July 28th, 2008
At Saturday’s controversial Human Rights Campaign dinner in San Francisco, WordPerfect founder and HRC Board Member Bruce Bastian wrote a check for a million dollars to fight against the anti-gay marriage amendment in California. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Bastian grew up in a conservative, Mormon family in Twin Falls, Idaho. He went on a mission for the church and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mormon-sponsored Brigham Young University. But he has been at odds with the church’s view on homosexuality since coming out as a gay man.
The Mormon church has spoken strongly in favor of Prop. 8. In a June 20 letter, the church’s top leaders called on California Mormons to “do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time.”
Bastian heard this call and felt that he needed to do what he could to counter the effort.
It is not yet certain as to what organization is the recipient of the Bastian’s contribution or who will make decisions of how best to utilize the money raised by HRC on Saturday night. However, we hope that HRC will work with Californians who are most familiar with the local culture and that turf wars will not result in a divided front in our efforts to retain our rights.
We also hope that HRC will join with local efforts in Arizona and Florida in their battles to keep discrimination from becoming enshrined in their state constitutions. If HRC takes steps that appear to be cooperative and contributory to the citizens of the states impacted, it would go far to begin rebuilding trust from those in the community who have felt betrayed or ignored by the national organization.
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Ben in Oakland
July 28th, 2008
Now if we could just hit up david geffen for an additional 5 million, I think we’ll be ready to roll.
Zeke
July 28th, 2008
Thanks for reminding people of the amendments in AZ and here in FL Timothy. We need all the help we can get to keep our no marriage, no civil union, no domestic partnership, no NOTHING amendment from being enshrined in the Florida constitution. Our ONLY hope is that Florida requires a super-majority vote of 60% to pass a constitutional amendment (we at least got that part right). Unfortunately, it will still be VERY close.
I’d like to know where all the Hollywood celebrities and million/billionairs are. Why aren’t they coming out in droves in support of gay families? They could be VOLUNTEERING to do PSA’s free of charge and donating tons of money to the “defeat Prop 8” campaign.
lurker
July 28th, 2008
Thank you, Bruce!
cowboy
July 28th, 2008
Yes, Thank You Mr. Bastian. I would love to know if his family is supporting his cause.
But, in any case, we are very grateful and know this will be a historic event this November and it is vitally important to win.
oakland753
July 29th, 2008
Zeke, it seems you might not be aware of the homophobic attitudes of a great majority of hollywood´s entertainment industry. Why do you suppose more actors do not come out but rather are often outed? An actor can be out of work literally if he is found to be gay.
While these liberal icons speak about being open minded and wanting equal rights for all, their actions speak louder than their words which is why you won´t see many of them giving significant amounts of cash to the gay marriage cause.
Zeke
July 29th, 2008
Oakland753, my question was meant to be rhetorical for the very reasons you pointed out.
Sarah
July 29th, 2008
Thanks to Bastian – and a huge thanks for the reminder that AZ and FL need money, too!
So much funding this year is headed to California that I think the other 2 states fighting anti-LGBT initiatives are being forgotten … and isn’t AZ the only state in the nation thus far to defeat such an initiative in the past?
Let’s keep it that way!
Walt
July 29th, 2008
I don’t know how wealthy Mr. Bastian is, but I am sure that a $1 million is a substantial donation. For which we are incredibly grateful.
For folks like Ellen Degeneris, Rosie O’Donnell, David Geffen, Tom Ford, etc., a million dollars is probably easier to come by. If not money, how about PSA spots??
Bill
September 18th, 2008
Thank you Bruce Bastian! You’re the first Mormon I’d actually like to get to know (after Donny and Marie, of course.)
Matt
September 19th, 2008
It is amazing how opened minded you are Bill with your comment about getting to know mormons. Isn’t that what this is all about, “being open minded,” and accepting of all people. I think you are missing the idea of all of this.
shweta
March 7th, 2009
hello dear thanx for reminder people dear it’s great i like this posting thanx again dear
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