Utah's Republican governor announces support for civil unions and LGBT rights law

[camera obscura]

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.

The rest: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11666928

[liberalmuse]

1. I didn't vote for him, but...

I kinda like this guy. He's richer than god, but the Huntsman's give their money to good causes, namely, to the cancer institute my friend works at in SLC. This is just fucking awesome, especially considering that the only liberal bastions the entire state of Utah are in Salt Lake City and Park City.

[customerserviceguy]

6. I lived in Utah for about six months in 2005

and Huntsman wasn't too bad a guy. But what I had to compare him with, sheesh!!

[ellie]

10. What's the scene in Moab?

It seems a map I saw of election results had it looking a little blue. I could be wrong though.

[Hamlette]

23. Moab is a bunch of godless commie pinko hippies!

They took over because of the beautiful outdoorsy things you can do down there.

[cliffordu]

24. mountain bike tramps....

[NaturalHigh]

2. I take it he's not planning on being re-elected.

[camera obscura]

3. Probably not.

[PM7nj]

5. I think he just won reelection to his second term. nt

[Chulanowa]

15. I take it he's looking to try to schmooze some Democrats to his side

He's completely safe to declare this sort of support. he's not saying he will push for it, just that he likes the idea. Thus he's a "nice guy" and "sensitive" to those he "may not personally agree with."

And oh, how sad, the Utah Legislature will never on their fucking lives pass such a measure.

So utah's govorner gets a nice progresive PR boost, suffers little blowback from his position, and the gays are still screwed

[Hamlette]

22. actually, the church (Mormon in Utah) had a more moderate approach

on our gay marriage amendment than I thought they would. They didn't come out against it but did say it went to far. Still passed.

You are right, the Utah legislature is absolutely fucking nuts. They introduced a bill this year to set up a fund for private contributions to fight Roe v Wade. It says if they get enough private donations, they will pass a bill outlawing abortion and use the fund to pay the legal fees.

I'm sure they will get millions.

[camera obscura]

25. I think you overestimate the political capital gained by this. Utah Dems are fairly conservative

and the PR boost is somewhat dampened by totally killing any nationwide ambitions he may have had in 2012.

[EraOfResponsibility]

4. I had to look at this subject line three times

not a double-take, but a triple take. Shocking.

[camera obscura]

12. Trust me, I was shocked too!

[w4rma]

7. Huh? Woah. Awesome! (nt)

[Cha]

8. Amazing! And

courageous in a place like Utah.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. Now there's irony

After all the money the Mor(m)ons spent in Colliefornia on Prop H8, and now Teh Gay has invaded their own "New Zion"

[dsc]

14. Not ironic but by invitation

Repeatedly during the prop 8 campaign the Mormons claimed they suppored civil unions we are simply giving them a chance to put their money where their mouths are.

[GentryDixon]

11. He really is trying to help the hospitality industry.

This state is looked upon with such disdain and he gets it. Unfortunately, the Legislature is almost entirely made up of Mormons., And the Legislature runs all bills through the 'Church" before a vote.

Contrary to what the public affairs office of the church says: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11593505?source=rss

The amount of LTTE disputing his article have been amazing.

[PM Martin]

13. Why is a Republican supporting this?

Is there money involved?

[genna]

16. Looks like the lion is laying with the lamb, pigs are flying, and hell has frozen over

[Laelth]

17. Huh? Am I reading this correctly?

Sanity in Utah? Does the Governor have a political death wish, or is he merely at the end of his second term and sick of all the bigotry to which he has had to pander all of his political life?

:shrug:

-Laelth

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Has hell frozen over???

:wow:

I need to check.............................................................

[QC]

19. Is he a Mormon? n/t

[camera obscura]

20. Yes.

[Starry Messenger]

21. Well, why didn't he say so before November?

It might have turned off the Mormon $$ faucet for Prop 8. Maybe.