Sen. Chris Buttars called gay activists “the meanest buggers” and alleged they have no morals. America Forever, in full-page newspaper ads, compared gay men and lesbians to “druggies” and “hookers.”

Just words. No sticks. No stones. But such talk does hurt. It can leave emotional scars and, some observers warn, inspire others to inflict physical ones.

Utah hit a national “hate watch” list twice in recent weeks for headline-grabbing onslaughts of anti-gay rhetoric.

“It’s not the kind of America we want,” said Heidi Beirich, spokeswoman for the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala. “You can have a difference of opinion over somebody’s lifestyle but to put them in a position of threat — that’s going too far.”

The national civil rights organization monitors hate groups, such as white supremacists, and publishes “Hatewatch,” a newsletter and blog that spotlighted the comments from Buttars, R-West Jordan, and America Forever.

“The kinds of things they’re saying,” Beirich said, “can give credence to others who would like to take their actions further than speech, into the realm of violence.”

The FBI reports that in 2007, the most recent year of available data, Utah had nine hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation bias.

Not that those who oppose gay rights mean to incite violence.

 See Some fear anti-gay words will lead to anti-gay sticks and stones

Salt Lake Tribune - 

Chris Buttars, the Utah Republican state senator famous for racist and anti-gay outbursts, was removed from his post as head of the Judiciary Committee for breaking a deal with his anti-gay Republican colleagues to cool the rhetoric.

Buttars’ latest outburst was to a documentary filmmaker. He called same-sex relations “an abomination” and the LGBT movement “probably the greatest threat to America,” while comparing LGBT activists to Muslim “radicals.”

“Most of what Senator Buttars said, I agree with,” said Republican Senator Howard Stephenson, but his caucus felt Buttars had become too much of a “lightning rod” on LGBT issues.

A Salt Lake Tribune editorial called him a “Buttaraurus,” writing, “Buttars will never change. But Utah will.”

A “Buttars-Palooza” with live music and a DJ was organized by LGBT activists for the lawn of the state capitol on February 28 and attracted more than 1,000 people celebrating the GOP senator being taken down a peg. See Anti-Gay Senator Out; LGBT Festival Celebrates Gay City News

Gays-rights proponents and opponents ramped up their rhetoric for and against Jon Huntsman Jr. on Wednesday — two days after Utah’s Republican governor revealed that he backs civil unions and other rights for same-sex couples.

“After that initial shock, I was incredibly impressed with him,” said gay-rights advocate Jacob Whipple, who staged a candlelight vigil outside of the Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday night to show support for Huntsman.

But earlier in the day, at the Capitol, opponents criticized the governor’s stance, which includes support for traditional marriage but also rights for same-sex couples.

“He is simply dead wrong on this issue,” said Frank Mylar, an attorney who belongs to the Utah Coalition

 See ‘Pro-family’ groups scold Huntsman; gay-rights advocates laud him.
Salt Lake Tribune, United States 

An anti-Prop 8 group on Wednesday announced it has targeted the Salt Lake City-based Ken Garff automotive dealerships in retaliation for $100,000 donated by the CEO’s wife to supporters of a California ballot proposition eliminating same-sex couples’ right to marry.

Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, said the boycott will use an Internet campaign to ask people to boycott the automotive’s 40 dealerships in Utah, California, Texas and Iowa.

Karger accused CEO Bob Garff of “hiding behind his wife’s skirts” by claiming the $100,000 donation was a personal gesture. At a news conference in Salt Lake City, Karger also said the cash was “a family contribution” that was derived from dealership revenues.

 See Gay group boycotts Ken Garff dealerships
Salt Lake Tribune, United States 

Gays-rights proponents and opponents ramped up their rhetoric for and against Jon Huntsman Jr. on Wednesday — two days after Utah’s Republican governor revealed that he backs civil unions and other rights for same-sex couples.

“After that initial shock, I was incredibly impressed with him,” said gay-rights advocate Jacob Whipple, who staged a candlelight vigil outside of the Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday night to show support for Huntsman.

But earlier in the day, at the Capitol, opponents criticized the governor’s stance, which includes support for traditional marriage but also rights for same-sex couples.

“He is simply dead wrong on this issue,” said Frank Mylar, an attorney who belongs to the Utah Coalition

 See ‘Pro-family’ groups scold Huntsman; gay-rights advocates laud him.
Salt Lake Tribune, United States 

An anti-Prop 8 group on Wednesday announced it has targeted the Salt Lake City-based Ken Garff automotive dealerships in retaliation for $100,000 donated by the CEO’s wife to supporters of a California ballot proposition eliminating same-sex couples’ right to marry.

Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, said the boycott will use an Internet campaign to ask people to boycott the automotive’s 40 dealerships in Utah, California, Texas and Iowa.

Karger accused CEO Bob Garff of “hiding behind his wife’s skirts” by claiming the $100,000 donation was a personal gesture. At a news conference in Salt Lake City, Karger also said the cash was “a family contribution” that was derived from dealership revenues.

 See Gay group boycotts Ken Garff dealerships
Salt Lake Tribune, United States 

A Utah Senate committee voted down 4-2 the first in a series of Common Ground Initiatives that support basic rights for the gay and lesbian people of Utah. The reasons given were that this is a “slippery slope” and that this legislation may lead to the “chipping away [of] the definition of marriage.” But this is not about marriage.

It is about civil rights. This is about a recognized group of people, accomplished and contributing, who are not protected by the law of this land. The rights to fair housing and employment protections, inheritance and hospitalization visits are basic civil liberties that are being denied to our neighbors, teachers, business owners, families and friends.

It’s not about marriage; it’s about finding common ground. I am a teacher in the valley and I know as well as anyone that students are products of their environments: their families, churches, neighbors and legislators. In a classroom activity about stereotypes, a third of my students replied that homosexual people are “deformed, horrifying.” That they are “scary people,” “rapists” and they are “insane” or have “a mental condition.” Allowing these misinformed attitudes to go unchecked is a slippery slope.

This is not about marriage; this is about what students are learning.

This is about raising future generations of people who, despite their differences, can see and respect all people for who they are. If our legislators are not willing to grant

 See Children learn bigotry at home, in their neighborhoods
Salt Lake Tribune, United States -

While Utahns aren’t ready to let gay and lesbian couples exchange wedding vows or enter civil unions, most are willing to give them broader legal rights to inherit property, visit a partner in the hospital and ward off employment discrimination.

A Salt Lake Tribune poll finds that 56 percent of Utah voters support increased legal protections for same-sex couples — a potential boon for Democratic state lawmakers who intend to introduce a package of gay-rights bills this legislative session.

However, the poll shows overwhelming opposition (70 percent) to any changes to the Utah Constitution that would allow same-sex partners to enter civil unions. Utahns, 54 percent of them, also are wary of letting unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian partners, adopt or foster children.

 See Utahns backing gay rights
Salt Lake Tribune, United States -