Utah State Rep. LaVar Christensen — who made a stunted effort to ban gays from signing legal contracts like power of attorney, tried getting the state law books to say only heterosexual marriage is a “fundamental unit of society”, and banning any local non-discrimination ordinance that protects LGBTs — is dropping his stupid bills. How come?
Because he “would like to have time for that dialog to continue so there is no confusion, misunderstanding or unintended consequences in the bills as they may ultimately be adopted.” Indeed, the State House’s legislative session is just too damn busy to waste any time with his egregious abuse of power.
But hold your faux applause for Brandie Balken, executive director of the group Equality Utah, who appears to be letting Christensen off the hook.
While Balken is undoubtedly pleased to see Christensen’s anti-gay bills disappear, her reasoning is wholly flawed: “We agree that there are more pressing issues to be addressed this legislative session than narrowly defining the family, restricting the right to contract and stripping non-discrimination protections passed by 11 municipalities.” No, Brandie. It’s not that there are “more pressing issues.” Is that’s Christensen’s issues are irrelevant, harmful, and don’t deserve to see the light of day. Can professional activists stop playing this dance where they pretend pro-bigotry legislation is something that should be openly debated? It’s not that the House doesn’t have time for the bills; it’s that Utah, or anywhere else in America, shouldn’t even tolerate their introduction. (Unless we want to give her the benefit of the doubt that the rest of the quote she gave to a reporter wasn’t included?)
How about we take this to the next level?
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Cam
Now could the Mormon defenders please come in here again to explain how they never attack gays and are actually the victims here and don’t deserve to be called bigots?
This guy was trying to actually say that if you are gay you can’t even sign a legal document. Do you know when somebody is not allowed to sign a legal document? When they are underaged, when they are mentally incapacited or when they are not considered human…i.e. a dog or a money can’t make a contract.
So this guy was stating that gays are less than human. But yeah, the Mormons aren’t bigots.
bcarter3
You’re misreading Brandie Balken’s comments. She’s obviously using heavy sarcasm to further trivialize this cretin’s stupidity.
Matt
Equality Utah tepidly asks for permission from political leaders for our rights. EU looks out for EU’s interests first. THey are an advocate for the community they claim to represent second.