Comments on: Second Utah LGBT bill dies http://www.365gay.com/news/second-utah-lgbt-bill-dies/ The daily news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:11:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: dermot http://www.365gay.com/news/second-utah-lgbt-bill-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-42681 dermot Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:25:11 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=5283#comment-42681 In Utah, it's much more complex than just being a Mormon issue. It's a *Utah Mormon* issue, which makes all the difference. I am gay, liberal, live in the state, and am technically Mormon, but I came from outside the region and I have liberal socialist firmly-pro-gay-rights beliefs that were actually inspired by my own upbringing. But Utah is a place with very extensive cultural baggage, and one of those things is an obsession with things being pleasant, even more so than with things being good and right. And LGBT issues are a party crasher for people obsessed with keeping the cleanest of appearances. So while even I was impressed by the most recent supportive poll results, it must be remembered that Utah Mormon culture is a culture where people are obsessed with whether the neighbors approve or whether they're being pleasant enough. I highly doubt someone in an elected state legislative office feels comfortable supporting something they feel everyone else is going to crucify them for. If you were elected by typical far-right Republican constituents, doing anything to help the advance of gay rights is thought of in the common political wisdom as being political suicide. Until LGBT people have far more dignity out in open inclusive Utah Mormon society, I don't see many of these initiatives receiving warm support outside of progressively liberal havens like Salt Lake, Summit County and the ski resorts. In Utah, it’s much more complex than just being a Mormon issue. It’s a *Utah Mormon* issue, which makes all the difference. I am gay, liberal, live in the state, and am technically Mormon, but I came from outside the region and I have liberal socialist firmly-pro-gay-rights beliefs that were actually inspired by my own upbringing. But Utah is a place with very extensive cultural baggage, and one of those things is an obsession with things being pleasant, even more so than with things being good and right. And LGBT issues are a party crasher for people obsessed with keeping the cleanest of appearances. So while even I was impressed by the most recent supportive poll results, it must be remembered that Utah Mormon culture is a culture where people are obsessed with whether the neighbors approve or whether they’re being pleasant enough. I highly doubt someone in an elected state legislative office feels comfortable supporting something they feel everyone else is going to crucify them for. If you were elected by typical far-right Republican constituents, doing anything to help the advance of gay rights is thought of in the common political wisdom as being political suicide. Until LGBT people have far more dignity out in open inclusive Utah Mormon society, I don’t see many of these initiatives receiving warm support outside of progressively liberal havens like Salt Lake, Summit County and the ski resorts.

]]> By: Michael http://www.365gay.com/news/second-utah-lgbt-bill-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-42665 Michael Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:12:28 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=5283#comment-42665 The irony is that the Mormon church came out after Prop 8 saying they would support legal rights for gays as long as they aren't marriage - yet, we still see the Mormons hating on the gays. In CO we recently had a bill to allow employees to put Domestic Partners on their health insurance - here is the response that I got from one of the members of the Senate when I wrote to them urging them to vote Yes. You'll find the hatred palpable (Also note that the good Senator didn't use his State email address to respond his vile email to me, he used his personal one - I left the address in the text in case anyone wants to write to him :) RE: Senate Bill 88 - Domestic Partner Benefits From: Ted Harvey (tharvey02@qwest.net) Sent: Fri 2/06/09 11:43 AM To: 'Michael Weldert' (mdw021@XXXXXXX.com) Michael, Thank you for writing me about Senate Bill 88, the proposal to give health benefits to same-sex partners. I am absolutely opposed to this bill and will never support it. Not only do homosexual partnerships violate my personal moral beliefs, they are often dangerous for the individuals involved and will lead to the degradation of society through undermining the sanctity of marriage. The people of Colorado have voted on the issue of homosexual partnerships twice and have soundly defeated both initiatives. It is clear to me that Coloradans do not want to further the homosexual agenda any more than I do, and I will fight the Democrats in their efforts to disregard the will of the voters one more time. I voted against this bill on Wednesday in the Business, Labor and Technology committee, but it still passed on a party line 4-3 vote. It will be considered by the Appropriations committee next. Again, thank you for your e-mail. I appreciate your vigilance on this issue. Sincerely, Ted Harvey State Senator, District 30 The irony is that the Mormon church came out after Prop 8 saying they would support legal rights for gays as long as they aren’t marriage – yet, we still see the Mormons hating on the gays. In CO we recently had a bill to allow employees to put Domestic Partners on their health insurance – here is the response that I got from one of the members of the Senate when I wrote to them urging them to vote Yes. You’ll find the hatred palpable (Also note that the good Senator didn’t use his State email address to respond his vile email to me, he used his personal one – I left the address in the text in case anyone wants to write to him :)

RE: Senate Bill 88 – Domestic Partner Benefits
From: Ted Harvey (tharvey02@qwest.net)
Sent: Fri 2/06/09 11:43 AM
To: ‘Michael Weldert’ (mdw021@XXXXXXX.com)

Michael,
Thank you for writing me about Senate Bill 88, the proposal to give health benefits to same-sex partners.

I am absolutely opposed to this bill and will never support it. Not only do homosexual partnerships violate my personal moral beliefs, they are often dangerous for the individuals involved and will lead to the degradation of society through undermining the sanctity of marriage.

The people of Colorado have voted on the issue of homosexual partnerships twice and have soundly defeated both initiatives. It is clear to me that Coloradans do not want to further the homosexual agenda any more than I do, and I will fight the Democrats in their efforts to disregard the will of the voters one more time.

I voted against this bill on Wednesday in the Business, Labor and Technology committee, but it still passed on a party line 4-3 vote. It will be considered by the Appropriations committee next.

Again, thank you for your e-mail. I appreciate your vigilance on this issue.

Sincerely,
Ted Harvey
State Senator, District 30

]]> By: Phil http://www.365gay.com/news/second-utah-lgbt-bill-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-42660 Phil Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:36:16 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=5283#comment-42660 In a place like Utah (my neighbor state), you have to get the basics through first to protect people. Marriage will happen, even in Utah! In a place like Utah (my neighbor state), you have to get the basics through first to protect people. Marriage will happen, even in Utah!

]]> By: Casey Cameron http://www.365gay.com/news/second-utah-lgbt-bill-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-42658 Casey Cameron Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:06:34 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=5283#comment-42658 63% in Utah, UTAH support some kind of protection for gay couples. WOW! Either this poll was conducted on Mars or congress has NO excuse to sit on ENDA. 63% in Utah, UTAH support some kind of protection for gay couples. WOW! Either this poll was conducted on Mars or congress has NO excuse to sit on ENDA.

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