The Circuit

The most interesting thing is that the people that voted the most against gay marriage were African Americans. Yet none of the gay activists commented on this. Why not?

Posted by: Puff | 12/2/2008 9:25:17 AM

Since this report speaks directly about the movie "MILK" and its relevance to today's issues, it seems worth remembering Milk's own feelings with Proposition 6. He felt that, if Prop. 6 was passed, that the gay community would rise up in an angry and perhaps violent offensive that would have been entirely understandable. The unfinished business of Milk's time is still affecting us today and it this generation's responsibility to carry it forward. We are not in the midst of a polite debate. We are not haggling over a trinket in a foreign bazaar. Prop 8 singles out gays. It strips them of rights. It undermines the very foundations of the Constitution of the country - which has no relationship to biblical belief or religious fanaticism. If gays are going to be singled out through the passage of this proposition, then the supporters of it should expect to be targeted themselves. If they are in positions of power, such as CEO of Cinemark, then the foundations of their power ought to be attacked and brought down. Cinemark is fair game as is the Mormon Church. We are not engaged in a friendly disagreement. These people have mobilized to strip Americans they don't like or respect of their civil rights. That's not politics. That is war. Gays have learned how to fight back and we ought to throw our full fury at individuals who funded this fight against us AND their power bases - period. Civil Rights or Civil War. Gay Rights Now!

Posted by: Rob | 11/29/2008 1:10:12 AM

There are plenty of reasons to boycott Sundance without Prop 8 concerns- it''''''''s a poorly laid out festival, hard with an industry badge to see a lot of films, getting less and less fun every year, it''''''''s cold, almost everyone gets sick when they get back, and it''''''''s expensive. So if Prop 8 can be my excuse, I may take it!

Posted by: Toasty | 11/17/2008 8:46:22 AM

If Sundance Film Festival acts as if NOTHING HAPPENED, would you please ask your patrons, Would you like that tub of popcorn lathered with hot buttered HATE or plain?"

Posted by: Qbear | 11/13/2008 2:11:33 PM

The Gay activists are not thinking clearly. The argument that rights haven't been taken away before is not true. Here's some that have been taken away: the right to drink alcohol (National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984), the right to own guns of various kinds, property rights, (emminent domain laws), euthanasia rights. I'm sure there are others. I'm not even a lawyer and these are obvious. The Utah boycott is wrongheaded. Those numbers tell everything. To say Prop 8 passed because of mormons is insulting to voters where Mormons only account for less than 2% of the population.

Posted by: HR | 11/12/2008 6:45:00 PM

Move Sundance to downtown Los Angeles' theater district!

Posted by: johnathan peterson | 11/12/2008 5:50:35 PM

WHAT's this gay activist and I've read gay mafia attacking poor Sundance festival. I suggest you look at the demonstrations in EVERY State and EVERY major city on Saturday if you think a few powerful gays are driving this boycott. When LDS attacked gay/lesbian families in CA, and for the FIRST time got a constitution to DIMINISH one groups Rights under equal protection, it angerd EVERY LGBT, and our allies.

Posted by: Qbear | 11/12/2008 11:31:34 AM

LDS you put your foot on our throats for the LAST TIME. You began this fight with LGBT families and gays/lesbians and our allies will end it. LDS elders had no problem spending 22 MILLION to spread their lies and hate in another State. They didn''''''''t care who they hurt or angered...OK we''''''''re ANGRY...deal with it!

Posted by: Qbear | 11/12/2008 11:24:30 AM

This made me curious. So here's a special exclusive analysis prepared for The Circuit readers: Total contributions in support of Prop 8: $36.1M Total contributions against Prop 8: $38.4M You can download the contributions in support of Prop 8 from the Secretary of State's website. Here are the total contributions by State in support of Prop. 8 for the two largest organizations totalling $28M in contributions (so granted, its not complete). (This will probably be a mess on the little comments screen). Yes on 8 Rank State Total Contrib. % State GDP % of GDP (in 1000s) 1 CA $23,296,209 82% 1,812,968 1.28% 2 CT $1,257,289 4% 216,266 0.58% 3 PA $1,004,677 4% 531,110 0.19% 4 MS $500,000 2% 88,546 0.56% 5 CO $460,400 2% 236,324 0.19% 6 MI $459,635 2% 381,963 0.12% 7 DC $412,150 1% 93,819 0.44% 8 UT $274,027 1% 105,658 0.26% 9 HI $152,425 1% 61,532 0.25% 10 TX $105,512 0% 1,141,965 0.01% 11 AZ $103,445 0% 247,028 0.04% If you wanted to boycott supporters of Prop 8 the best place to start would be California. That's where 82% of the money came from. Next would be Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi in total dollars. Okay, Utah is small and Connecticut is wealthier, so maybe Utah's residents are doing an excessive amount of contributing compared to the state's wealth. To look at this, I have contributions as a ratio of state GDP in 2007. Using this measure, CT, MS, Washington DC are higher than Utah, and Hawaii is just about the same as Utah. Well maybe this is unfair too. Maybe what we should look at is the net contributions for Prop 8 against those contributions against Prop 8. Here it is for the same 11 states: For 8 Against 8 Difference GDP % of GDP 1 CA $23,296,209 $26,985,049 -$3,688,840 1,812,968 -0.20% 2 CT $1,257,289 $30,545 $1,226,744 216,266 0.57% 3 PA $1,004,677 $59,686 $944,991 531,110 0.18% 4 MS $500,000 $2,050 $497,950 88,546 0.56% 5 CO $460,400 $479,696 -$19,296 236,324 -0.01% 6 MI $459,635 $1,080,077 -$620,442 381,963 -0.16% 7 DC $412,150 $3,549,181 -$3,137,031 93,819 -3.34% 8 UT $274,027 $24,515 $249,512 105,658 0.24% 9 HI $152,425 $13,450 $138,975 61,532 0.23% 10 TX $105,512 $94,483 $11,029 1,141,965 0.00% 11 AZ $103,445 $26,847 $76,598 247,028 0.03% Still Utah is not the top net contributor in dollars or in percent of GDP. Connecticut and Mississippi still take the top positions here. In fact Connecticut has five times the net dollars spent in support of Prop 8 compared to Utah and double the net contributions adjusting for wealth. Here's some film festivals that the no on Prop 8 activists should consider as more appropriate than Sundance: The Connecticut Film Festival Kent Film Festival Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival See how silly it seems. If activists against Prop 8 are going to target any group for a boycott, they should choose African American voters. Exit polls show that black voters sided in favor of the measure by more than a 2 to 1 ratio. Activists may in fact do this, but are hesitant to say so. It is unpopular to single out blacks for their voting patterns, but not Mormons.

Posted by: Tinasky | 11/11/2008 11:38:27 AM