Parker, 64, came out to his Mormon family in January 2007.
"I lost my family, lost my church," he said.
Six days after passage of Proposition 102, more than 200 supporters of the gay community rallied at the corner of Camelback Road and Central Avenue in Phoenix. Bartlett also organized that campaign.
Yesterday, the protesters in Mesa held candles, rainbow flags, peace signs, and banners with the words love, acceptance, and harmony. They gathered at Pioneer Park on Main Street and Hobson.
Others raised concerns that political and religious suppression of gay rights contributed to the suicide of religious gay teens, and many were upset about church involvement in political affairs.
"It's time to get the church out of politics and out of our bedrooms," said Tom Kach. "Their God doesn't rule my world; my God loves and accepts everyone for who they are."
Some vehicles driving by honked in support of the demonstrators, but one person threw a dirty diaper out the window at them, Arizona Republic reports.
"I'm OK with it," said David Tueller, 43, of Mesa. "It's a free country."
His family of six comes out to the lighting every year and see protesters often, he said.
"They were peaceful. We just thought they were very nice."
The LDS church is surprised it is being singled out by protesters, said Don Evans, a local Mormon spokesman, according to reports from the Associated Press. This has become a standard comment from the church when protests are directed toward one of its facilities. The amendments in Arizona and California also were supported by the Catholic Church and various evangelical denominations, Evans told AP.
Source: Same-sex ban under protest during Mormon festivities | Arizona Republic
Gay community protests near temple display | East Valley Tribune