A Nov. 17 protest fell short of expectations outside the home of a Bellevue Mormon who donated $50,000 to support California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state.

Police and media were prepared for an evening rally, but they got a one-person show instead.

Reporters outnumbered activists as a solo female using the pseudonym Allie Turing held up half a limp banner declaring the donor a homophobe and bigot. Her sign, framed with Christmas lights, directed observers to the web site MormonsStoleOurRights.com.

The activist’s cohort never showed up, reportedly because he was dumpster diving.

The demonstration took place on public property in a West Bellevue subdivision that includes 98th Avenue Northeast.

A rallying cry for the event first appeared on seattle.indymedia.org, generated by an author who went by the name of Carol Wilde.

The posting stated that the protest would take place “on Monday … in honor of ‘Family Home Evening,’ a day of the week in which Mormons are told to stay at home and bond with families over faith and values.”

Word of the plan spread like wildfire across the blogosphere, with many people commenting that it wasn’t appropriate to protest at a person’s home.

Observers had mixed reactions as they stopped by during evening strolls and dog walks to ask what was happening.

“Your neighbor donated $50,000 to take civil rights away from Californians,” the protestor said to one couple.

Bellevue resident Carol Stockton suggested that the Mormon donor probably hurt people with his actions, but she wouldn’t condone the demonstration.

“I think that coming to someone’s home is tantamount to hate crime,” she said. “I think this man is a bigot, but you don’t need to do this at someone’s home.”

The demonstrator commented back: “It was his right to donate to bigotry, and it’s my right to stand here.”

At least one passerby, Bellevue resident Scott Stinson, confronted the protestor with shouts and by jamming his foot into her banner.

“They (the protestors) are the intolerant harassing this guy at his home,” he told The Reporter. “I live here and I don’t need this in my neighborhood.”

A Bellevue Police cruiser sat half a block from the demonstrator as she stood with her banner for roughly two hours. An officer approached the woman soon after she arrived to confirm that she intended to protest peacefully and then went back to his vehicle.

An attorney from the National Lawyers guild was also present at the event as an observer.

“I believe I’ve gotten my point across,” the activist said as her demonstration drew to an end.

Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Joshua Adam Hicks can be reached at jhicks@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-4290.

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