Blind Prophecy

In a story from a Utah network, Utah State Senator Chris Buttars is once again managing to say the most vile, distasteful and offensive things without fear of reprisal. In interviews with a documentary crew, he manages to insult LGBT people, Muslims, and African-Americans. Excerpts from the story:

Sen. Chris Buttars: “Homosexuality will always be a sexual perversion. And you say that around here now and everybody goes nuts. But I don’t care.”

“the ACLU – bless their black hearts…,” it’s his other comments which may get the strongest reaction.

Like this one which the documentary maker confirms is about gays: “They’re mean. They want to talk about being nice. They’re the meanest buggers I have ever seen.”

“It’s just like the Muslims. Muslims are good people and their religion is anti-war. But it’s been taken over by the radical side.”

“What is the morals of a gay person? You can’t answer that because anything goes.”

And finally, this is how senator Buttars refers to the “radical gay movement.”: “They’re probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of.”

Now, in the interview, senator Buttars also talks about a certain type of reported gay sexual activity which he claims is taking place.

But ABC 4 does not consider that appropriate for its news content.

The article also reminds us of Buttar’s comment on the Senate floor from a year ago: “This baby is black…this is a dark, ugly thing.”

It’s utterly shameful that the Senate won’t reprimand him or that the voters of his district continue to elect this man. I wonder what sort of sexual activity is so present on Buttars’s mind that the local news station doesn’t even want to describe it.

There is no common ground to be found with this bigot.

If you can stand it, listen to the audio (copyright Reed Cowan Productions).

This news also follows two of the three remaining bills in Equality Utah’s Common Ground initiative (including the employment and housing nondiscrimination act) being defeated. I’m really touched and proud of the testimony offered by my former pastor in support of the nondiscrimination bill.

Filed under: queer rights, utah by Jere Keys