Some say Buttars has gone too far with anti-gay statements


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By Richard Piatt and Becky BruceUtah State Sen. Chris Buttars isn't ashamed of his stand against what he has called the "homosexual agenda."

But today, some people are wondering if recently-released anti-gay sentiments have gone too far. One group has requested an apology; another is even asking for Buttars to resign.

The comments are audio clips from a an hour-long interview for a documentary on Proposition 8. In them, Buttars says, "Homosexuality will always be a sexual perversion. And you say that around here now, and everybody goes nuts. But I don't care."

Buttars also made more explicit comments in a video posted, but later removed from YouTube today. "It's too ugly to talk about. I don't want to talk about it. One thing is called pig sex," he said.

Together, the comments are so offensive to gay rights activist Jacob Whipple he wants Buttars to resign. "If he's making comments off the cuff like that, if those are his philosophies, I don't believe he belongs in an elected seat," Whipple said.

So far, Whipple is alone in calling for Buttars to resign. But the group Equality Utah points out Buttars' comments demonstrate the need for the very Common Ground initiatives the Legislature has already defeated this year. [Click here to read Equality Utah's entire statement]

Buttars is not speaking publicly about his comments, but on a state Senate blog, he said he thought the documentary producer, Reed Cowan, would "treat both sides fairly and treat me fairly."

"I took Reed at his word and am disappointed," Buttars wrote. [Click here to read Reed Cowan's side of the story]

At the Capitol, Senate President Michael Waddoups said Buttars was speaking only for himself, not the Senate. "Senator Buttars, I don't even know he was speaking as a senator. I got the feeling that he was speaking out as Chris Buttars, a concerned citizen," Waddoups said.

In his statement, Buttars said he believes traditional marriage is the foundation of our civilization and says he will continue to oppose policy that undermines that foundation. [Click here to read Buttars' entire statement]

Last year, Buttars took heat for a comment some thought was racist. During the interview with Cowan, he said he just doesn't talk about that anymore.

E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com

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