Planning on seeing Twilight? Think again

[rpmdfw]

SO does that mean some of you want to basically boycott all mormons? lol I find that to be silly. Twilight is a very popular book series, and now huge movie. Its was made by an indie film company, and has made double+ its budjet.

Boycott, no? Avoid knowingly spending my money on their products and in their stores, yes. As long as they're giving money to an organization that works to deny my right to equality as an American citizen. She has the right to give her money to her church, I have the right to not spend my money on her books, so that it doesn't end up in the church's hands, so they can donate it to the next hate-filled ballot initiative.

If they're not supporting the Mormon church, then I have no problem doing business with them.

And the books may be popular, and it may be a huge movie. Why should that play any part in my decision making? Popular doesn't always mean "good" or "right". The right thing for me is to not see the movie. And I'll be telling everyone I know why I refuse to see it.

 

[Zspa<3ariel]

I believe the right thing to do is to find out for sure, rather than jump on the "us against them" bandwagon, yes I know it's a very popular method of handling things at this time. Seriously though alot of gay people are becoming just as bad as these radical christians that are so "dangerous". I believe in fighting for whats right, but I also believe there are much bigger things you can be doing about Prop. 8 rather than an attempted slander/boycott at an author who MAY (someone please find this in writing so it can be cleared up) be donating money to her church. The advocate is becoming like the bible, not everyhting printed in it is fact, but when it favors anothers beliefs it becomes such a wonderful tool. . .for them. Ive attempted to find some information, regarding how true this is, but havent found anything. What I did find is how sad it is just because something is published in an online article, in this case the advocate, it is taken as truth. They (or any "gay-friendly" news publication) publish a new enemy and we're suppose to just add it to our "list"?

 

[merryweather20]

I believe the right thing to do is to find out for sure, rather than jump on the "us against them" bandwagon, yes I know it's a very popular method of handling things at this time. Seriously though alot of gay people are becoming just as bad as these radical christians that are so "dangerous". I believe in fighting for whats right, but I also believe there are much bigger things you can be doing about Prop. 8 rather than an attempted slander/boycott at an author who MAY (someone please find this in writing so it can be cleared up) be donating money to her church. The advocate is becoming like the bible, not everyhting printed in it is fact, but when it favors anothers beliefs it becomes such a wonderful tool. . .for them.

Are you kidding? I don't get it here, she is a serious practicing Mormon. Its not as though she grew up Mormon and no longer pracices. Yes she has admitted to periodically drinking cherry diet Pepsi, but that hardly puts a fork in her faith, heck, she links to the LDS web-site from her personal web-site (mormon.org if you want an explanation on what tithing is) and constantly reaffirms her allegiance in interviews (Do a quick google search she often discusses the Mormon church, she discusses it in more interviews than not). There is no doubting that she is Mormon and that she tithes.

This simply isn't a joke There are many people myself included who would rather not pay a hate tax when they go to the Cinema. This is no different then Cinemark which you mentioned you were boycotting yourself. Both have given money to support hateful legislation. No difference, why do you have a problem with one and not the other?

 

[Zspa<3ariel]

Nobody is kidding in this matter, we all want that ban lifted, but some of us just arent going to extremist root. I still havent seen any article or interview where she states 10% of the movie ( as advocate stated) earnings that SHE gets, will go to the Mormon church. And have any of you read her books?

 

[merryweather20]

Nobody is kidding in this matter, we all want that ban lifted, but some of us just arent going to extremist root. I still havent seen any article or interview where she states 10% of the movie ( as advocate stated) earnings that SHE gets, will go to the Mormon church. And have any of you read her books?

This is part of the Mormon faith. Since she is Mormon she tithes. That tithing amount is 10% if you want more information on the Mormon faith you can use the site I mentioned earlier or link directly from her personal site.

This isn't an "extremist root" its one you said you'd participate in yourslef ie. not going to Cinemark. They both gave money in support of prop 8, so why would you give money to either of them? Why patronize one and not the other?

 

[Zspa<3ariel]

Because Merryweather, I'm having a hard time making sense of how Stephenie Meyer could have donated 10% of her earnings from the film ( as Advocate said, if true to her word) to the mormon church, which could've gone on to fund Prop.8, when ...Prop.8 was weeks ago, and Twilight hasnt even been open for a WEEK. The films earnings where just tallied/released sunday evening.

 

[wallyb]

And have any of you read her books?

Why? - What does that have to do with anything?

I think the topic here is - Is she benefiting from gays while donating money to take away our rights?

Not what her books are about - or if they are good, bad - or a trite over romanticized rehash.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

What the LDS Church REALLY need to get right on this issue is to have some prominent male (Sadly guys -- but it's the truth. When there's somebody actively stirring the wingnut morality pot, the hands on the paddle are often dirty guilty guy-paws ) members to face WHY they are so scared of equal marriage. It's NO SECRET that SOME NUMBER of those prominent members are driven by self-hatred and fear of their OWN sexuality. It would do a world of good, if those members would JUST COME OUT. NOW.
------
don't tithe, cuss like a sailor, like a glass of wine every couple months or so, will probably never have a Temple Recommend (LOL!), and am HEARTSICK over the church's most recent horrible blunder on civil rights -- but am still a Mormon (inactive; but even so... ). I know I am not alone on the last list-item, please try not to think we are all aligned with the church's position on this.

 

[DVCajun]

Because Merryweather, I'm having a hard time making sense of how Stephenie Meyer could have donated 10% of her earnings from the film ( as Advocate said, if true to her word) to the mormon church, which could've gone on to fund Prop.8, when ...Prop.8 was weeks ago, and Twilight hasnt even been open for a WEEK. The films earnings where just tallied/released sunday evening.

You keep underlining the fact that the article gives a disclaimer by saying *IF* she is to be taken at her word. The fact is that the author DOES say she tithes. I'm not particularly inclined to second guess her commitment to that decision.

You don't get the point. We (gays) are a minority, but we are still a rather large group of folks, and we spend our money every day in businesses that reap the rewards of our patronage. Let me tell you something -- if I KNOW that a particular enterprise is devoted to stripping me of my freaking CIVIL RIGHTS, I am NOT going to patronize their business anymore! Call me crazy, but I'd rather support the businesses that support me!

I'm disappointed to find out this information about Twilight, because it was on my list of movies to see, like NOW. I thought it looked incredibly good. I'm sure it IS incredibly good, just as I'm sure Ms. Meyer is a talented author. I'm making a *sacrifice* by deciding not to see this movie.

We don't have many tools at our disposal, but how and where we spend our money is definitely one of them.

I can live with sacrificing my enjoyment (and sometimes convenience) in order to make sure my own money isn't misused against me in the future.

And, don't be naive. Prop 8 is over, but the mormon church (and others who oppose gay rights) isn't done trying to stomp on your rights. This is a WAR -- Prop 8 was just one of the most recent battles.

 

[rpmdfw]

don't tithe, cuss like a sailor, like a glass of wine every couple months or so, will probably never have a Temple Recommend (LOL!), and am HEARTSICK over the church's most recent horrible blunder on civil rights -- but am still a Mormon (inactive; but even so... ). I know I am not alone on the last list-item, please try not to think we are all aligned with the church's position on this.

T&SM, I totally realize that not all Mormon's agree with the church's position on this. That's why in one of my posts above, I specificly say that those Mormons who do not give their money to the church, will still have the chance to get my business.

And if any of my friends chose to tithe to their church (LDS or otherwise) I will not judge them or refuse to socialize with thiem. I simply won't patronize a business (and an author who profits from her writing is indeed a BUSINESS) that supporst organizations working to deny my civil rights.

It's funny. In addition to posting this here on the disboards, I emailed it to everyone on my email list.

The reaction from almost everyone was thanking me for pointing it out to them. The exceptions to that? The Twilight fans. They're all upset with me because they love Twilight and don't want to give it up (not that I ever asked them to, mind you).

Here's the deal. It's easy to say "I won't support businesses who donate to hateful causes" when it's a product you can live without. It's paying lip-service to our cause. When it becomes difficult, when a true sacrifice is involved, then people start to say "oh, why are we doing this silly boycott!" That's when it stops being lip service and becomes activism.

We're simply voting with our dollars. Dollars win elections. Dollars sway public opinion, and in this case, dollars took away our right to marry in California (and kept it from ever being possible here in the state where I live).

Bottom line is, if you spent your money at one of those businesses, YOU helped get the marriage bans passed. No matter how much you say "but I didn't MEAN to", you did.

A lot of us did.

The only thing to do now, is to make sure that my dollars don't ever get used against me again. That's what I'm doing.

It's personal now. No more Mister Nice Gay.

 

[OrlandoMike]

It's personal now. No more Mister Nice Gay.

This is a side of Rob I dont think I have seen before!

 

[jamieandben]

This is a side of Rob I dont think I have seen before!

I know I'm Feeling All Tingley on the Inside.

 

[merryweather20]

Because Merryweather, I'm having a hard time making sense of how Stephenie Meyer could have donated 10% of her earnings from the film ( as Advocate said, if true to her word) to the mormon church, which could've gone on to fund Prop.8, when ...Prop.8 was weeks ago, and Twilight hasnt even been open for a WEEK. The films earnings where just tallied/released sunday evening.

Where do you think the tithing from her books went?

I don't get why you think the "If she's true to her word" is such a big deal. If she physically supports the Mormon church as she says she does, or just lies and says she does, but doesn't write the cheque, it isn't any better. She could also give the money to a fund to kick puppies but its not really relevant. She is currently a very vocal supporter of the Mormon church who spent an abhorrent amount of money taking away right that they themselves enjoy.

Why is this different then avoiding Cinemark, that you yourself said you'd avoid.

 

[wallyb]

No more Mister Nice Gay.

You were nice.
How did I miss that?
When did that happen?

 

[Chuck S]

Just because the movie has just now opened, after Prop. 8, does not mean that the profit won't be used by the Church to fight gay marriage rights. Remember it is still in court, both sides are financing the legal challenges.

Nor does it mean that the tithe the author gives isn't simply replentishing what the church already spent against Prop 8. It also does not mean that those funds won't be used to finance similar campaigns for propositions and amendments in other states in a year or two. You know that CA, no matter which way the court rules, will have additional propositions in the futures, as well as other states that don't have any legislation one way or the other so far.

Personally, I think the Mormon church, and ALL churches and religious organizations that actively participate in any sort of public election should lose their tax exempt status for all property, nationwide, for a 5 year time period.

Zspa<3ariel you have not really answered the people who are asking you specifically what the difference is between you not going to a cinemark theater and other people not going to see a particular film. I really am curious how you think there is a big differece between the two. Also, how you do figure that the author that talks openly about her faith and who has direct links to Mormon websites is not tithing?

 

[rpmdfw]

Personally, I think the Mormon church, and ALL churches and religious organizations that actively participate in any sort of public election should lose their tax exempt status for all property, nationwide, for a 5 year time period.

Just 5 years? You're too nice. I say, they lose tax exempt status permanently.

 

[Chuck S]

Just 5 years? You're too nice. I say, they lose tax exempt status permanently.

Church leadership can change. They should have the opportunity to reapply, I think, after a specific time frame. A lot can change, whether it be a 5 year timeframe, 10 years, or whatever.

Look at the philosophical differences between Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

 

[rpmdfw]

Church leadership can change. They should have the opportunity to reapply, I think, after a specific time frame. A lot can change, whether it be a 5 year timeframe, 10 years, or whatever.

Look at the philosophical differences between Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

Ugh. I try not to think about Benny the Dict.

 

[RickinNYC]

Yes, Im a twilight fan ( not as crazed as the majority, but I do enjoy it) talk about getting sick of the hype, Im tired of new boycotts being called everday because someone may be associated with the mormon church. You really dont realize the majority of the "gay community" is now just AS bad as these crazed bible-beaters. Why? Well this is exactly what they do, find something that may go against them, even in the smallest of ways and blow it out of proportion 10x bigger than what it is. Alot of religions wanted Harry Potter banned or not for people to see the films, because it had "magic in it". Alot of us said that was crazy. Now here you are, saying to boycott twilight because the author said 10% of her book earnings has to do with her faith. See there isnt much difference. Boycotting the Cinemark Cinemas because the CEO DONATED 10million$ to Prop.8. Yeah Im with you on that. But attacking an author who we have no idea what her real stance is on this? Nor do I believe that is her intention for the money Way to jump the gun, like I said, its sad when we see those fighting for equality slowly destroying it around them, by doing what their "enemy" did to them, single them out.

Well, like any other community in the world, there will always be those that don't agree with the group as a whole. That's just the way it is and it's good to hear dissenting viewpoints. Personally, I disagree with you completely.

Once an author becomes internationally published and is a massive best seller like she is, and starts making millions, trust me when I tell you that they do indeed become a company unto themselves. Stephen King anyone? With that thought, when any company starts donating any money, considerable or otherwise, with the intent to support the denial of basic civil rights, I know I will do what is right for me and stop spending my own hard earned money on that company. And if that right directly impacts me, you can bet your butt I will do so and ask anyone I know to do the same.

Speaking first about religion in general terms, I have nothing but respect for one's right to choose to worship whomever you like, whenever you like, wherever you like. This country was founded on the freedom from religious persecution when the Mayflower first smacked into Plymouth Rock. My own personal belief in, and relationship with, God and Christ are very solid. However, I do NOT believe in a church going out of its way to spend millions of dollars, solely to support what it believes others should do. They are then stepping into forbidden territory by enforcing their belief systems on others who are NOT members of its congregation. What the Mormon "church" did was absolutely reprehensible and those that support it financially are as accountable as the establishment itself.

You said in another post that you were ashamed for the first time on the GLBT board. I'm sorry but I can say the same thing. Equating the gay community to a group of people who are actively trying to deny us equal rights AND historically have excommunicated members of their church for simply being gay is shameful.

There are things I enjoy in life but I will deny myself those small pleasures because by doing them, I support their ideologies.

 

[Zspa<3ariel]

Yeah, I've become ashamed with the LGBT community in general, not that I ever saw a LGBT community, mainly just people, thats how I prefer it. Mainly because their retaliation method in situation's like these is hate vs. hate. And people sometimes wonder why we arent given the "same" rights or viewed as equal, I believe our actions speak for that. A poster wants to boycott S. Meyer because he believes money is being used against gays. I've been boycotting gay days in wdw for the past 3 years, carefully planning my trips after june, because the way it's portrayed/handled gives gay's a tacky and slightly trashy look. To each their own, is all I can get out of this one for now.

Peace