Tag Archives: gay issues

First he bumbled.  Then he was ousted from two legisltative committees.  Then he refused to apologize.

More than 15,000 e-mails were sent to Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups (R) demanding that he condemn Buttars’s remarks. Waddoups said he kicked Buttars off the Senate Judiciary Committee primarily as a way to draw attention away from him. Buttars said he would not issue an apology.

(Washington post "Around the Nation")

Senator Chris Buttars continues to embarass and make a mockery of Utah nationwide with his words and actions.

Utah lawmaker’s gay comments cost him chairmanship
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gpqbQG-pz2e3wPW5F9tF5tkDbLxgD96FHMRG2

Buttars:  "I Don’t Have Anything to Apologize For."(Salt Lake Tribune)

Buttars Loses Chairmanship Over Remarks (Deseret News)
Utah Legislator Ousted from Panel for Remarks (Washington Post)

Google News Results

And now there is a rally planned in West Jordan on Saturday, February 28th at 1:00p.m. (place tbd) to rally against Buttars’ recent statements.

Buttars and his supporters are crying "free speech".  Opponents are demanding responsibility, fairness, and ethical behavior of legislators, including responsible free speech in the public’s eye.  Buttars is not providing a model of responsible leadership.  Indeed, he is painting a rather foolish picture of Utah to the rest of the Nation.

(Cross posted from Utah Legislature Watch)

Utah Senator Chris Buttars continues to blunder.  On the heels of the defeat of the Common Ground Initiative bills, which would have afforded benefits to domestic partners, Buttars, in an interview with documentary filmmaker Reed Cowan, openly made the statement that the gay rights movement is “probably the greatest threat to America.”  Quoted in the media:

Sen. Chris Buttars believes gays and lesbians are "the greatest threat to America going down," comparing members of the LGBT community to radical Muslims.

"I believe they will destroy the foundation of the American society," the West Jordan Republican said in a recent interview with documentary filmmaker Reed Cowan. "In my mind, it’s the beginning of the end. … Sodom and Gomorrah was localized. This is worldwide."

It’s all over the news media and blogosphere such as:

Salt Lake Tribune

Deseret News

One Utah

On Top Magazine

True Logic

Agree to Disagree

This is not the first time Buttars has bumbled. The NAACP called for Buttars’ resignation last year for comments he made about a controversial bill. "This baby is black, I’ll tell you," he said. "This is a dark and ugly thing."

Salt Lake Tribune:

Gay-rights activist Jacob Whipple, founder of the All For One Initiative, called for Buttars’ resignation from the Senate, urging supporters of the LGBT community to e-mail Buttars and Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville.

"He basically labeled my community as virtually the devil incarnate," Whipple said. "I don’t think that he represents Utah any more. … Saying something so hurtful has no place on the Hill."

(Cross-posted from Utah Legislature Watch)