Saintless

From the day that Sam Granato announced that he was seeking the Democratic Nomination for Bob Bennett’s Senate seat, I’ve felt a resistance against supporting him. There are plenty of reasons that could explain that resistance I felt, but what it came down to was a gut instinct.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I don’t dislike Sam Granato as a person. I love his Deli downtown, and I think his businesses are a great asset to our community.

I do admit that I held out hope that Pete Ashdown would run for Bennett’s seat. And it’s no secret that I really admire Pete Ashdown both as a person and as a political candidate. And that was definitely a reason to resist Granato. However, I couldn’t imagine even giving Granato my secondary support. He was a candidate I could ignore, but not a candidate I could admire.

I’ve never felt that he had any strong opinions on issues that were important to me. I’ve talked with him several times, and had conversations with Rob Miller about considering an endorsement. But, he just never had anything important to say. He wasn’t passionate about an issue, he didn’t have ideas on how to fix any of the issues that we face. In fact, the only thing I can remember him saying about economic recovery is that because he owns a business, he knows how to create jobs. And that’s just a little too presumptuous to me. There was no true plan telling how to create more jobs, how job creation will fit into the big picture, or even what sort of jobs need to be created.

The powers that be within the Democratic Party seem to have embraced Granato as a candidate from day 1. Granted, I haven’t had any discussions with Wayne Holland about the Senate candidacy, but when last year’s Vice Chair escorts a candidate to all the parties, it’s clear that at least the impression will be that the insiders of the party support him. And once the insiders support a candidate, the rest of us seem to follow along. Except that I don’t think that the delegate are quite the same crowd that they usually are. And the presence at the Salt Lake County Convention of so many Claudia Wright supporters seems to give evidence of that.

I believe that the delegates, are paying attention to the issues, and if you consider Sam Granato on the issues, he really has no stance on anything. And that lack of a position isn’t enough to convince Democratic Delegates who are paying attention, nor is it enough to convince the general Utah population that he’s a worthy candidate.

As delegates, there tend to be two things that we think about. The first, which is the most important to me, is whether the candidate is someone I believe in. Are they someone who represents my values? Are they true Democrats? Are my issues of importance to them? Can they provide leadership and reasoned opinions on issues of importance today?

And with Sam Granato’s history of donations to Orrin Hatch and GW Bush, I don’t feel like he has a history of believing in Democratic values. I don’t feel that my issues (environment, equality, health care) are issues that he really has any passion about. Issues of the day (economics, job recovery, future foreign policy) are not issues that I think that Granato has any particular experience in.

The second thing we think about is whether a candidate can win in the general election. I’ll leave that topic alone for now, and go back to the first.

A friend told me recently that Granato has “put the work in” and deserves the Democratic nomination. I was a bit aghast, because this person’s political opinions are ones I respect very much, and I felt that he was really just falling in line with the political game with this one. What I think it really came down to was that my friend hadn’t had the chance to really evaluate Stout’s opinions, and felt that even though he knew Granato would lose the primary, that at least Granato had shown up.

Now, my initial response was to point out that he couldn’t name one thing that Granato had actually done besides use donations to sponsor certain groups who later endorsed him, and show up to all the fun parties. And while that stuff is important, it really doesn’t mean a damn thing in the long run. When our next Senator begins voting, are we going to say “well, at least he was at the parties”? I know I’m not.

The thing that really sealed Sam Granato’s fate for me was a little more recent, though. Let me begin with this quote from Sam Granato’s campaign site, a portion of his address to Utah County Democrats:

I have friends who are judges, police officers, printers, paramedics, and every other sort of professional. I’m not dropping names here. I just want you to know that my first-name friends come from all walks of life. They are good people. I love ‘em all. But I would never judge them. We are told: “Judge not that ye be judged.” I believe that with all my heart.

And yes, I have friends who are gay. I have friends who have been in trouble with the law. ( I hired a few of those folks, hoping to give them a second chance.) And I have friends who have been through the trauma of abortion – including a close friend whose teenage daughter made that troublesome decision.

I do my best not to judge any of them. They are human beings. They deserve my love and concern – just as you do – just as all my friends do.

Now, this just really gets me angry. I’m a bisexual woman, and I don’t like politicians who compare me to criminals, and then offer human compassion. I typically call those politicians right-wingers. And when it comes from a candidate for a Democratic nomination, I typically call them traitors. I can’t believe that he turns around and sponsors LGBT events, and even gets the Stonewall Board’s endorsement, after spewing that trash.

And maybe most of my readers won’t get why that statement bothers me so badly. I won’t even get into the abortion thing. But, imagine that he’d said “I have friends who are black. I have friends who have been in trouble with the law.” Or maybe substitute “girls”, or “atheists” or “Catholics” or whatever else might be unique about you, but not mainstream in our society. Or, let me put it another way:

Because gays and criminals and people who have abortions are all bad people who he tries not to judge?

So, no – I can’t support Sam Granato. He’s not a candidate I can either understand or promote.

Tags: Sam Granato, US Senate

Eric Ethington, of Pride in Your Community, set up a candlelight vigil tonight. I was pleased to see that the ratio of men to women attending was about 40/60. I often bemoan the fact that in Utah, all the activists seem to be male, but we almost made up 50% this time!

I met quite a few interesting people tonight. There were at least two women from Utah County. One of which had only come out to her family last week, only to find out that they weren’t surprised. There was a woman there who brought her parents, who were very pleasant to chat with. My friend Justan’s whole family seemed to be there, including his adorable 2 year old brother.

I am really glad that I got a chance to go. I seem to have missed about 90% of the social and political events lately. And I got to meet some great people that really have made me feel very good about where our movement is going. It seems that more and more family members are standing up to support their LGBT sons and daughters and fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers. Not only supporting them, but actively taking a stand, talking to their coworkers, or their friends, and making it known that they are proud of their loved ones who happen to be LGBT.

Sometimes it’s hard to see the progress we are making. This is a fight that people like myself have been having since before I was born. And the progress from having homes and gay bars raided, and gay people sent to jail, to a more honest debate about protecting people from being fired because they’re gay, or even transgender, is a lot of progress. Although there are discouraging moments, and progress really just can’t happen fast enough, this is a battle that we are winning. And we will continue to win. The next generation, my children’s children, might not even understand that there ever was an issue. And that’s what this is all about. Equality isn’t about getting special rights for a certain group. It’s about true equality, where the difference in skin color, or who you want to fall in love with, or whether you’re male or female aren’t seen as a difference when it comes to living your everyday life. And if you can be fired, or evicted, or denied a marriage license, or arrested – your life is much different, and you are forced to hide a part of yourself because of it.

ENDA needs to pass. And it needs to pass with transgender protections. I can’t advocate for protection for myself, when my brothers and sisters who have fought for me will get left behind. And Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, has said that she the Employment NonDiscrimination Act would be her next priority. We need to make sure this happens.

Please call Speaker Pelosi at 202-225-4965. Ask that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 3017, move to a vote. As always, please be polite, but firm. After you call, I’d love to know how the call went in the comments. And then get your loved ones to call, too.

As a side note, tonight was also Earth Hour 2010. I somehow missed this – I typically participate and turn my lights out for the specified hour. I’m not sure how that happened, but I wouldn’t have been home anyway, since I was up at the Capitol during that time. It was nice to talk to the guy who set this up at Capitol Hill. I can’t remember his name, but he came by and talked to us for a few minutes. It was only dusk at that point, so I hadn’t yet noticed that the lights were out (outside, though since there was a prom going on inside, those lights weren’t turned out!), but as I looked around, I did notice that all of the outside lights were out. Even though I wasn’t able to participate, this is something that concerns me on a daily basis. I always try to keep the lights and unused appliances turned off, when possible. And that’s the point of Earth Hour – to bring attention to the daily things we can do on an individual basis.

Tags: Earth Hour, ENDA, Pride in Utah

This was written by Isaac Higham, who was kind enough to let me repost it here.

To the girl who sat two rows behind me in class today,

Don’t think I didn’t hear you. The professor was going along in his lecture discussing socioemotional development in early adulthood when he made an aside comment during the slide on Gay and Lesbian young adults, about how there has been much controversy over gay marriage lately. It was then that you made your snide remark “Yeah and they won’t shut up about it.”

It is clear, my fellow classmate, that you just do not understand.

While you may have your reasons- legitimate or not- for disliking the idea of gay marriage, your comment shows you have a clear disgust for LGBT persons fighting and working for their rights. Yes, gay marriage is the media darling and the hot button issue of the movement, but marriage is not the be all end all of this struggle.

Did you know that one can still be fired from their job, not because of poor job performance, but simply because they are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender? Are you aware that they can similarly be evicted from their housing for the same reason?

Not only can one legally be discriminated against in the work place based solely on their sexual orientation, our federal government actually mandates such discrimination in the military. Is it fair, in your disgusted eyes, that a man or woman who loves serving their country should face a choice of losing their job or going against their values and integrity and lying about who they are?

Do you think it right that the partners of such service members- who make such immense sacrifices sending their loved one off to a foreign land to serve the country- should be forced to be invisible and hide their relationship and love so their partner can keep their job? Is it an American value that they be denied the opportunity to end a phone call with “I love you” out of fear of repercussions?

Do you understand that Gay and Lesbian families are denied insurance coverage for their families? Do you comprehend that despite drawing up legal documents (that they have to remember to carry with them wherever they travel), they can still be denied to chance to visit their partner in the hospital in a time when families need to be together most, and in some cases when one is on their death bed?

Do you realize that heterosexual couples are able to immigrate their married partners to the United States if their spouse is not a citizen, but that gay and lesbian couples are denied this same protection?

Are you aware that we live in a state where a court has ruled that despite having signed co-parenting and co-guardianship agreements, a person can be denied visitation to a child they have helped raise because these agreements don’t offer the same protections as those offered to married heterosexual couples?

Did you know that there is an epidemic of gay homeless youth? Up to 40% of all homeless youth identify as LGBT.

Is this something you understand? I don’t think you do.

So while you continue to mock with scorn the efforts of LGBT persons to obtain the over 1,100 federal level and hundreds of state level rights denied them in marriage, maybe you could at least take a minute and open your heart to understand that there is so much more going on here.

You just don’t understand that these are real issue affecting real people. You just don’t seem to understand.

Do these things seem like fair and just policies to you? If they do, then it appears that I am the one who just doesn’t understand.

Signed,
Isaac Higham

Tags: Isaac Higham

We all know Gayle Ruzika has gone off her rocker, but seriously?

Apparently, Gayle Ruzika, of The Eagle Forum, is against the spirit of patriotism, of responsbility, where we all pledge to work harder, and look not only after ourselves, but each other.

If you like that spirit, and you want to be a better person, and make your own pledge, go to USAService.org.

w

Tags: Gayle Ruzika, patriotism, The Eagle Forum, USAService.org

I don’t have time to write out all of my thoughts on this, nor do I have all of the detail in either case. Regardless, my overall opinion will remain the same.

It takes acts like rioting at the G20 and Tim DeChristopher bidding on auctions for our society to get our heads out of our collective asses.

U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman said that, while he recognized people (i.e. DeChristopher) may have deeply held views on government behavior, they should express them lawfully.

Well, see, there’s a problem with that. People like me go to protests and stand around on street corners with signs, and no one gives a shit. We write, or we tell our friends, or we donate to causes, and nothing gets done. And if you look back at the history of the US, it takes people willing to do things that are “wrong” to make things change. And in retrospect, they’re called heroes. So, while breaking windows in Europe isn’t something I can actually condone, I’m glad someone is doing it. And now the press is paying attention, and the world is reacting.

Sadly, it took way too long this morning for me to decide whether the G20 riots and the news of DeChristopher’s indictment were real, or some sad April Fools Day joke. Society needs to wake up, and these people are the only ones who seem to be getting our collective attention.

Tags: G20, Tim DeChristopher

This is being reposted with permission from the lovely Dominique Storni:

2-20-2009
10:05am
(feel free to post & repost)

Dominique Storni

I’d like to say a little something about Senator Chris Buttars, the President of the Utah State Senate, Michael Waddoups, and what took place at the Utah State Capitol at this morning’s press conference.

Many are upset with how Senator Waddoups responded; that he was maudlin, didn’t go far enough, or that he was complicit by not censuring Senator Buttars. By the tone of his voice and by the words he spoke, it is apparent that Senator Waddoups agrees with Senator Buttars’ comments and was upset he was forced to do anything at all.

Senator Waddoups was evasive in answering questions, and completely ignored the question from the Gay press. Did we really expect anything different? I didn’t. 

The greatest good that has come from Senator Buttars speaking openly, honestly, and without filter, is that he has been exposed for who he is. Time and time again he proves how he feels about people who are not white and not Mormon. He has proven in words and in deed that he is a bigot. 

That is not an ad hominem attack. It is simple truth. He has stated his disdain for people of color and for gay and transgender people emphatically many times. He has said that gay and transgender people are the greatest threat to America than anything else. He has declared that he will openly block any legislation that will give these minorities any civil rights. 

When someone calls him on his behavior, he once again proves his true colors. In his own words, “I don’t care.”

This has not only created a stir in Salt Lake City. This has not only created a stir in Utah’s Gay community. This has not only created a distraction at the Utah State Capitol. This is now national and international news. Senator Buttars has single handedly brought more attention to backwards beliefs, bigoted thinking, false information, and stereotypical Utah attitudes than any gay or transgender activist could ever hope to bring.

The more he exercises his right to free speech, (which, by the way, I will defend to my death) the more he hurts himself, his constituents, and Utah. With every bigoted statement, he exposes himself. For me, the saddest reality is that Senator Buttars most likely does speak for his constituents. 

By their failure to vote him out, by their silence, by their posts on ksl.com and other blogs, there are few among his supporters who disagree with him or who want him censured. 

Hell’s bells, they re-elected him. They emboldened him. They empowered him to speak for them. And he does.

Two friends of mine stated it poignantly. The first said, “I think Waddops is an idiot – checking his watch every second – and then not addressing the GLBT community at all – grrrr!”. 

The second said, “I think the outrageous part of Waddoups behavior isn’t that he ignored us, it’s that he actually said he and his colleagues agree with most of what Buttars said, but not ALL of it. Are you kidding me with this? Waddoups should be censured.”

I happen to agree with the Senate action. The harsh truth for those of us who are a bit more enlightened and a bit more progressive is that the voters should decide if this man serves or not. I don’t believe that he should be removed by the Senate until he breaks the law or violates the terms of his oath. It is up to the voters of West Jordan to decide if a bigot represents them.

Senator Buttars doesn’t care about anyone who’s not white and not Mormon. Senator Waddoups appears not to care, either. The people of West Jordan don’t appear to care. The people of Utah don’t appear to care. The elected officials on The Hill don’t care because they “agree with most of what Senator Buttars said.”

Some may speak less offensive words. Some may speak words of support. But their actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear what they say. By their deeds, their words are erased.

By their fruits ye shall know them. In my humble opinion, their fruits are rotten. I suggest everyone read chapter 5 of the book of Jacob in The Book of Mormon and meditate on how the vineyard of Utah is represented in the parable of the vineyard.

In my Mormon youth, I was taught, “Where much is given, much is required.” 

There are so many Utahns and so many Mormons who support equal rights for gay and transgender people. Recent polls show that the Utah legislature is out of step with the majority of Utah. 

It is time for them to listen to the silent majority and stop being frightened into submission by the very vocal minority represented by America Forever, The Sutherland Institute, and the Gayle Ruzicka’s Eagle Forum.

When political leaders claim moral superiority due to their religion, or religious leaders claim high moral ground because of their politics, I see a major problem. Indeed, I see the secret combinations of the Gadianton Robbers spoken of by Helaman in the Book of Mormon. 

I expect higher morals and more ethical behavior from my Utah politicians because of their religion.

To them I repeat the words of the Savior, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

 

Tags: Dominique Storni, President Michael Waddoups, Senator Chris Buttars

Pres. Waddoups - Sen. Buttars Press Conference

After President Waddoups ended the press conference about Buttars, Troy Williams pressed him to speak to the gay community. My impression was that he was looking for some sort of apology or empathy from Waddoups, and the Republican caucus in general, for the hurtful statements that Senator Buttars has made. Waddoups replied that he didn’t hear a question. Troy then asked if Waddoups thought that gay people have the same rights everyone else does. Waddoups sidestepped the question, answering that the Constitution gave everyone rights.

Troy Williams

Waddoups and the rest of the Republicans there for the press conference left. Senators Pat Jones and Ross Romero then took some questions and made some statements. I wasn’t able to catch them all, because the room was buzzing with noise.

Senator Pat Jones spoke about the fact that they were pushing for something to happen in regards to Buttars, but that it was something that the Republican leadership had to deal with. She was asked if she was satisfied with the censure of Buttars, and she refused to answer.

Senators Ross Romero and Pat Jones

Senator Ross Romero then spoke. He said that he was proposing today on the floor that there be a join rule change for both House and Senate, require cultural sensitivity and diversity training. He said that he fully agreed that free speech was legal and proper, but that there needed to be a balance when representing the people. He said that it would help (people like Buttars) to understand how offensive certain things they say could be. He mentioned that he had considered it last year after Buttars’ “black baby” comment. The purpose of this would not be to limit free speech, but for representatives to better understand the effects their speech has on others.

Romero also said that he thought that there should be an apology issued because of statements such as the one where Buttars said that the LGBT community lacks morals.

Senator Jones stepped back in to say that she felt that if Buttars apologized but was not sincere, it would be disingenuous.

Troy Williams and Gayle Ruzicka

Troy Williams with Gayle Ruzicka trying to leave

Shortly after that, Troy Williams went up to Gayle Ruzicka, President of The Eagle Forum, and spoke with her. The cameras were all over that. Ruzicka was obviously trying to leave the whole time. I didn’t hear the whole conversation, but I did hear Troy suggest that Gayle ask Buttars what “pig sex” was. He also asked her how she could support him when he outright lied, and how was that moral or just. I don’t think she answered, and she did finally get her opportunity to run out of the room. That was quite an interesting exchange, and I was proud of Troy for taking the opportunity.

Tags: Eagle Forum, Gayle Ruzicka, Senator Chris Buttars, Senator Pat Jones, Senator Ross Romero, Troy Williams

I’m sitting in a room off of the Utah Senate Chambers, awaiting the press conference regarding Senator Chris Buttars to begin. KSL is broadcasting this live. I recognize many people here – Troy Williams, Glen Warchol, Michael Aaron, as well as tv news personalities.

When I arrived, I was turned away for not having a press pass. I will be changing that soon, but it’s too late today. I started to walk away to figure out who I knew that could get me in, when I was called back and told to go down the hall and have someone ask Ric Cantrell if I could get in.

Ric was very gracious, and said that he wanted to let bloggers that he knew in. I don’t think we’d met before, but he apparently knew my name and/or blog.

There’s lots of speculation as to whether the man of the hour will attend, and if we can ask questions.

My prediction (and as I write this, it’s 6 minutes away) is that Buttars will not resign. Instead, he’ll opt to be stripped of committee assignments. I’m told he’s a year away from the 10 year mark, where he gets free healthcare for life.

I’m thrilled at the possibility that the Utah State Senate might be stepping up to the plate, and not allowing such heinous statements to represent the entire Senate, or the people of Utah. Of course, at this moment, that’s just hope. They could very well end up defending him, using the “free speech” line.

There’s 1 minute left now, the room is getting quiet.

Free speech, but handle fairly for public.

Waddoups: Buttars is stripped from committee leadership. Intent to remove focus from distracting personal issues, so that the bills can be heard for their own merits rather than stir created in public with controversial comments. Second it frees Buttars to feel more at ease saying how he personally feels, without speaking on behalf of the committee or legislature. Allow him to more fully express his freedom of speech rights.

Buttars will continue serving on the Rules Committee.

Troy Williams pushed hard for Waddoups to address the gay community. Waddoups tried to sidestep it, even after asked directly if he believed that gay people have the same rights. Waddoups gave a generic answer, and said that all people were given rights in the constitution.

Ross Romero is still answering questions, the conference is over. I’ll make notes and write them up later.

Tags: Senator Chris Buttars

I’m sure that Bush didn’t actually mean to, but he did something good Tuesday. W signed into law a requirement that employers allow couples (including teh gay!) to roll a retirement plan over to their non-spouse partners.

Really. He did. From HRC:

The Human Rights Campaign today hailed the passage of a law that protects partners who inherit retirement savings. The Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (WRERA), signed by President Bush today, contains technical corrections to the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). PPA made it possible for employers to allow any nonspouse beneficiary of an employee’s retirement plan—including an employee’s same-sex partner—to roll inherited retirement benefits directly to an individual retirement account (IRA) and avoid immediate taxation. WRERA requires that all employers provide this rollover opportunity to nonspouse beneficiaries.

(via ThinkProgress)

(h/t HuffPo)