Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

LDS-owned Newspaper Publishes Editorial about Chris Buttars
Comments by LDS Senator Called “Lamentable”

Chris Buttars is a Utah State senator and an emeritus bishop in the LDS Church. In a recent interview with documentarian Reed Cowan, Senator Buttars said that gay movement is “probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of.” He added that gay people practice “pig sex,” apparently meaning that the gay community engages in sexual acts that include defecation, group sex, and bestiality. On February 23, the LDS-owned Deseret News published the following editorial:

A Lamentable Refrain

Many Utahns, including this newspaper, share Sen. Chris Buttars' view that marriage should be between one man and one woman. That core principle should not be taken lightly.

But, regardless of one's beliefs, pushing one's agenda with uncivil attacks does nothing to enlighten others or further the public discourse.

So, along with those same Utahns who might support Buttars' position on marriage, we lament how Buttars attempted to make his case.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time.

In less than a year's time, Buttars has twice been stripped of powerful committee chairmanships by Senate leaders over comments made during a 2008 legislative debate that some construed as racist, and more recently, anti-gay remarks made to a documentary filmmaker.

Yet, Senate President Michael Waddoups, who on Friday announced Buttars was no longer chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judicial Confirmation Commission, said the latest action was not a punishment. It was done because legislation on a number of matters sought by gay rights advocates has been handled by the Senate Judiciary Committee. This action “frees Sen. Buttars to feel more at ease in saying how he personally feels,” Waddoups said at the time.

We have since learned that the action was a punishment, but not for Buttars' anti-gay tirade, but for violating an agreement with Senate leaders not to talk about gay issues. Never mind all that posturing on Friday from GOP leaders defending Buttars’ free speech rights. Buttars, of course, has the same right to free speech as any American. But there are consequences for expressing one's point of view, particularly controversial speech. For those who hold elected office, the responsibilities and consequences are magnified.

Buttars, R-West Jordan, not only represents his constituents in Senate District 10 when he is interviewed for what will likely become a documentary viewed nationally, he is a representative of the state of Utah. He does not cease to be a state senator just because he no longer holds a committee chairmanship.

In many respects, Friday was a bewildering day on Utah's Capitol Hill. Waddoups, who has been highly critical of former Senate President John Valentine's handling of Buttars' earlier breach of decorum, announced a nearly identical decision regarding the uproar over Buttars' latest remarks.

In true circular fashion, we're back to where we started last February when Valentine reminded Senate Republicans that they live in a fishbowl that is under constant surveillance. “Remember what your communications mean,” he cautioned at the time.

It is unfortunate that Buttars didn’t take that counsel to heart because there are many people in the Salt Lake Valley who respect his longtime efforts in helping troubled youths through his work with the Utah Boys Ranch. Regrettably, Buttars is now better known for unfortunate and hurtful comments that have further polarized people involved in what are already contentious public policy issues.