Speech by Ed Firmage, grandson of Hugh B. Brown, before the Utah State Coalition for Human Rights, given on the steps of the Utah State Capitol

There will always be people ignorant enough, sick enough, or sufficiently mean-spirited (as a raisin is to a grape-shriveled up and hard) to call others sub-human, bestial. But, as Primo Levi noted, when this process of dehumanization becomes the policy of an institution—church or state—massive, dark evil results.

The Utah legislature and the dominant religious leadership of this state, as reflected in legislation, in illegal, secret meetings, and in an editorial in The Deseret News have embarked upon this journey into the heart of darkness.

Scapegoating other human beings violates the essence of Judeo-Christian religion, which teaches unconditional love and the equal worth of all human beings. Scapegoating reveals individuals and institutions which have not examined their own dark side and have therefore projected it onto others.

Scapegoating, projecting, and thereafter attacking a vulnerable and politically weak minority is the antithesis of prophetic religion and democratic politics. As we act by stigma, stereotype, or scapegoating, we practice the politics and the religion of hate. Prophets-Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Jesus-spoke on behalf of the weak and defenseless, the poor, and the vulnerable. They thundered against the tyranny, the blindness, and the ignorance of an establishment insensitive to social justice.

Social justice has been denied by the Utah legislature in naked attacks against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, and all our school children and young adults.

Hate speech has been indulged by state legislators who thereby invite hate crimes.

And leaders who claim a monopoly of prophetic guidance have abandoned true prophetic leadership-sensitive to the poor and the vulnerable.

In both church and state, Utah is experiencing the cost of inverse Darwinism in its leadership: the survival of the least fit.

Shame on our legislature for this outage.

Shame on our governor for hiding behind his mantra of federalism in acquiescing to this outrage.

Shame on our senators who have applauded this act, in direct violation of federal law sponsored by one of them.

Shame on a school board for caving in to the pressure and the politics of scapegoating, stereotyping, stigmatizing-violating the constitutional rights of students and teachers to assemble and to speak.

And perhaps most serious of all in its moral bankruptcy in this situation-shame on Mormon leadership for fomenting this spirit of intolerance and hate. I say "worst of all" because I believe this is the source, the cause of such irrational, illegal, and immoral action. In debasing the prophetic role from its honored position of speaking fearlessly for social justice, dominant religious leadership in this state have at once violated the First Amendment and the First and Second Commandments: that we love God and one another.

I express my love, my admiration and my support for all students gay, straight, black, brown, white: at East and West High and other schools. I honor the image of God in each of you. Reject any idea that demeans your full and complete humanity in the image of God.

Your struggle ultimately will result in greater understanding, greater love, and a greater, healthier community. God bless you.