You’ve heard about carbon offsetting, where your decision to drive a Hummer or fly by private jet can be “offset” by paying a fee to a company like TerraPass to reduce your carbon footprint elsewhere. But what about hate offsetting? As in, if you want to buy a product from somebody who supports anti-gay efforts, can you offset your funding of homophobia by giving money to a pro-gay cause?
No, you cannot. And it’s ridiculous to assume you could.
Except that’s what the website GayGamer was advising video gamers this summer who absolutely had to purchase the Xbox 360 title Shadow Complex, which is based on sci-fi writer Orson Scott Card’s Empire series. Which means in all likelihood (we haven’t read the contracts) that your purchase of Shadow Complex from Chair Entertainment and Epic Game puts money directly into the pocket of Card, the National Organization for Marriage board member who thinks men and women become gay through childhood rape or molestation. (Card also called for the overthrow of government if Prop 8 didn’t pass.)
By many accounts, Shadow Complex is a fantastic game. And just because it’s benefiting a virulent homophobe isn’t enough to keep some players from buying the game. So if you must have it, GayGamer advises you “offset” the hate funding by donating a few bucks to a gay charity. Will that be enough to keep you with a clear conscious?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
It shouldn’t.
Putting money directly into the hands of parties who campaign against gay rights is hard to defend on any level, even if you’re also giving money to groups fighting for gay rights. You cannot have it both ways.
You cannot buy Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight — which, because she is Mormon, some 10 percent of her profits will end up going to the Church’s anti-gay crusade — and then also donate the same amount to the Courage Campaign. You are still funding hatred. You don’t get to stay at Prop 8-funder Doug Manchester’s Hyatt hotel in San Diego and then write a check for the price of your room and mini bar addiction to Equality California.
Consider the second-grade logic: It’s the equivalent of donating cash to Protect Maine Equality and Stand For Marriage Maine. You wouldn’t consider that scenario. So why are you considering the others? Because you absolutely must buy products that benefit civil rights rapists?
You might be able to find a moral excuse in there somewhere. We can’t. But we’re willing to be swayed.
Dick Mills
I FULLY AGREE! I will not go to see Twilight movies in theaters, and will not buy their dvds either. BUT, buying a used copy on EBAY or at Block Buster… now that I have done. Buying a discarded DVD doesn’t benefit Card or any of the hatemongers. Though I guess it could be construed as minimally offsetting the original purchaser’s cost of benefiting the hatemongers. But, that doesn’t inflict my conscious with very much grief.
But, realistically, the flipside of not supporting Card or Meyer is that 98% of the revenues from those purchases probably go into the pockets of people who actually do support us. Just don’t buy the books, because the hatemongers probably get upwards of 10% of those purchases.
DelphKC
LoL, I remember reading the entire Ender series about 10 years ago, thought it was mostly pretty great… Then I discovered about 2 years ago that Card was this major homophobe, which made me laugh out loud (literally!) because every time I saw a picture of him, I suspected he was gay.
His dress, his look, his mannerisms (in photos anyhow) made him look like an old Key West queen, or a lesbian. In every photo it looks like his boyfriend is about to walk on and give him a big fat smooch on the lips. So, so, so hilarious…
The fact that he is a raging homophobe only makes me think it even more… After that, I ceased to read his books which, with the exception of the very first in Ender’s Game series, really weren’t all that good to begin with… What an idiot!
Google some pics and you’ll know what I mean! 🙂 🙂 🙂
YellowRanger
It’s not that hard to just wait 2 days and get Shadow Complex used at Gamestop. Thanks to the racket they have going on, Orson Card won’t get a dime of your money.
And I have no interest in sparkling, vampiric eunuchs falling in love with their lunch, so that problem solves itself.
tonedef
Unfortunately, this game is not available on hard media, it’s a download-only game, so there is no way to get it used. So you can’t use that approach, unfortunately.
Alexander
I could not count how many of my gay friends saw the Twilight movie or read the books. Fortunately, even those who enjoyed the books realized that the movie was schlock, refuse to see New Moon on good taste alone.
Knowing what I do now about Meyer’s Mormon Antics, I am thrilled that I used torrents to download her audio books.
The corollary of course is JK Rowling, who has been nothing short of emphatic in her support of equality. I am proud to say that I have purchased every one of her works, and will continue to do so.
Kree
I legally downloaded a free version of the book Twilight which was actually awful. I can’t bring myself to like the boring characters, the storyline is predictable, the writing is far to serious and plain, and the climax in no way made it worth wading through the glacial pacing. Needless to say, I didn’t see the movie adaptation.
threshold
I have about 7 of Card’s books on my shelf, and only learned of his politics recently. I was disappointed, but I still enjoy his books.
cinnamonboast
oh no mormon? its like finding out that someone is a scientologist. its a letdown. ill still see the next film though, but i might have to illegally watch tom cruise’s next film online.
SecretBYUBottomBoy
I’ve wondered the same thing and wondered why A Different Light stocks so many Steph Myer books. Don’t they realize?
Distingué Traces
Card is overrated as a writer anyway.
naprem
This is why internet pictures of Taylor Lautner shirtless are a good thing – we get to see the hotness without having to pay the money. (age disclaimer blah blah blah.)
Errrr
You guys do enough hating on yourselves to help any anti-gay group win against you.
damon459
This is insane if I only buy gay friendly products what exactly can I buy besides lube and porn? I mean come on do you know for certain Stephenie meyers donates 10% of her earning to the church? do you know for a fact she is anti-gay? This is a free country built on the beliefs of religious freedoms I refuse to hate a single person based on religious affiliation my brother in law in mormon should I disown my sister and my nieces because of his religion? If we are going to win over peoples hearts and minds we must do it one person at a time by showing them that we are just and “normal” as they are. I’m a pagan most of my family is catholic and some are mormon they don’t hate me or try to change or even tell my i’m a sinner trying to change their beliefs because they know me as a person and they support me 100% and they have even fought without their own faiths to make them inclusive not exclusive. Some on the bloggers on this site really are morons if they think we can win over hearts and minds simply by taking our money elsewhere. We must educate rather then simply trying to hate them more then they “hate” us besides if we do that we are no better then the people we are trying to change.
Wry Bred
Since Meyer is, ostensibly, a practicing Mormon, and tithing is a rule of the Church, it’s safe to assume 10% of her family’s income goes to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I won’t even buy one of her books used, because she can’t write worth a day-old monkey shit. Stephie was a bored housewife who decided to play at being a writer and didn’t give a rip about the craft of fiction. And likely still doesn’t.
Sam
I’m somewhat ashamed to admit it but I did purchase the Shadow Complex. I had a hard time on whether or not I should buy it because its a really good game but a homophobe was involved in its making. Another reason why I purchased it is that the creator of the game is pro-gay and I wanted to support him and his work.
I did follow the suggestion GayGamer came up with and donated to a pro-gay organization. I actually donated to EqualityMaine because I knew they were going to deal with the People’s Veto on gay marriage. I actually gave more than twice the amount I paid for the game (the game was $15. I gave them $40). So yeah…
Schteve
I agree with damon459. Withholding your money from most of these things because there is some connection to anti-gay groups is silly. Watching Twilight in theaters is nothing at all like giving money to to the Yes on 8 side, and drawing a comparison there is ridiculous. But hey, we could probably sit here and find elaborate money trails that trace back every product you buy to one hate group or another.
Joey
@Schteve: Did you not read the article that is above your comment? If you go to see Twilight you fund a Mormon, who will then go on to fund anti-gay policies. So you’re basically giving money to organizations who are actively working to deny you your rights. Same thing with the video game based on homophobe Orson Card’s books.
Like the article, which you obviously didn’t read, says: you can’t have it both ways. Either fund civil rights, or fund bigotry.
rudy
True Blood is WAY hotter.
terrwill
DelphKC: You got it right, Google this scumbags image and she looks like a purse is about to fall out of her mouth. Once it is put out there that our dollars are going to those who spew such vile poo out of their mouths to support them is quite wrong. There are other games to play, other concerts to see (BUJU BANTON IS GAY) other books to read, and other hotels to stay at. The rightwing-nutbags use the Gay card as one of their most effective fund raising tool to great advantage………Hit ’em where it hurts………….
alan brickman
It’s more affective to write Stephanie Meyer and aask her why she thinks gays are wrong…boycotting is for radicals and poor people…
alan brickman
Don’t gay up on this….when you ban or boycott something..you merely empower said item and make people curious about it…the religious right is finally getting this…why don’t gays??…
Nickadoo
I find this news a bit distressing. I happen to know from personal experience that Cliff Bleszinski of Epic Games, the lead designer of Shadow Complex, is very gay-friendly.
paulied
@ Alan Brickman. No, boycotting is for people who refuse to subsidize their own mistreatment.
Daniel
The people who are just as bad as those who buy homophobe products are the self-loathing ones who attend churches that openly preach against gay people. There are gay people who go to anti-gay churches because they like the music or the ambiance. It is pathethic; they need to grow-up and get some self esteem. Internalized homophobia is often as great a foe to the gay community as external homophobia.
Caleb
The Mormon hate is really getting old. Lumping every Mormon into the “hates gay” category is just as bad as homophobes saying all gays are promiscuous. Mormon football great Steve Young (direct descendant of Brigham) and his wife had no on 8 posters in their yard and donated to the no on 8 campaign. Unless you know for a fact that Ms. Meyer gave money to any fund that opposes gay marriage than stop the gossip.
Sam
@Joey: If you go see Twilight, some tiny, TINY portion of your ticket price goes to Stephanie Meyer. Plus, most contracts for screenplays or adaptations are for a set amount to the writer, not a percentage of ticket sales, so she’s probably gonna get what she’s gonna get whether you go or not. Most of the ticket price – over 99% – will go to people in Hollywood and the film industry, who are overwhelmingly pro-gay rights. Who do you think is funding the Perry v. Schwarzenegger lawsuit?
That said, I refused to buy Twilight and got a free copy from a friend, since author royalties on books are dependent upon sales and are a much greater portion of the purchase price. So if you don’t want to go see the movies on principle, don’t. But just know that it doesn’t do that much to hurt Ms. Meyer or the Mormon church.
mb00
fuck that, I’m glad I only play tetris and my days of reading or watching vampire anything ended with Anne Rice (now she’s all Christian so don’t know if she’s changed her mind about gays), but after reading her books, anything else just seemed too teenaged for me.
mb00
and oh yeah, if your no-no holes get all tingly at the thought of a new Twilight book…go to the library and check one out instead of buying one.
Darbosama
Internet piracy might be an effective way to enjoy these products without funding homophobes. I’m just saying.
damon459
I’ll repeat myself just because someone is mormon doesn’t mean they give 10% of their earnings my bother in law is mormon my sister and their children are not. He still attends “church” but I know for a fact he doesn’t give tithing and trust me they don’t boot you out for not giving tithings so you can’t just assume everyone gives that much or more or less again ask the individual what their feelings are on the issue. I should also add the Mormon church wasn’t thrilled about Stephenie’s books they even removed them from the mormon owned book store shelves. As to not supporting anti-gay companies I guess I better call the power company and have my lights and gas shut up cause they don’t support gay rights, while i’m at it I can have my internet shut off they don’t support the gays either and take all the food I bought from walmart back they don’t support me guess I’ll have to live in a cave in canada and not buy anything. I have said this many many times but I’ll repeat it if your only willing to support companies who supported prop 8 you won’t have many to support I’m in MT where not many of us thought twice about prop 8 it didn’t effect us either way we already have a constitutional ban on same sex marriage and I don’t remember the people of CA coming to our aid. So I’ll buy what I want when I want from who I want and nobody is going to make me feel guilty about it.
Blob 3
I watch most films online, illegally. Am I really going to take a chunk of my day out travelling to a theater to see Zombieland or Twilight? No. Of course one must balance out his / her illicit behavior with acts of virtue, thats when I trek to the cinema to see arty films like I’ve Loved You So Long…..anyway…when it comes to films, at least, there are tons of options.
BTW…boycotting goods over perceived ant-homoness is ridiK. I mean , isn’t it more ethical to not buy products made of plastic or from dangerous chemicals, which most shit is ?…Our sexuality is not as important as the environment in this regard.
me
why would anyone buy anything twilight-related anyway?
Sam
@MB00: I hope Anne Rice hasn’t gone homophobic…since her son’s a big ‘mo.
terrwill
This asshat Card is seriously way off the deep end:
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2009/05/orson_scott_card_goes_off_the.php
He is one of the most hateful, vile, sick, dememted opponents of the Gays marrying ever. His panties are bunched up so damm tight on the Gays marrying it must be hard for him to pee. Me wonders why doeth he protest so damm much???
Ben
Although I’m no fan of “Twilight,” I have to agree with the posters opposing a boycott of Stephenie Meyer’s work. A lot of churches require tithing, not just the Mormons, and as far as I know, not many people in any religion actually fulfil that particular religious injunction.
Plus, simply demonizing someone for being Mormon is dangerously broad – the Catholic Church is notoriously bigoted towards gays, but we don’t boycott Martin Sheen, who’s both a liberal and a devout Catholic.
Larry
Card is well-known as a major homophobe; I’m not sure about Meyer… Regardless, if you want to read one of their books, watch the movies or play the video game without feeling guilty, one thing you can do is buy them used or simply rent Twilight/New Moon.
Card and Meyer only get money off of their work when it’s sold new or seen in a movie theater. Otherwise, all proceeds to go whoever is selling it second-hand or renting it to you.
That being said, I’m not planning on seeing “New Moon” because I thought “Twilight” was a horrible movie. “True Blood” is way better, and I’ve heard from multiple people that The Southern Vampire Mysteries series (on which its based) are also way better than the “Twilight” books.
JR
HRC compiles a Equality Index that everyone should check out… it rates companies according to their policies towards the LGBT individuals that they employ – from non-discrimination policies to partner benefits. Though this is a small step, not supporting low ranking companies like Cracker Barrel (Gross BTW), Nissan and Wal-Mart puts out a message by taking LGBT $$$ and spending it elsewhere… for example shopping at OfficeMax (90/90) instead of Office Depot (45/60) is a good way to reward companies who recognize equal rights in the workplace. to say that boycotting is for radicals and poor people is an ignorant and stupid thing to say, BTW.
Just wish that there was a formal list of companies who actively support hate legislation and hate policies/crimes. Would make things easier to be able to see where LGBT $$$ is spent and what organizations this funding ultimately supports. If anyone knows of such a thing, lemme know!!!!
Joe
Obvious solution: If you REALLY want the game and you REALLY like the movies but you don’t want to directly fund anti-gay hatemongers just pirate the stuff.
Washingtion Guy
This seems stupid, after all given the number of people involved in the process of creating manufacturing distributing marketing and selling a product even if its a gay friendly product etc at some point along the line the money you used to buy it is going to wind up going to an anti gay cause, sort of like how the same could be said for the opposite crowd. Its one thing if all the money or a good chunk we we are talking small % of % of % here! The idea should be to donate to good causes any way not just to offset your “bad” purchases.
Todd
It seems easy to boycott Mormons–there aren’t THAT many of them–but very little Mormon tithing money actually went to fund Prop 8. The Mormon church did not donate money, it asked its members, especially those in California, to donate money and time to support Prop 8. So Stephanie Meyer’s tithing contributions did not go to Prop 8.
But while you’re getting all upset about Mormons, what about Catholics? The Catholic church was also a big force behind Prop 8; in fact, the Mormon involvement came after the Catholic archbishop in San Francisco (who had good contacts with the Mormons dating from his time as bishop in Salt Lake City) wrote a letter to the Mormon church presidency asking them to get involved in supporting Prop 8.
Furthermore, the Catholic church is also behind a homicidal campaign to stop condom use in Africa and other AIDS-stricken areas.
So, are we allowed to support a sports team that has a Mormon or Catholic player? Are we allowed to eat at a restaurant owned by, or employing, a Mormon or Catholic? Or watch a movie or television show starring, or written by, a Mormon or Catholic?
That way lies madness. If you have evidence that a Mormon, a Catholic, or any other person is personally funding or advocating for anti-gay policies, then fine, boycott them. But lumping all Mormons or Catholics into one group makes no more sense than lumping all homosexuals into one group.
Yuki
I completely disagree. Yes, there WILL be money going to fuel hatred-filled people; however, there will also be money going to people who work at the publishing companies for the Twilight books as well as the programming companies for the video games. The homophobic creators will only get a small fraction of the profit, and I’m sorry, but I fully believe that they do indeed deserve some money if they have a universe that can absorb people.
If you enjoy something, buy it. Go ahead and make your donation to a pro-LGBT group or some such thing; that’s totally fine. But I really do think that Queerty is blowing it WAY out of proportion. Hell, I’m gay and completely pro-gay-marriage and I dislike religion… yet I enjoyed Twilight and had no problem purchasing it even with the thought that the author was Mormon. (As for the New Moon movie… it looks a helluva lot better than Twilight’s movie was. I enjoyed the book series, but it wasn’t good by any means; let’s hope the New Moon movie is at least passable.)
Besides, I’m sure there are homophobes that WILL profit from anything we buy, even if their company holds tolerant values.
Roo
@damon459: ummm. I don’t think you really get the point here. it’s not about Meyer’s religion, it’s due to her religion that she makes donations. Who cares if you’re pagan that has nothing to do with the fact the Meyer’s supports against gay marriage. From your post it just seems like you want to rant about your beliefs, and not look at the story that was written. No one is telling you that you have to disown someone because they are mormon or married to one. That wasn’t the point. The point was is that Meyer is mormon and the mormon religion in general is against gay marriage. So her donating money to Anti-gay-marriagewould make sense with her religion affilition.
Do you even know why Twilight is so popular? Twilight gives Tweens shallow characters. Those tweens can put themselves in the place of the main Herione role, filling that shallow space, tey can put themselves in the story and live it. Thats how they fall in love with it. Twilight is probably a big waste of time and effort, and not only that but you can’t write a short story about vampires anymore without getting the reply “Oh like Twilight?” And it’s just a waste of good trees in my opinion. A writer to each her own but Meyer went too far with that one.
So why even fund hate? In the end it doesn’t come down to the religion, it comes down to what ther person does. Stephanie Meyer is a person, she made the choice to back up/fund a hate group/anti-gay organization. No one forced her to make that choice. She made it herself, so therefore, let the printer’s and manufactures have their cash, they full well deserve it, but that 10% donation is made by Meyer herself. She is personally funding hate.
Tanukitsune
Do you know how unfair this is to everybody else who worked on this? So now the people who worked on Shadow Complex are going to go out of business because ONE person is a homophobe?
Maybe the Stephanie Meyer and the actors who worked on the movie aren’t nice, but the credit roll doesn’t stop with them, you’re hurting people who don’t have a choice or didn’t know about the people they worked for…
Now if you excuse… I’m going to stop buying Kellog’s Frosties…. because I heard one of the farmers who picks the corn made a racist joke once… ¬_¬