For Tony
And, come visit anytime.
posted by Sarah @ 6:02 PM
1 Comments
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Limits
Sometimes Utah is as FRIGGIN offensive as you'd think.
I love the state.
I hate the state of mind. Sometimes.
Utah = Colorado, minus the real world.
Sometimes.
I love the state.
I hate the state of mind. Sometimes.
Utah = Colorado, minus the real world.
Sometimes.
posted by Sarah @ 3:09 AM
3 Comments
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
One step forward, two steps back
How this man continues to be elected -- even in Utah -- amazes me. Who knew this type of bigotry and ignorance still existed...
Buttars warns about gay threat to America, says their morals are 'anything goes'
By Aaron Falk
Deseret News
Published: February 18, 2009
Sen. Chris Buttars believes gays and lesbians are "the greatest threat to America going down," comparing members of the LGBT community to radical Muslims.
"I believe they will destroy the foundation of the American society," the West Jordan Republican said in a recent interview with documentary filmmaker Reed Cowan. "In my mind, it's the beginning of the end. … Sodom and Gomorrah was localized. This is worldwide."
Audio from the hourlong interview aired on ABC Ch. 4 Tuesday night and video of Buttars discussing the "underbelly" of the gay community made its way onto YouTube for a brief time Wednesday.
Buttars' comments prompted concern among Republicans and Democrats alike, and had some gay rights activists calling for the senator's resignation Wednesday.
"It's extremely offensive and inappropriate, especially for an elected official," said gay rights activist Jacob Whipple. "It should not be tolerated."
Gay and lesbian lawmakers said they were disappointed — but not shocked — by the remarks. The NAACP called for Buttars' resignation last year for comments he made about a controversial bill. "This baby is black, I'll tell you," he said. "This is a dark and ugly thing."
"An apology is not going to do it at this point," said Sen. Scott McCoy, the only openly gay member of the Senate. "I'm not sure I'd find an apology sincere anyway."
McCoy said several GOP senators had made a point of apologizing for Buttars' comments.
"They're very hurtful statements," added Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake. "I trust (Senate) President (Michael) Waddoups and the Senate leadership to address it."
Asked if he expected any repercussions for his recent statements, Buttars said, "I've been under repercussions my whole life."
Senate Majority Whip Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, however, said he wasn't sure leadership would respond.
"He's got a right to speak his mind and that's what he did," Jenkins said. "I'm not saying we're all happy about it."
As for the effect Buttars' latest flap may have on how the Senate is viewed, Jenkins said the GOP majority is "concerned, not afraid. There's no question we're concerned about that. We're trying very hard to keep things from getting to a fever pitch here."
For his part, Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, told the Deseret News he spoke to Buttars about his remarks Wednesday.
"It caught me totally unawares and I just asked him to explain it," Waddoups said.
Buttars reportedly told colleagues he was quoted out of context and said had been promised a chance to review the documentary before it was released. Waddoups told Buttars "to stand up for his issues when it is appropriate and when it's not, don't get trapped into something else."
"I know he feels very strongly about issues, the Utah family," Waddoups said. "Issues that are moral for him are things he should stand up for and represent his people. That's why they elected him. He's doing his job."
During the interview, Buttars addressed issues of morality when it comes to gay rights legislation.
"I believe the whole thing is immoral," Buttars said. "What is the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that, because anything goes. So now you're moving toward a society that has no morals."
Buttars called homosexuality "a perversion" and took credit for killing every gay rights bill that has come before the Senate over the last eight years.
"They don't want equality," he said. "They want superiority."
In a statement posted on the Senate's blog Wednesday afternoon, Buttars said simply he was "disappointed" with the documentary filmmaker and would continue to support "traditional marriage."
"I believe traditional marriage is the foundation of our civilization and I'll continue to support public policy that strengthens traditional marriage," Buttars wrote. "I will also continue to oppose policy that undermines that foundation."
At an interfaith service in the Capitol Wednesday, Equality Utah leaders and gay rights activists said there was no place for retaliation against Buttars.
"We still love him, even if he hates us," Joe Baker-Gorringe said.
Buttars warns about gay threat to America, says their morals are 'anything goes'
By Aaron Falk
Deseret News
Published: February 18, 2009
Sen. Chris Buttars believes gays and lesbians are "the greatest threat to America going down," comparing members of the LGBT community to radical Muslims.
"I believe they will destroy the foundation of the American society," the West Jordan Republican said in a recent interview with documentary filmmaker Reed Cowan. "In my mind, it's the beginning of the end. … Sodom and Gomorrah was localized. This is worldwide."
Audio from the hourlong interview aired on ABC Ch. 4 Tuesday night and video of Buttars discussing the "underbelly" of the gay community made its way onto YouTube for a brief time Wednesday.
Buttars' comments prompted concern among Republicans and Democrats alike, and had some gay rights activists calling for the senator's resignation Wednesday.
"It's extremely offensive and inappropriate, especially for an elected official," said gay rights activist Jacob Whipple. "It should not be tolerated."
Gay and lesbian lawmakers said they were disappointed — but not shocked — by the remarks. The NAACP called for Buttars' resignation last year for comments he made about a controversial bill. "This baby is black, I'll tell you," he said. "This is a dark and ugly thing."
"An apology is not going to do it at this point," said Sen. Scott McCoy, the only openly gay member of the Senate. "I'm not sure I'd find an apology sincere anyway."
McCoy said several GOP senators had made a point of apologizing for Buttars' comments.
"They're very hurtful statements," added Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake. "I trust (Senate) President (Michael) Waddoups and the Senate leadership to address it."
Asked if he expected any repercussions for his recent statements, Buttars said, "I've been under repercussions my whole life."
Senate Majority Whip Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, however, said he wasn't sure leadership would respond.
"He's got a right to speak his mind and that's what he did," Jenkins said. "I'm not saying we're all happy about it."
As for the effect Buttars' latest flap may have on how the Senate is viewed, Jenkins said the GOP majority is "concerned, not afraid. There's no question we're concerned about that. We're trying very hard to keep things from getting to a fever pitch here."
For his part, Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, told the Deseret News he spoke to Buttars about his remarks Wednesday.
"It caught me totally unawares and I just asked him to explain it," Waddoups said.
Buttars reportedly told colleagues he was quoted out of context and said had been promised a chance to review the documentary before it was released. Waddoups told Buttars "to stand up for his issues when it is appropriate and when it's not, don't get trapped into something else."
"I know he feels very strongly about issues, the Utah family," Waddoups said. "Issues that are moral for him are things he should stand up for and represent his people. That's why they elected him. He's doing his job."
During the interview, Buttars addressed issues of morality when it comes to gay rights legislation.
"I believe the whole thing is immoral," Buttars said. "What is the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that, because anything goes. So now you're moving toward a society that has no morals."
Buttars called homosexuality "a perversion" and took credit for killing every gay rights bill that has come before the Senate over the last eight years.
"They don't want equality," he said. "They want superiority."
In a statement posted on the Senate's blog Wednesday afternoon, Buttars said simply he was "disappointed" with the documentary filmmaker and would continue to support "traditional marriage."
"I believe traditional marriage is the foundation of our civilization and I'll continue to support public policy that strengthens traditional marriage," Buttars wrote. "I will also continue to oppose policy that undermines that foundation."
At an interfaith service in the Capitol Wednesday, Equality Utah leaders and gay rights activists said there was no place for retaliation against Buttars.
"We still love him, even if he hates us," Joe Baker-Gorringe said.
posted by Sarah @ 9:29 PM
1 Comments
Saturday, February 14, 2009
UT making headlines for being progressive?
Now this is a Republican I'm happy to get on board with (I'm Republican, but I'm not always happy to get on board with the party -- particularly their social stances). Against the opinion of 70% of Utah residents, Utah's Republican, LDS governor came out in support of civil unions earlier this week. No one expects this to go anywhere; Utah's legislators wouldn't dare let it. But it's nice to know that our state is being governed by someone with independent thought. Not all Republicans are socially retarded, and Utah's governor has proved that not all Utahns fall neatly in line behind its ultra-conservative legislature.
Guv, at odds with most Utahns, backs civil unions for gays
Unlikely ally » Huntsman also supports other gay-rights bills, but they may be long shots.
By Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Posted:02/09/2009 07:55:02 PM MST
Here is a sentence you probably never expected to read: Utah's governor supports civil unions.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a spokeswoman said Monday, backs Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative, a legislative effort that would provide some rights to gay and transgender Utahns. Even more, the Republican governor favors civil unions.
It's a position that runs counter to his political party and against the majority of Utahns -- 70 percent of whom oppose civil unions, according to a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll.
"He's long supported many of the ideas that are presented within the Common Ground Initiative," said Lisa Roskelley, the governor's spokeswoman, noting her boss waits to endorse specific bills officially until presented to him in final form. "He supports civil unions."
It's doubtful Huntsman's backing will lead to civil unions getting past the conservative Legislature. And it may not help the rest of this year's gay-rights legislative push, which already has shrunk from four bills to two.
On Day Two of the 2009 Legislature, a measure died in committee that would have allowed financial dependents -- besides spouses, parents and children -- to sue in the event of a breadwinner's wrongful death.
And last week, Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, ditched her proposal, which would have sought the Legislature's and voters' approval to erase the second part of Amendment 3 -- Utah's constitutional gay-marriage ban -- that forbids civil unions.
Huntsman, who endorsed Amendment 3 when he ran for governor in 2004, now favors repealing that portion, Roskelley said.
She said the governor was unavailable to comment Monday.
Jeff Reynolds, spokesman for the conservative Salt Lake City-based Sutherland Institute think tank, which opposes the Common Ground Initiative, said he's "not surprised" by Huntsman's softened stand.
"He had to be dragged to the altar of Amendment 3," Reynolds said in an e-mail, "and everyone has known since then that Governor Huntsman would rather be nice than right."
Biskupski was pleased by the news that Huntsman supports civil unions.
"Wow. That's absolutely fantastic. I wish the rest of the state felt the same way," she said. "That's definitely a door to walk through."
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, and House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, did not respond to requests for comment on Huntsman's position. Neither did Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan and a high-profile Common Ground foe.
Of the remaining Common Ground bills, one would make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay or transgender. The other would allow two, unmarried cohabiting adults to file a "declaration of joint support" with their county recorder and gain benefits of inheritance and medical-decision making.
"We appreciate that the governor sees these are common-sense solutions to problems that Utahns are facing," said Will Carlson, Equality Utah's public-policy manager. "We'll take all the help we can get."
Still, he acknowledged the governor's support won't necessarily sway any votes on Capitol Hill. "It sure didn't help liquor laws or cigarette taxes much," Carlson noted.
But he said the governor could make the difference on a nonlegislative piece of the Common Ground Initiative: extending state employees' health benefits to domestic partners.
Roskelley said the governor supports the concept but insisted the change would have to be done legislatively. Carlson said the Legislature's OK would be needed only if the policy change requires additional appropriations. But he said the cost of expanding health benefits would be "negligible."
Guv, at odds with most Utahns, backs civil unions for gays
Unlikely ally » Huntsman also supports other gay-rights bills, but they may be long shots.
By Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Posted:02/09/2009 07:55:02 PM MST
Here is a sentence you probably never expected to read: Utah's governor supports civil unions.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a spokeswoman said Monday, backs Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative, a legislative effort that would provide some rights to gay and transgender Utahns. Even more, the Republican governor favors civil unions.
It's a position that runs counter to his political party and against the majority of Utahns -- 70 percent of whom oppose civil unions, according to a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll.
"He's long supported many of the ideas that are presented within the Common Ground Initiative," said Lisa Roskelley, the governor's spokeswoman, noting her boss waits to endorse specific bills officially until presented to him in final form. "He supports civil unions."
It's doubtful Huntsman's backing will lead to civil unions getting past the conservative Legislature. And it may not help the rest of this year's gay-rights legislative push, which already has shrunk from four bills to two.
On Day Two of the 2009 Legislature, a measure died in committee that would have allowed financial dependents -- besides spouses, parents and children -- to sue in the event of a breadwinner's wrongful death.
And last week, Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, ditched her proposal, which would have sought the Legislature's and voters' approval to erase the second part of Amendment 3 -- Utah's constitutional gay-marriage ban -- that forbids civil unions.
Huntsman, who endorsed Amendment 3 when he ran for governor in 2004, now favors repealing that portion, Roskelley said.
She said the governor was unavailable to comment Monday.
Jeff Reynolds, spokesman for the conservative Salt Lake City-based Sutherland Institute think tank, which opposes the Common Ground Initiative, said he's "not surprised" by Huntsman's softened stand.
"He had to be dragged to the altar of Amendment 3," Reynolds said in an e-mail, "and everyone has known since then that Governor Huntsman would rather be nice than right."
Biskupski was pleased by the news that Huntsman supports civil unions.
"Wow. That's absolutely fantastic. I wish the rest of the state felt the same way," she said. "That's definitely a door to walk through."
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, and House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, did not respond to requests for comment on Huntsman's position. Neither did Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan and a high-profile Common Ground foe.
Of the remaining Common Ground bills, one would make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay or transgender. The other would allow two, unmarried cohabiting adults to file a "declaration of joint support" with their county recorder and gain benefits of inheritance and medical-decision making.
"We appreciate that the governor sees these are common-sense solutions to problems that Utahns are facing," said Will Carlson, Equality Utah's public-policy manager. "We'll take all the help we can get."
Still, he acknowledged the governor's support won't necessarily sway any votes on Capitol Hill. "It sure didn't help liquor laws or cigarette taxes much," Carlson noted.
But he said the governor could make the difference on a nonlegislative piece of the Common Ground Initiative: extending state employees' health benefits to domestic partners.
Roskelley said the governor supports the concept but insisted the change would have to be done legislatively. Carlson said the Legislature's OK would be needed only if the policy change requires additional appropriations. But he said the cost of expanding health benefits would be "negligible."
posted by Sarah @ 6:23 PM
0 Comments
Monday, February 2, 2009
Grad school drop-out
Oh, faithful blog readers (all four of you), I have some sad news to share. As much as I've loved attending my once-a-week night class, I'm withdrawing. My class is on Wednesday nights and so far, I've been making it work with my job.
If you don't know, I do community outreach/public relations. Without getting too specific (I hear horror stories only too often about posting work-related tidbits on personal blog sites), this includes a number of things, one of them being to organize and facilitate public and neighborhood meetings to answer questions and present information in the community as it relates to my organization. Sometimes these meetings are planned out far in advance, in which case I'm able to somewhat control which day of the week they fall on. Sometimes, however, members of the community ask to meet with us (myself and other staff members) at a moment's notice. For example, I got a call this afternoon asking if we could attend a community council meeting this Wednesday night. Seeing as this is a primary part of my job responsibilities, I'm not exactly in the position to say no. I also haven't been with my job long enough to ask anyone else to cover it for me and have that be okay. I know way too many people right now who can't find a job at all -- I'm not about to make myself dispensable at work, especially since I've been there for under a year.
This would be my second absence in the class. I'd already arranged to miss another class later this month because I'll be in San Francisco for a work conference. Because the class only meets once a week for three hours, missing two classes during the semester automatically drops your grade to a "C." I understand this. It's not the school's responsibility to cater to my work schedule. It's a master's level course -- missing one three-hour class is equivalent to missing three regular classes. Missing two is sort of ridiculous. I'm not willing to take a "C" in a class I would easily earn an "A" in had I been able to attend each meeting.
I was momentarily devastated. I love that class. I loved being back in school. But for some reason, it's just not meant to be right now. When I let my boss know I would be attending school in the evenings, it was understood that it would not be at the expense at my job duties. And that's reasonable: I have a full-time, salary position; it's not a clock-in, clock-out, work-around-school job. Things might be different if I'd been with my job for a couple of years already. But as it is, I'm still sort of new. And, as I mentioned in a couple of posts ago, I'm not committed enough to quit working and go to school full time. My job comes with two major things I'm not willing to give up: good (enough) pay (for now) and health benefits. Even for something as noble as higher education.
I know I'll be able to start my master's up again sometime in the future. If there's one thing this class has shown me in the last month, it's that I absolutely want to pursue graduate work when the time is right. Now just didn't work out; that's okay. It will. It just sucks that I have to eat the money I paid for the course.
I have some plans for the future, and I'll be sure to share them if they pan out.
Otherwise, we're doing just great. The snow has let up, although I think we can expect some more on Friday. Dan just gave his first major presentation in school and did fantastic. We'll be heading to Vegas in March, San Francisco/Napa Valley in May (hopefully with Tony&co.) and Washington, DC in July to visit my mom. Don't worry, she's not leaving my dad or anything -- she just got an amazing offer to teach a summer physics course to enlisted Marines who have been selected to become officers and thus must attend college. So she'll be out there for nine weeks on active duty (if you don't know, my mom spend 12 years active duty in the Marine Corps before getting out. She's still a reservist).
So that's it for now. Time to watch something trashy on TV or something.
If you don't know, I do community outreach/public relations. Without getting too specific (I hear horror stories only too often about posting work-related tidbits on personal blog sites), this includes a number of things, one of them being to organize and facilitate public and neighborhood meetings to answer questions and present information in the community as it relates to my organization. Sometimes these meetings are planned out far in advance, in which case I'm able to somewhat control which day of the week they fall on. Sometimes, however, members of the community ask to meet with us (myself and other staff members) at a moment's notice. For example, I got a call this afternoon asking if we could attend a community council meeting this Wednesday night. Seeing as this is a primary part of my job responsibilities, I'm not exactly in the position to say no. I also haven't been with my job long enough to ask anyone else to cover it for me and have that be okay. I know way too many people right now who can't find a job at all -- I'm not about to make myself dispensable at work, especially since I've been there for under a year.
This would be my second absence in the class. I'd already arranged to miss another class later this month because I'll be in San Francisco for a work conference. Because the class only meets once a week for three hours, missing two classes during the semester automatically drops your grade to a "C." I understand this. It's not the school's responsibility to cater to my work schedule. It's a master's level course -- missing one three-hour class is equivalent to missing three regular classes. Missing two is sort of ridiculous. I'm not willing to take a "C" in a class I would easily earn an "A" in had I been able to attend each meeting.
I was momentarily devastated. I love that class. I loved being back in school. But for some reason, it's just not meant to be right now. When I let my boss know I would be attending school in the evenings, it was understood that it would not be at the expense at my job duties. And that's reasonable: I have a full-time, salary position; it's not a clock-in, clock-out, work-around-school job. Things might be different if I'd been with my job for a couple of years already. But as it is, I'm still sort of new. And, as I mentioned in a couple of posts ago, I'm not committed enough to quit working and go to school full time. My job comes with two major things I'm not willing to give up: good (enough) pay (for now) and health benefits. Even for something as noble as higher education.
I know I'll be able to start my master's up again sometime in the future. If there's one thing this class has shown me in the last month, it's that I absolutely want to pursue graduate work when the time is right. Now just didn't work out; that's okay. It will. It just sucks that I have to eat the money I paid for the course.
I have some plans for the future, and I'll be sure to share them if they pan out.
Otherwise, we're doing just great. The snow has let up, although I think we can expect some more on Friday. Dan just gave his first major presentation in school and did fantastic. We'll be heading to Vegas in March, San Francisco/Napa Valley in May (hopefully with Tony&co.) and Washington, DC in July to visit my mom. Don't worry, she's not leaving my dad or anything -- she just got an amazing offer to teach a summer physics course to enlisted Marines who have been selected to become officers and thus must attend college. So she'll be out there for nine weeks on active duty (if you don't know, my mom spend 12 years active duty in the Marine Corps before getting out. She's still a reservist).
So that's it for now. Time to watch something trashy on TV or something.
posted by Sarah @ 6:49 PM
5 Comments
