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September 19, 2008

Ex-Mormon Gives $1 Million to No on 8

Ex-Mormon Gives $1 Million to No on 8

Ex-Mormon Bruce Bastian has donated $1 million to California's No on Prop. 8 campaign in reaction to the Latter-day Saints Church’s recent public stance favoring the ballot measure. Bastian gave $5,000 in May, but after the church’s formal statement expecting all California Mormons to “do all [they] can to support the proposed constitutional amendment,” which would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, Bastian upped his donation, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. 

"The LDS Church has no business stepping their big nose in something that's a legal matter, not a religious matter," Bastian told the Tribune. "Constitutions are meant to protect minorities -- not to take rights away from people."

Bastian, who attended Brigham Young University and went on to cocreate WordPerfect software, grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Twin Falls, Idaho. He has been at odds with the church's view on homosexuality since coming out as a gay man, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Utah Mormons have donated $120,550 to support Prop. 8, according to public finance records on ProtectMarriage.com. Donations in excess of $1,000 are recorded and catalogued by Mormons for Proposition 8. Thirty-five percent of donors to ProtectMarriage.com are LDS, contributing close to $5 million collectively.

“Many, if not most, Mormons have responded to the church leaders’ request for assistance on this matter by actively campaigning in support of Prop. 8,” the group says on its website. (Kandice Day, The Advocate)    

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: KS
    Date posted: 2008-10-22 12:55 AM
    Hometown: V

    Comment:

    To anyone who made reference to the supposed "separation of church and state," try reading the consitution. There is no such thing. This country was founded on freedom of religion and protecting that freedom. Why would our founding fathers have written something in there separating the two? It doesn't even make sense.


  • Name: M. Tingey
    Date posted: 2008-10-10 10:42 PM
    Hometown: Modesto

    Comment:

    I'm an ex mormon and I was taught in the church that the highest law that we have been given is to love one another. If this campaign of hate the church is waging isn't hypocritical I don't know what is.


  • Name: Heidi Rataj
    Date posted: 2008-10-09 5:49 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    Dear Mr Bastian, I too am an ex-Mormon having graduated from BYU, married in the temple with two boys, and now divorced. Luckily my ex supports me and the family but it's absolutely sickening to learn of this campaign. My family supported missionaries even when I left the church, I personally was sending checks to BYU as an alumni but NO MORE! They have crossed the lines of equality - we may as well ask to become a church state - what's the difference than between us and say Iran run by clerics if we don't stand up! Thank you, BYU Grad '91


  • Name: Keola Kamakahi
    Date posted: 2008-10-09 2:41 AM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    1. There are good people on both sides of the same-sex marriage (SSM) issue. 2. There are gay people who oppose SSM and support Proposition 8. I am one. My partner is another. 3. Proposition 8 is about protecting those who disagree with SSM and not about denying rights to same-sex couples. Proposition 8 will not outlaw same-sex relationships. Under California’s domestic partnership law (Family Code 297.5), same-sex couples, like us, enjoy all of the same legal rights as marriage. 4. In other jurisdictions, government recognition of SSM has led to government endorsement of SSM and government hostility to individuals and organizations that disagree with it. 5. Proposition 8 will support freedoms of speech, press, and religion to those who disagree with SSM. That is important.


  • Name: Jared
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 1:02 PM
    Hometown: Reno

    Comment:

    Dee, Oh, also you are not aware (as most are not) that the church does not have sects that are polygomous. There are splinter groups that have nothing to do with the church that are polygomous. But you incorrectly put the possessive "their" in your sentnce. Finally, do not place the church responsible for the actions of all of its members. If people that belonged to the church did a hateful thing, then shame. But do not put that at the feet of the church. That is dangerous and inflammatory.


  • Name: Jared
    Date posted: 2008-09-22 1:01 PM
    Hometown: Reno

    Comment:

    Dee, Whatever your views of mormons may be, I think that it is time for people to plainly admit that this is the perfect forum for both "legal", or judicial, AND religious entities to become involved in. If there is a moral question that becomes legislated, it must include the voices of those in the public. Unfortunately for you, that means that everyone gets to be heard, including people that even disagree with you. There is nothing wrong for people to vote their conscience, even if it is the mormon stance. And let's get it straight, the Mormon church does not teach hate. It is not homophobic. (Unfortunately, some of its members are!). It is for extending financial and medical rights to ALL couples! But not the title of marriage.


  • Name: bob
    Date posted: 2008-09-21 6:10 PM
    Hometown: smarley

    Comment:

    a million bucks?!?! that money could have gone for at least 10 rectal reconstructions....that selfish bitch!


  • Name: keith
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 9:15 PM
    Hometown: Hernando

    Comment:

    OMG!! You are such a liar.


  • Name: MIke
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 9:13 PM
    Hometown: Honolulu

    Comment:

    So that's it...Bastian smokes POLE!! That's not news...the news is that he has a fat ass.


  • Name: Carol
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 1:16 PM
    Hometown: MO

    Comment:

    This news will never be old Matt, anyones generosity is never old. Another thanks to Bruce Bastian! From a member of PFLAG. And yes, I too have Word Perfect, and have for many years.


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 12:39 PM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    Thank you, Mr. Bastian, for your most generous gift to help fight this attempt to codify blatant discrimination into law. We need all the help we can get to make sure Prop 8 gets consigned to the scrap heap of social history. Way to go, bro!!!


  • Name: Ed Rich
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 12:16 AM
    Hometown: Sacramento

    Comment:

    my husband and i just recently married and in our church. it was so beautiful and nothing happen other than people witnessing two men vowing to love each in front of their friends and family. Thank you Mr. Bastian and your donation to the cause. This has nothing to do with and man and a woman this has everything to do with how we share in this wonderful and sacred moment in time for us. We need to remember to focus on what is important to love all even if some can't we as gay society have class and dignity, and will show the world how to walk down the isle with our heads held high and love in our hearts.


  • Name: Matt
    Date posted: 2008-09-19 12:12 AM
    Hometown: Lincoln

    Comment:

    This isn't new! This happend back in July! Come on Advocate, there's enough happening in the world that you don't have to print old news.


  • Name: Philip Smallwood
    Date posted: 2008-09-18 6:49 PM
    Hometown: Turlock, CA

    Comment:

    Another reason for me to express how much I LOVE WORD PERFECT and how much I HATE M/S OFFICE!


  • Name: Janet
    Date posted: 2008-09-18 5:55 PM
    Hometown: Minnesota

    Comment:

    I would also like to add my thanks to Mr. Bastian. That is putting money where your mouth is. This inspired me to donate again to this cause. I live in Minnesota and this does not immediately help me but who knows maybe in the future. But anywhere we can get equality I will put my purse strings. I challenge everyone to donate today to this equality drive. Do it today. It may help you down the road. Donate anything, your time, $10, $20 or like Mr. Bastain $1 million. anything, but please do something. We can't leave this up to everyone else. Read NEWSWEEK there is an article about the loneliness and isolation of GLBT seniors. It was compelling. It also touched on the fact of the people getting older with no legal standing in some cases after the loss of a spouse.


  • Name: Barb
    Date posted: 2008-09-18 5:12 PM
    Hometown: Seaside

    Comment:

    Wow, what an incredible donation! Thank you so much, Mr. Bastian for your support of this cause. It is so sad that so much money is being spent on such a simple human right but spend we must in order to keep the rights we have worked so very hard to obtain. After participating in the marriages in San Francisco 4 years ago, having it annuled and then winning our rights via the California Supreme Court, I am so thankful to be married to the person I love. Separation of CHURCH and STATE is a Constitutional LAW, people. Equality for all. No exceptions. No extraordinary rights; EQUALITY. May your life be filled with joy, Mr. Bastian.


  • Name: Barb
    Date posted: 2008-09-18 5:11 PM
    Hometown: Seaside

    Comment:

    Wow, what an incredible donation! Thank you so much, Mr. Bastian for your support of this cause. It is so sad that so much money is being spent on such a simple human right but spend we must in order to keep the rights we have worked so very hard to obtain. After participating in the marriages in San Francisco 4 years ago, having it annuled and then winning our rights via the California Supreme Court, I am so thankful to be married to the person I love. Separation of CHURCH and STATE is a Constitutional LAW, people. Equality for all. No exceptions. No extraordinary rights; EQUALITY. May your life be filled with joy, Mr. Bastian.


  • Name: Dee Smith
    Date posted: 2008-09-18 4:54 PM
    Hometown: M

    Comment:

    Thank you Mr. Bastian. You are to be commended for your generosity. The Mormons are a discriminated religious group and it is interesting that they too are very biiased by trying to stop gay marrriage which is legal business and not religious business. Some of their sect are still practicing poligimy and that is a marriage between one man and many women. They try to downplay this but it exists in many places covertly. In my neighborhood the Mormons were so hateful as to shut down a food bank run from a private house because it was run by a Catholic. Shame on them getting involved in legal matters when they have enough of their own to contend with.


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