"I was disappointed to learn of the Utah State Senates censure on February 20, 2009. However, this action will not discourage me from defending marriage from an increasingly vocal and radical segment of the homosexual community.
In recent years, registering opposition to the homosexual agenda has become almost impossible. Political correctness has replaced open and energetic debate. Those who dare to disagree with the homosexual agenda are labeled "haters" and "bigots," and are censured by their peers.
The media contributes to the problem. Increasingly, individuals with conservative beliefs are targeted by a left leaning media that uses their position of public trust as a bully pulpit. This pattern of intimidation suppresses free speech.
For the record, I do not agree with the censure. I see it as an attempt to shy away from controversy. In particular, I disagree with my removal as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, since my work there is entirely unrelated to my opposition to the homosexual agenda.
Still, I'm a grown man and I can take my knocks. When it comes right down to it, I would rather be censured for doing what I think is right, than be honored by my colleagues for bowing to the pressure of a special interest group that has been allowed to act with impunity.
Thanks to the many citizens who have written and called to express their support. Please know that I'll live through this to fight another day. In years to come, we'll all look back at this point in history and see it as a crossroads. I have no intention of resigning."
Friday, February 20, 2009
Sen. Buttars Responds (It's about what you'd expect.)
Quote via Latter-day Chino: Chris Buttars YouTube Dump. He's got a load of videos of the guy saying offensive things. He also commented on my last post, so you should totally check his blog out.
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2 comments:
Hey, this is Piper from BTB, followed the link in your name here. On the Buttars stuff I think it is a bit telling that the people in government that are getting in trouble for opening their mouth are older. Is it that the younger repubs don't agree, or are they just better at keeping their mouths shut do you think?
Hey! Thanks for swinging over.
In a previous political life I was involved in local Republican politics (this was mostly before I was out, but not entirely). In the College Republicans there at least 6 gay members (including the advisor), more, I think than the Dems at that time, and certainly a higher percentage.
Now, most of the club at that point (I'd say nearly all, about 90%) was really pro-LGBT (including marriage) and thought that the way the party at large was behaving was complete bunkum. The CRs even signed on as nominal co-sponsors of Pride Week a couple times.
Many of the local politicians (including some of the old guard) had no trouble interacting with our advisor and gay membership. Now, I'm not saying they were at affirmation yet, but they were at least at "tolerance" or acceptance.
Now, as far as people in D.C., I've heard through some grapevine or another that many Republican pols have gay staffers, and are perfectly comfortable interacting with gay people, and really have few to no problems personally. However (in order to avert their electoral demise they claim) they will get up on the floor and the campaign trail and toe the party line. I'm not sure what would be worse, people who are actually deeply against us, or people who won't or can't stand up for us when the hammer actually strikes the hot iron.
SO, to actually answer the question you posed, I think it's a combination of the two. There are definitely some rabidly homophobic people in the party, still (including some young people), but most young people (including young Repubs) are at a much better place than their forebears in either party. And the ones that aren't still grew up with and feel more societal pressure to not be complete jacka***s to LGBT people.
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