NOTE: Diary updated to better separate the idea of boycotting and dialogue. Large companies tied indirectly to the Mormon Church, which I focused on before, are primarily intended for targets for a DIALOGUE regarding these homophobic propositions. Contact them about where they stand. Ask if they are willing to publicly condemn these propositions (the way Apple Computer so boldly did). But my advice is to boycott only if they are in general extremist.

NOTE 2: The reason why a dialogue should be set up with Mormon companies that DIDN'T outwardly support Prop. 8 is because there are Mormons who OPPOSED it as well and they should be allies. Please see this Daily Kos diary. A Mormon's for tolerance movement could help head off more of these homophobic extremist propositions.

I have added another list which focuses on actual endorses of proposition 8 in California. Most are local California businesses, of course, but some are not. THOSE are the proper target for BOTH dialogue and boycott.

In this election of great progress, several states enacted regressive bans on marriage equality, setting back civil rights. Among the leaders of this year's movement to discriminate against gays was the Mormon Church. Once again right wing religious fanatics want to force THEIR religion on American society. This is one more example of the American Taliban trying to marginalize anyone they see as different.

For those who doubt the extremist aspects of the Mormon Church (though of course not all Mormons), read Jon Krakauer's book, Under the Banner of Heaven.

Here is the latest from Lambda Independent Democrats:

Thumbs Down on Atlantic Yards, Noach Dear

At its meeting held October 22, 2007, Lambda Independent Democrats, Brooklyn's LGBT Political voice adopted a resolution opposing the Atlantic Yards Project of the Forest City Ratner Development Company.

The club also contined to express it's disappointment in the Brooklyn Democratic party's support for Noach Dear. LID co-President Chrisopher Murray said "Brooklyn's LGBT community and the thousands of LGBT Democrats we represent feel that Noach Dear's lack of courtroom experience and bar associations' assessments and his past statements and actions against the interests of our community deem him an unsuitable candidate for the Civil Court bench. We continue to be disappointed in the leadership of the Democratic party of Brooklyn over their support of his candidacy."

Here is the resolution Lambda adopted opposing Bruce Ratner's overdevelopment of Brooklyn:

Resolution Item: Atlantic Yards. Date Voted: 10/22/07

Today's big news is obviously the decision by Empire State Pride Agenda to throw its considerable weight behind the Senate Democrats' efforts to retake the state Senate in 2008. This is part of a larger realization on the part of Progressives that, if we ever want to make progress in this state, Joe Bruno and the obstructionist Senate republicans need to be disempowered.

Gay City News:

With more than a year to go before New Yorkers return to the polls to vote on legislative candidates seeking office in Albany, the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) has already directed upwards of $300,000 to the effort to shift control of the State Senate to Democratic hands.

The marriage equality bill that Governor Eliot Spitzer introduced in late April won approval in the overwhelmingly Democratic Assembly in June, and GOP leadership of the Senate is viewed by ESPA as the remaining obstacle to full relationship parity for gay and lesbian couples in New York State.

This is good stuff, and further evidence that a broad coalition is coming together for this purpose. Needless to say, this is also what's at the root of the current posturing emanating from Albany on everything from the non-scandal about Joe Bruno's misuse of state aircraft to the drivers license imbroglio. Say what you will about Joe Bruno, and God alone knows there's much to be said, but one thing you won't be able to take away from him: he's a streetfighter.

What's curious about ESPA's decision is that it seems to have been taken without much regard to the various less than gay-friendly stances taken by individual Senators and their campaign committee, the DSCC.