Gay Activist Appointed to Utah Senate

[Rose Siding]

SALT LAKE CITY - The first openly gay member of the Utah state Senate was sworn in Monday. Addressing colleagues in one of the most conservative legislative bodies in the nation, Democrat Scott McCoy, 34, said his sexual orientation will not define his work as a lawmaker.

"The fact that I am gay is certainly one of the characteristics with which I have been endowed by my creator and it is an important part of who I am as a human being," he said. "But it is certainly not the only characteristic that defines me, just as none of my colleagues can or should be reduced to any one of their many characteristics."
...
"The only agenda I come into the Senate with is that of the constituents of the Second District," he said.

McCoy was selected by party delegates over the weekend to finish the remaining two years of a term vacated by Democratic Sen. Paula Julander, who resigned because of health problems. Julander had asked that her husband, Rod, be elected to finish out her term; McCoy beat him by three votes.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=1278&e=1&u=/ap/20050208/ap_on_re_us/utah_senate

[IronLionZion]

1. Wow, that's awesome

I bet you can cut the tension in that legislature with a knife

[hollowdweller]

2. If the public and the other legislators get to know him as a person maybe

they will get a new perspective.

[Erika]

3. Idaho just elected its first gay legislator

Times are a changing. Even in Bush's redneck west.

[PartyPooper]

4. But being gay, he most certainly is not "Mormon".

How could he possibly have been selected? This is truly amazing. Perhaps he is an ostracized Mormon because he is gay. I have known a few.

And, BTW, I'm gay and I've spent time in Utah. I love the state.
But, I'm in shock at the moment.

I wish Senator McCoy all the best!

:-)

[NVMojo]

5. fecking amazing ....really ....

more evidence leaning against the Rove "morals and values" marketing agenda of America ....just like the way shows like "Queer eye for a straight guy" and "Will & Grace" and the Ellen DeGeneres Show are top rated in this country ...

there was an interesting article in last month's "Vanity Fair" about this ...

[MADem]

15. Rove's NO FUN brigade has finally jumped the shark

When morality starts costing the corporate pigs money, as it did with the SUPER BOWL (lousy ads, no dirty jokes, no jiggly bits on the ladies or half nekkid men, and millions fewer viewers) the greedy bastards will have had enough. Already King George has publicly stated that if you don't like something on TV, TURN IT OFF.

He's realizing that he can either tell us to all be good little children, or he can keep us all very afraid. He can't do both. He NEEDS us afraid, so he can start the next war. And we must have our bread AND our circuses, otherwise we will rise up, angry, because we are denied our little diversions. And if we aren't happily watching shitty reality TV, buying cheap junk from China, and worrying about those evil, dusky furriners, we just may stop, think, and realize that the country is being run by an absolute idiot.

Can't have that--gotta throw a bone to us junkyard dawgs every now and again!

But this business in Utah was a Democratic show, wasn't it? And the population of Utah is changing gradually--the conservative Mormons still have clout, but it is being chipped away every year with an influx of "less-than-Mormon" types (in thought, word and deed!).

I think the Democrats are throwing down with this appointment, and that's good!

[Rainscents]

6. Salt Lake is blue!!!

I think, in time, Utah will be Blue state!

[customerserviceguy]

14. You're very optimistic

I just moved to Utah five weeks ago, and the LDS church pretty much controls things around here. It is fun to read the Salt Lake City Tribune, they like to tweak the Mormons' noses whenever possible. I have a feeling that this Senator's appointment is in that vein. Non-Mormons seem to love to mess with the 1950's style mindset of the Morg!

[Rainscents]

7. Democrats Choose Gay Man to fill Senate Spot

Can you believe this? This is in the red state! I am sooo happy!!!



http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=5&sid=149031

[Lindacooks]

8. Good for them!!!

[TwentyFive]

9. Exactly what people need to see!

Gays are all around, but in a red state, they tend to be closeted - allowing the religious right to define them as unfit.

Now the everybody can see a local gay man, helping his community...he becomes a role model for gay kids...and a proof that the religious right lies to people.

[whistle]

10. Great, does he plan to kick ass?

[tk2kewl]

11. HOLY CRAP! In Utah!

:kick:

[MADem]

12. Not just a RED STATE--UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, that's absolutely ASTOUNDING. Next thing ya know you'll be able to buy a mixed drink without going through all that little bottle nonsense out that way!

One state at a time, sweet Jesus, one state at a time....

Some day, people will look back at this and say "How quaint they were back in the old days, to even make this an issue."

Quite frankly, I don't care what people do with their fiddly bits, so long as they are happy, are good neighbors, and pick up their dog's poop. You have to wonder about the mentality of people who ARE so concerned about what others do in their private lives!

I'm sure the Utah people are aware of this, but in case not, you might want to put it in their state forum as well!

[The Sheik]

13. Gays?!??!?!??! In UTAH?

I want to see how long this lasts until the mormons revolt.

[MADem]

16. I am hoping some adorable chef with a light touch

...can do something with all that damn jello out that way! Sorry, they NEED better jello recipes!

And they should send the Queer Eye team to Utah for a month or two, and style up some of those fellahs!