Steve Young's family up against Mormon church on Prop. 8

- Kudos to Steve Young for taking a stand especially given the fact that he's a prominent figure in Morman culture (Great Great Grandson of Mormon figurehead Brigham Young).


sfgate: The signs on the front lawn of former 49er quarterback Steve Young's Peninsula home say "No on Prop. 8," which normally wouldn't be much of a story in the Bay Area, a gay-friendly region which is the center of opposition to the effort to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

But Young isn't only a Hall of Fame quarterback. He's also the great-great-great grandson of Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon church. The church has pushed hard and publicly for Prop. 8 and Mormons have pumped millions into the campaign.

Young also isn't just any church member. During his years in the NFL, he was one of the nation's most visible Mormons. He graduated from BYU, which was named for his ancestor, and received his law degree there. In a 1996 "60 Minute" interview, he said that he still had plans to go on the church mission he missed in college and had no problem tithing 10 percent of his earnings to the church. He retains close ties to Utah, married his wife, Barbara, at a temple in Hawaii and even served as narrator for a short video on the Mormon church and its history, done for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.

Given all that, it's surprising to see Young's family lining up on the opposite side of the church, especially after Mormon leaders in Salt Lake City sent a letter last June that asked all California church members to do all they could to support the Prop. 8 effort by "donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman."

While it's Barb Young's name that appears on the checks, she made it clear in a statement issued today through Equality California that the contributions are a family affair.

Later, she clarified her remarks with this update: "To expand on my earlier email, I am very passionate about this issue and Steve is completely supportive of me and my work for equality. We both love our Church and are grateful that our Church encourages us to vote our conscience. Steve prefers not to get involved politically on any issue no matter what the cause and therefore makes no endorsement."

"We believe ALL families matter and we do not believe in discrimination, therefore, our family will vote against Prop. 8," she said.
sfgate: The signs on the front lawn of former 49er quarterback Steve Young's Peninsula home say "No on Prop. 8," which normally wouldn't be much of a story in the Bay Area, a gay-friendly region which is the center of opposition to the effort to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

But Young isn't only a Hall of Fame quarterback. He's also the great-great-great grandson of Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon church. The church has pushed hard and publicly for Prop. 8 and Mormons have pumped millions into the campaign.

Young also isn't just any church member. During his years in the NFL, he was one of the nation's most visible Mormons. He graduated from BYU, which was named for his ancestor, and received his law degree there. In a 1996 "60 Minute" interview, he said that he still had plans to go on the church mission he missed in college and had no problem tithing 10 percent of his earnings to the church. He retains close ties to Utah, married his wife, Barbara, at a temple in Hawaii and even served as narrator for a short video on the Mormon church and its history, done for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.

Given all that, it's surprising to see Young's family lining up on the opposite side of the church, especially after Mormon leaders in Salt Lake City sent a letter last June that asked all California church members to do all they could to support the Prop. 8 effort by "donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman."

While it's Barb Young's name that appears on the checks, she made it clear in a statement issued today through Equality California that the contributions are a family affair.

Later, she clarified her remarks with this update: "To expand on my earlier email, I am very passionate about this issue and Steve is completely supportive of me and my work for equality. We both love our Church and are grateful that our Church encourages us to vote our conscience. Steve prefers not to get involved politically on any issue no matter what the cause and therefore makes no endorsement."

"We believe ALL families matter and we do not believe in discrimination, therefore, our family will vote against Prop. 8," she said.

not that his opinion carries any more weight then anyone else. but it is very interesting that he voices his "own" opinion

not that his opinion carries any more weight then anyone else. but it is very interesting that he voices his "own" opinion

I will say that it's a little ironic that while he is a member of the Mormon church he still played in San Francisco so his ties to the community and experience there might play a role in his understanding and empathy towards this issue. Still Young didn't need to come out and take a stand on this. There are numerous athletes out there and I have no idea as to what they believe politically. So the fact that he took a stand especially given his bloodlines and such is very impressive and admirable at least thats what I think.

I will say that it's a little ironic that while he is a member of the Mormon church he still played in San Francisco so his ties to the community and experience there might play a role in his understanding and empathy towards this issue. Still Young didn't need to come out and take a stand on this. There are numerous athletes out there and I have no idea as to what they believe politically. So the fact that he took a stand especially given his bloodlines and such is very impressive and admirable at least thats what I think.
Well in honesty its his wifes cause that is pushing this and he said he stands by her. I bet if he was still single those signs would not be in his yard.

Well in honesty its his wifes cause that is pushing this and he said he stands by her.

Dude this is Steve Young we're talking about. If his wife was trying to pin him down to say something he could just scramble his way out of it and find Jerry Rice downfield :D

Dude this is Steve Young we're talking about. If his wife was trying to pin him down to say something he could just scramble his way out of it and find Jerry Rice downfield :D
He lost a few steps,.

Religious zealots hard at work on real important issues. Good to see millions of dollars being spent on crap like this.

gay people should be able to be as miserable as the rest of us. (don't remember where I heard that but its true)

Good for Steve Young for doing the right thing. I heard David Frum (the axis of evil guy, who is actually really impressive) talking about this issue recently; he said that all you have to do is look at polling data for people under 40 to see where we are headed in this country with respect to this issue.

I think with an economy in crisis people are really tuning into the inanity of these divisive social issues, which have been at the center of our presidential elections for the past 40 years. They aren't working this time and that's a very very good thing.

what are the reasons that the government doesn't want the legalize gay marriage? I Understand it's not allowed according to the bible, but there's supposed to be a separation of church and state. Would this have any negative effects on society?