"Wounded on the Battlefield" Church video and its Parody

By Brig Bagley

10 February 2014

There are often (especially in youth and singles programs like seminary and institute) short videos by the LDS church that try to visualize a lesson from a talk given by a church authority.  In this particular clip, a young man struggles with an addiction to pornography, and his roommate works up the courage to approach him and "save him from the battlefield." The roommate has him talk to the Bishop, and magically, the boy is happy again, flirting with the girls and sharing an intimate glance with his caring roommate.  

A parody of the clip was created, but unfortunately, BYU Idaho flagged the video as a copyright infringement and it was taken down.  

City Weekly gives its opinion here: http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/blog-11065-10392-byu-idahos-war-porn-video-finally-has-the-parody-it-deserves.html 

The Divine Institution of Marriage

By Brig Bagley

7 February 2014

The LDS Church again reiterates its position with traditional marriage.  Always using the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Church leaders emphasize the divine institution as solely a lawful union between a man and a woman.  

The article warns of what would happen, should same-sex marriages be made legal, noting mainly the destruction of families in general:

1. Children would not have the unique and necessary upbringing that comes from a mother's and father's very different attributes that shape a healthy environment and ensure proper gender identity with the child.  

2. Religious freedom would be diminished by punishing individuals and groups that refuse serving same-sex couples, such as photographers, church facilities, and adoption agencies.  Tax-exempt status would be revoked, or businesses would be forces to shut down for their religious beliefs.  

3. Schools would include curriculum that teaches same-sex marriages as equal to traditional marriages without requiring consent from parents.  This even includes teaching premarital consensual sex as morally neutral.  

The article finally reminds readers that kindness towards LGBT people is expected, even if political, lifestyle, and belief differences exist.  People should not, however, let tolerance prevent them from politically involving themselves to defend their beliefs.  

The original article can be found here: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

Google shows support for LGBT rights in Russia Olympic Games with logo

By Brig Bagley

7 February 2014

The violence against gay people in Russia continues, even as the start of the Olympic games opens today in Sochi.  Although threats against athletes have been voiced, officials have ensured the protection of the competitors, including those who are known LGBT.  

The Olympic Charter states that athletes should all be allowed to participate with no discrimination.  This statement is in conflict with a number of the anti-gay laws recently instituted in Russia.  

Read more at: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/07/google-russian-anti-gay-laws-winter-olympics

In addition to the troubles with LGBT, Sochi has also failed to adequately prepare its accommodations for its visitors.  With unsafe water, unfinished rooms, hallways, and lobbies, and oddly designed bathrooms, athletes and company are nervous how long they will last.

Read more at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/proof-that-sochi-is-a-godforsaken-hellscape-right-now

State's brief for upholding Same-Sex ban in Utah is copy-paste of recycled arguments

By Brig Bagley

5 February 2014

According to an article in Q-Salt Lake, a break down of the arguments in the States brief are old news and not even original.  A number of statements are word-for-word copies of arguments used in other briefs for failed anti-equality cases. In addition, many are also pulled from heavily conservative groups and authors.

Some of these arguments include the following:

1. Traditional marriage has worked for hundreds of years in the past.

2. Children are best raised in a home with a mother and father.

3. Fertility rates are dropping, and gay marriage is the cause and will continue the trend.

4. Redefining marriage as an adult-centric entity, detrimental to children.

5. Legalizing same-sex marriage degrades the value of marriage, therefore causing a decline of marriage in
general.

6. If same-sex marriage is legal, religious and private institutions would be punished for excluding LGBT people from their services, such as churches, adoption agencies, schools like BYU, and BYU housing.

In the article, the frivolity of it can be summed up in this statement:

" 'Redefining marriage would be a recipe for social and religious strife,' the legal team wrote.

In other words, blood will spill if gays can marry and the state can say, 'I told you so.' "

Read more at: http://gaysaltlake.com/news/2014/02/05/news-analysis-utah-sex-marriage-brief-cut-paste-ultra-conservative-agenda/

Battling Rallys at Utah State Capitol

By Brig Bagley


28 January 2014

Separated by just minutes, supporters and protesters of same-sex marriage gathered at the Utah State Capital to proclaim their views.  This time, however, the traditional marriage supporters were not over run by same-sex marriage supporters.  With such little advanced notice, as well as its early timing in the day, only around 300 gay marriage supporters showed up at the 5 pm rally.  At 7pm, though, about 700 people, including families, filled the capitol with signs exclaiming "Protect our Children" and "One man, one woman, it's genetics".

The "Stand with Children" rally took the well-known equality sign and literally turned it on its side, marking one bar blue for male, one pink for female.  The hashtag "#standwithchildren" is patched on top to make the statement clear.

The speakers at the rally emphasized a few points:

• Supporting traditional marriage does not mean hatred towards LGBT.
• Children have the right to both a mother and a father.
• The State of Utah has the right to define its own laws for marriage.
• Utah has the religious freedom to stand for its beliefs in traditional marriage.

One presentation was that of a man raised by two gay women that wished he had a father in his upbringing, Robert Oscar Lopez. See here.

A number of protesters went to the event, myself included, and held hands and signs to remind the participants that LGBT are real people with real love and real families.  Although most of us were peaceful, some decided to make a scene in the center of the seating, throwing glitter.  One man chanted during the prayer at the end of the meeting as well.  

Overall, the gathering was quiet without much battle. Traditional marriage people smiled at the protesters and made no qualms.  

Although people have every right to stand for their beliefs, it's void when those beliefs strip human rights and freedoms from others.  Praying in the state capitol to ask God to prevent citizens from government sanctioned benefits and rights to love is unacceptable. There are children in loving same-sex families that cannot receive the same equal opportunities as children with mixed-gender parents.  Until the rights with marriage are re-instituted to the State of Utah, families are being torn instead of built.  

Utah files appeal brief for Legalizing Same Sex Marriage

by Brig Bagley

State officials are scrambling to make their case to defend traditional marriage. In their appeal brief filed just this week, they use the argument that children deserve the right to have a mother and a father in order to be raised correctly.

"Redefining marriage as a genderless, adult- centric institution would fundamentally change Utah's child-centered meaning and purpose of marriage."

The proponents of same sex marriage battle the religious arguments with simple facts. Comments to the article on KSL state that the appeal won't hold in court because of its basing on religious views and not facts.

One commenter redwullf responded:

"So the entire argument is about the children? I sure hope that opposite-gender couples who choose not to have children, or cannot have children, will help and stand up and fight against this hogwash. Marriage is not ONLY about the children. There's nothing prohibiting a sterile man or woman from marrying. There's nothing prohibiting a married couple with children form getting a divorce - it should be illegal to divorce if there are children involved, if this argument had any validity to it.

It's so disingenuous! Utah has essentially decided to *use* children to make their case. It's like the puppy defense ("Look at this cute puppy? You wouldn't hurt a puppy, would you?"). It's an appeal to emotion and has no basis in fact, and is completely dishonest.

If you're going to fight against same-sex marriage, at least have the guts to be honest about your reasons for fighting it."

Read more at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=28598877#JlEKkjJMyvMCqT8d.99

LDS Church, others respond to Prop 8 Decision

By Dave Newlin

SALT LAKE CITY -- Within hours of the ruling, both the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other local leaders and organizations issued statements on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision, which said that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

The LDS church expressed "regret" for the decision, pointing out that California voters have "twice determined in a general election that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman." It also said that the LDS church shares the view of those California voters.

The statement also called for civility in what has been, and will undoubtedly continue to be, a heated national debate.

"There is no doubt that today's ruling will intensify the debate in this country. We urge people on all sides of this issue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different opinion."

Presidential hopeful and GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney also voiced his opposition to the ruling, saying that "unelected judges cast aside the will of the people of California who voted to protect traditional marriage."

He also said that the ruling showed how important the 2012 presidential election would be.

"I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and, as president, I will protect traditional marriage and appoint judges who interpret the Constitution as it is written and not according to their own politics and prejudices," Romney said.

Read more at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=19153139#mLy5Y1QK5JhffST1.99

Read full story here.