When the LA Times published donors to the “Yes on 8” campaign, her mother’s name came up as a $100 donor. She chose to do this after being encouraged by her church to support this proposition on moral grounds. My friend’s mom is deeply religious and has been all her life. Her faith supported her decision to make this donation. This was a personal decision and the donation was made in her own name and not El Coyote’s. My friend’s mother is an employee of the restaurant, and, like all employees, is free to donate to any cause she chooses. El Coyote does not donate to political causes of either of the major parties, but has donated generously to many organizations for a variety of social causes. Because of this donation, she is being crushed at the soul because people that she has loved and cared about all these years don’t agree with her on this issue. They are seeking to destroy her personally and shut down the business that has been in the family over 75 years. To my friend’s mom, losing money from the boycotts is not a concern. She is personally saddened that her decision to act on her beliefs has been the focal point of so much anger and contention – and that this contention has brought hardship upon the employees and customers of this wonderful restaurant. She is devastated over this, but still stands by her decision to make the donation.

The protests began when the “No on 8” people found out about her donation, and she became an immediate target. The gay community and “No on 8” people have come out very strongly and angrily against her, and they have been protesting the restaurant the last few nights. The whole community – including the gay community – has played an important role in the history of the El Coyote. This little restaurant has become the face of their cause on national and international news and it has been very difficult for all, but especially for my friend’s mother.

My friend’s sister and my friend stood by their mother last Wednesday as she faced a standing room only crowd in the back of the restaurant to read a prepared statement about where she stands on all of this. She was extremely emotional and barely able to get through it. She truly loves these customers and people that have supported the restaurant for many years, and she wanted them to know how devastated she is that they feel hurt and can’t understand her perspective on this issue. She stated clearly that what she did was a personal decision and she stands by it. When she was asked to take it back or donate to the “no on 8” campaign, she stood firmly and stated that she could not go against a lifetime of faith. They told her it was her religion or their business and she didn’t cave. She bravely stood for her religion while risking losing her livelihood. At that point, the crowd became very angry that she did not apologize for her faith and wasn’t willing to walk away from it. My friend tried to explain that it is okay to have different opinions, but they wouldn’t have any part of that. If we didn’t see it the way they did, conversation over.

My friend’s mom had to be helped out because the “No on 8” people went into attack-mode, so at that point, my friend’s sister and my friend stayed to try and listen to what they had to say. It was pretty difficult for my friend to stand there and listen to a room full of people rip her mother to shreds. This is a woman who has been nothing but wonderful to her gay employees and customers for many years. She has treated them like family and has loved them unconditionally. She has sat at the bedside of a cherished friend dying of AIDS when their own family shunned them on more than one occasion. The “No on 8” people don’t understand that we can love them, but still feel differently on this subject. They would not accept that and they would not listen. Wednesday and Thursday nights they were out in force, yelling, protesting, and encouraging others to boycott the restaurant. As customers left the restaurant they were shouted at with vulgarities and ridiculed for being there.

I’m asking that we take a stand and fight back against the anger and harassment of my friend’s mother and the restaurant. It’s become more than just a fight for businesses that support Prop 8. It’s about defending our position, our right to have a difference of opinions, and our freedom to have faith. We can all agree to disagree and that’s okay. That’s what makes America great.

Many have asked what they can do to help. The best thing is to eat at the restaurant.

This will show the protesters that the harassment and intolerance on their side didn’t destroy us as they hoped. If we don’t stand up to this behavior, the opposition wins. I know we may not all agree on this issue that has become so heated, but I hope we can all agree that this harassment should not be tolerated.

Please encourage everyone in the LA area to show their support by eating at El Coyote at 7312 Beverly Blvd., LA 90036 (It’s between La Brea and Fairfax)

If only these attacks stopped at property damage. Some folks are being threatened at WORK as well. This was the lead story here Wednesday evening: “Artistic Director Resigns Amid Prop. 8 Boycott – Sacramento News Story – KCRA Sacramento” The link: http://www.kcra.com/news/17964159/detail.html?taf=sac

My cousin’s son, an Iraq veteran, sent the following to our family E-group, “…There was also a website (though it was shut down) that had the home addresses of those who supported Prop 8.” He went on to say that “No on 8″ protesters were encouraged to go to their homes and picket them with signs saying, “A bigot lives here” or some other hateful comment. He checked to see if he recognized any of the names on the site and, sure enough, two of his former pastors were on the list…among others.

The day before the election, a member of my own congregation was out with his sign at a local intersection when he was struck by a truck…which had passed through the intersection several times taunting the Prop 8 supporters brave enough to stand out in the rain. He suffered massive internal injuries requiring several surgeries and the removal of most of his intestines. BOTH of his knee caps were broken as well as a rib and several bones in his legs. Doctors say he will be in Rehab for a year…at least. Please, keep “C.H.” in your prayers! (I actually typed his name here but deleted it as he is already suffering enough without becoming even more of a target of hate.)

Speaking of which, the Bible advises us to pray for those who persecute us and to forgive those who trespass against us. I’ve already prayed…hopefully, forgiveness will follow.