Mormon Utah Legislators Oppose Even the Slightest of Gay Rights

[bluedawg12]

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/

Mormon Utah Legislators Oppose Even the Slightest of Gay Rights
Timothy Kincaid
January 27th, 2009

You may recall that the Mormon Church claimed that they don’t object to “rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches”. And you may recall that Equality Utah called their bluff and asked for Mormon support for five bills that would allow for just those rights.

And you may even recall that polls showed that Mormons in Utah generally will oppose anything whatsoever if it appears that gay people might want it.

Well we now have the answer to the first of the five bills. Senate Bill 32 would allow individuals who rely on a breadwinner to sue for wrongful death. Currently Utah law limits those who can sue to only spouses, parents and children.

Let me be clear. There is no legitimate reason to exclude those who rely on someone for their livelihood from suing should that livelihood be taken away due to the wrongful actions of another. If a woman is killed directly due to the reckless or wrongful actions of another, why should her partner who stays home and raises the kids not be able to sue?

But because this bill was understood to benefit (among others) those gay persons who rely on each other, Sen. Buttars’ committee killed the bill 4 - 2.

And did the Mormon Church live up to its claim? Did it encourage its members to allow for probate rights for gay couples? Let’s see.

Voting “no” were:

Chris Buttars, Mormon
Lyle Hillyard, Mormon
Mark Madsen, Mormon
Michael Waddoups, Mormon

The three non-Mormons either voted Yes or were absent.

There is no way to explain the action today other than in terms of bias, bigotry, or downright hatred.

The more I experience the actions of those in leadership positions or those who have power withing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the more I become convinced that this organization is an instrument of organized homophobia and that there are no rights, no equalities, no measures of freedom for gay men and women that are too small for them to let pass unopposed.

[sakabatou]

1. *sigh* Religion getting in the way of progress.

[bluedawg12]

3. Yeah and even basic legal rights. Widows and orphans, that's low.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Who could have seen this coming?

:eyes:

[bluedawg12]

6. It came completely out of RIGHT field.

:eyes:

[Stevenmarc]

24. Religion only gets in the way of progress for the Mormons

when it doesn't directly benefit the Mormons. When Utah was applying for statehood the big sticking point was the whole polygamy thing, surprisingly angels visited Mormon elders and POOF no more polygamy and Utah becomes a state. Mormons don't believe in gambling but that didn't stop Mormon banks from lending large sums of money to Las Vegas casinos. If Mormons thought they could make a large profit off the gay population they would probably not be our biggest supporters but they certainly would turn a blind eye.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. Buttars is a Mormon?

Dum dum dum dum dumb!

[bluedawg12]

5. He doesn't even have a "racial bone in his body." Geez.

Accusations of racism
In an interview with radio hosts Tom Grover & Ryan Yonk, Buttars said that he " know of an example where the minority is being jeopardized by legislative action."

When Grover mentioned Brown v. Board of Education, which desegregated American schools, Buttars responded that he thought "Brown v. Board of Education is wrong to begin with." Buttars declined to elaborate on his statement at that time.<9>

In response to public reaction to his statements and accusations of racism, Buttars responded, "I don't think there's a racial bone in my body..." and "I don't see black and white. I see people. I always have."<[br />- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Buttars

Oh yeah, and an advocate of intelligent design, in his boneless body. :rofl:

Intelligent design
During the 2006 General Session of the 56th Utah State Legislature Buttars sponsored S.B. 96, which would have required the Utah State Board of Education to "establish curriculum requirements that stress that not all scientists agree on which theory regarding the origins of life, or the origins of the present state of the human race, is correct, and do not endorse a particular theory regarding the origins of life or the origins of the present state of the human race; and grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education." <6> Critics of this bill claim that it advances a pro-Intelligent Design ("Divine Design" in Buttars' words) agenda. <7> <8> - - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Buttars

:eyes:

[davidinalameda]

8. Chris Buttars doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the shed

I've read other comments by him

not real bright

[bluedawg12]

11. He and his ilk are just tools.

[silverojo]

7. I oppose civil rights for Mormons

I used to live in a heavily Mormon area, and it's truly a sick cult.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

9. Silverojo

I'm with you! Notice it's OK not to give us our civil rights but mention something like you have and sooner or later all the objections to your line of thought will show up. Sadly, you are right--Mormonism is a psychotic sect with no ties whatsoever to reality. Why do we have to let these asshats have freedom of religion when we don't have even the right to marry?

[bluedawg12]

12. Freedom, hah! This is tryanny of a majority.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. They lie with such ease

And hate with such impunity. So natural, religiously unkind.

[bluedawg12]

13. They're tyrants, but the first to claim victimization.

[xchrom]

14. recommend

[RobertDevereaux]

15. Mormon church...

Thou art dead to me.

Signed,
God

[Starry Messenger]

16. Sick.

I'm glad this is getting exposure. I wish 60 minutes would do a piece on this. The effect this has on people's lives is enormous.

[donco6]

17. Color me surprised.

I have a friend who grew up Mormon. He and his partner have been together for more than 5 years. His mother to this day sends him letters talking about the "gay agenda" and her support for Prop 8. To me, THAT'S true perversion.

[Maat]

19. Exactly!

Of course, my in-laws are the same way - not due to sexual orientation issues - but, they attempt to convert us to the Southern Baptist belief system.

[tbyg52]

18. Jerks. K&R. nt

[nichomachus]

20. How do you know when a Mormon is lying?

His mouth is moving

[bluedawg12]

21. Like when they said they didn't hate the gays: just gay widow(er)s and their orphans?

[RetiredTrotskyite]

23. These Asshats...

seem to do nothing BUT lie! What a crock of crap! I'd love to see this religion have its tax-free status removed asap.

[bluedawg12]

27. No right is too small to violate or squash.

Pay taxes!

Second that.

[The Brethren]

22. No surprise, but stillinfuriating.

It comes down to religious persecution and discrimination. In the this case the religion involves Mormons.

I must say tho. I think this year the bigoted Mormons are even out shining the Evangelists in their direct political attacks on gays. And that takes some doing because the Christian Evangelist have been at the top of the political bigotry game for some time. Maybe someone should tell Evangelists to move on over cuz because there are some new guns in town. :-(

And this supports what I what I feared was the bigger picture with our homophobic, religious fanatical enemies, is that it isn't just about the right for us to legally marry, it's about hatred of gays overall. I know it's not pc for most folks today to actually admit that hate us, including extremist in the religious sects, but it's there. And it's rearing it's ugly head through politics.

One consultation sort of, to me at least, is that I know if they succeed with gaining more power through politics, religious extremists, who currently strive by feeding on our rights, once they feel satisfied they've politically squashed our rights to bloody hell, will then go after each other's.

Can you imagine a political show down if the Christians decided to have a political go-around with say the Mormons? In other words, whose religious laws become our new civil laws? I'll take a wild guess and offer the issue of polygamy vs. monogamy to be served up first on the voting plate....religious style. That should be interesting to watch them fight and knock each other out if nothing else. Then after that, how about the issue of women's equality in general vs. men's? Many traditionalist Mormons for ex. believe that woman should not have equal rights to men and must serve their husbands....along with his 10 or so other wives.

Excuse me while I go get some popcorn to watch the up and coming Christian vs. Mormon political boxing match ringside. :-) How rude of me, any wagers before they begin?

[bluedawg12]

28. How true! It's just a matter of time.

Then they go after each other again. This should be an interesting 4 years, now that shrub and his rw posse are gone, I wonder how much cover and power they end up with by 2012? We shall see. Stay tuned. :evilfrown:

Oh yeah, the bet! I'll wager three virtual bags of DU's finest popcorn, they go at it in say 2 years? :evilgrin:

[David Zephyr]

25. Thanks for the article and for bringing it here.

:)

[bluedawg12]

26. You are very welcome. I really like Box Turtle for concise up to date info.

it's important to spread the word, good bad or otherwise. The inter net -- luv it!