Utahs Gay State Senator Resigns

Utah's only openly gay state senator, Salt Lake City Democrat Scott McCoy, announced Tuesday that he is resigning.

"It's just a work thing," McCoy told the Deseret News. "If I want to be a partner in my law firm and have a robust legal career, I have to be a lawyer rather than a politician."

McCoy was sworn into office in 2005 after the previous officeholder, Paula Julander, resigned due to health reasons.

McCoy said his resignation will be effective as of Friday. He would have been up for reelection from his Salt Lake City district next year.

Democratic voters from his senate district, District 2, will decide his successor following his resignation.

While McCoy is the only openly gay state senator, there are two lesbians who serve in the Utah's house of representatives, Jackie Biskupski and Christine Johnson.