FORMER MORMON BRUCE BASTIAN GIVES $1 MILLION TO FIGHT PROP 8

Orem Utah resident and WordPerfect co-founder Bruce Bastian has donated $1 million to the Human Right Campaign's "No on Prop. 8" committee:

"Bastian, a former Mormon and openly gay man, said he, too, was prompted by the LDS Church to donate - but to the other side. He gave a more modest $5,000 check to the cause in May, but upped the ante in July after the church issued a formal statement, backing the ballot measure. 'The LDS Church has no business stepping their big nose in something that's a legal matter, not a religious matter,' Bastian said. 'Constitutions are meant to protect minorities - not to take rights away from people.'"

"Close to 40 residents and businesses in Utah have made donations totaling $120,550 to support the marriage-between-a-man-and-a-woman ballot measure, according to public finance records for ProtectMarriage.com, which shows up as a link on the official Web site for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Recent reports have shown funds pouring in from the Church of Latter Day Saints in support of Prop 8 following a call-to-action from church leaders.