Following his removal
from two Utah senate committees for homophobic remarks, Sen.
Chris Buttars went on record Friday, standing behind his
beliefs. Buttars published his reaction to being censured in a
statement posted on
Senate Site
, a website by the Utah Senate Majority.
"In recent years,
registering opposition to the homosexual agenda has become
almost impossible," he wrote. "Political correctness
has replaced open and energetic debate. Those who dare to
disagree with the homosexual agenda are labeled
'haters,' and 'bigots,' and are censured by
their peers.
Buttars added that
conservatives are being targeted by the left-leaning media that
"uses their position of public trust as a bully
pulpit."
Buttars was removed
from the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Committee and the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee after
a closed door meeting among senate Republicans. Buttars was
featured in a documentary saying that gays are "the
greatest threat to America," and comparing them to radical
Muslims.
"It's the
beginning of the end," Buttars said in
8: The Mormon Proposition
. "Oh, it's worse than that. Sure. Sodom and Gomorrah
was localized. This is worldwide."
The Wednesday before
Buttars was removed, gay rights activist Jacob Whipple called
for Buttars' resignation from the senate.
Buttars also came under
fire after in February 2008 speaking on the floor
about a school-funding bill. "This baby is black," he
said according to the
Salt Lake City Tribune.
"It's a dark, ugly thing." The local NAACP
demanded that he resign, calling his words
"despicable." (Michelle Garcia, Advocate.com)
