From our friends at the Human Rights Campaign:
"They're probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of."
So what's America's greatest threat? The weakest economy in 80 years? Widespread layoffs, bank collapses, meltdown in the auto industry and a housing crisis?
Not according to Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars. In a recent interview obtained by HRC, he says America's greatest threat is the LGBT community. He goes on to call lesbian and gay relationships "abominations" and claims LGBT people lack morals. Watch now.
Just appalling. We need to make sure that these kinds of remarks by a public official do not go unanswered.
Call on Utah's Senate President to publicly condemn Sen. Buttars' remarks immediately.
Words matter. They can't just be laughed or shrugged off. In the interview, Sen. Buttars calls LGBT people "the meanest buggers I've ever seen" – this kind of rhetoric creates an atmosphere of hatred that incites violence against LGBT Americans.
Here are a few more lowlights from Buttars' vile rant:
LGBT people "are destroying the Constitution."
Their "number one goal is to proselytize to youth" and use schools as "a recruiting station."
Thanks to them we are, "moving toward a society that has no morals."
They will "destroy the foundation of American society... In my mind, it is the beginning of the end."
What's more, Sen. Buttars also takes clear pride in saying he's "killed" every piece of pro-equality legislation in Utah for eight years.
These remarks were not made behind closed doors, but openly and unapologetically in a January 30th on-camera interview with filmmaker Reed Cowen, taped in Buttars' official Senate office.
Sadly, hateful speech is nothing new to Buttars. During debate over a school-funding bill last year, he said "This baby is black... It's a dark, ugly thing," sparking the NAACP to call for his resignation.
Will Utah's leaders hold Sen. Buttars accountable? Will they tolerate shameless bigotry in their chamber?
Write to Utah's Senate President today and tell him to denounce Buttars' remarks.
Then tell your friends about Sen. Buttars' outrageous comments and ask them to write in too.
There's no lie too hateful, no tactic too low, for right-wing bigots to use in their campaign against LGBT rights and freedoms.