Lesbian Utah State Lawmaker Steps Down, Cites Inequality

An openly lesbian member of the Utah House of Representatives says that she will be leaving state government come the end of this year.

"I'm not leaving because I'm giving up on the fight in Utah," said State Rep. Christine Johnson, a Democrat who has served two terms, reported the Salt Lake Tribune on March 4. "We have so many budding [GLBT] leaders that I'm anxious to see who's going to step up next."

Johnson took a swipe at the state legislature, saying in a statement that, "For the past four years, I have stood with my colleagues each morning of the session, placed my hand over my heart and pledged 'liberty and justice for all,' and yet repeatedly witnessed blatant disregard of those so in need of equal protections in the name of 'family values.' " Johnson added that "Utah is a better place when we suppress our entitled need to cast judgment on one another and instead respect the authenticity and free agency of each person."

The lawmaker's attempts to shepherd GLBT inclusive anti-discrimination bills into law have met defeat, the article said, but she succeeded in arranging for a cessation in anti-gay legislation--though at the cost of introducing or promoting pro-equality measures.

"She's been an amazing advocate for LGBT people," Equality Utah Executive Director Brandie Balken told the paper. "Purely by her presence, she has broken down stereotypes."

Johnson, who moved to Utah from Maryland in 2002, spoke of seeking work in another state, saying, "I have really made a genuine attempt to make Utah my home. I just haven't felt that in my heart that Utah is home."

Johnson, a single mother, took direct action to assist a gay couple with whom she is friends to become parents. Utah not only denies gay and lesbian families marriage rights, but other family rights as well, such as adoption. Johnson agreed to act as surrogate for the men, the Associated Press reported in January. The child is expected to be born in June.

Part of a Trend?

On the national level, there has been a rash of Democratic and pro-equality lawmakers who have decided to retire or not to seek re-election. But in Utah, Johnson's decision may be mirrored on the other side of the aisle: it is speculated that anti-gay state senator Chris Buttars may be retiring after his current term. Buttars became an overnight sensation when footage of his interview with documentary filmmaker Reed Cowan leaked a year ago. Speaking with the filmmaker for Cowan's documentary about Proposition 8, Buttars said that gays have no morals and that they are "the greatest threat to America going down," remarks that echoed similar sentiments espoused by Oklahoma state lawmaker Sally Kern, who briefly made national news in 2008 when she declared that gays are a graver threat to America than Muslim terrorists. Added Buttars, "What are the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that because anything goes."

To follow up on the 2009 the firestorm that Buttars' remarks incited, local news station ABC 4 attempted last month to contact the senator. "To say that Buttars declined the opportunity would be an understatement," ABC 4 reported in a Feb. 18 article. But Buttars did tell the media that he was planning to serve out the remainder of his term--though he refused to say whether he planned to run for re-election in 2012. That refusal provoked the question: is Buttars planning to step down?

Buttars has had a colorful career--the furor surrounding his anti-gay comments did not mark the first time he'd gotten into hot water with his remarks, and his proposal to save money and keep kids out of mischief by eliminating senior year in high school raised some eyebrows.

But 8: The Mormon Proposition, Reed Cowan's documentary about the role the Mormon Church played in the marketing--and the eventual ballot box success--of Proposition 8, the 2008 voter initiative that stripped gays and lesbians in California of their then-existing right to marry, is sure to return Buttars to the media spotlight as the film heads toward national release. Already, the film has drawn protest--and plaudits--as an official selection at Sundance.

Utah's governor, Gary Herbert, occupies a space somewhere in between Johnson and Buttars. Herbert has acknowledged that gays and lesbians face prejudice, but has also said that GLBT-inclusive anti-discrimination laws are not the solution.

At the moment, there are two openly gay Utah lawmakers, a third having stepped down last year. When Johnson retires from her role in the house, only one gay lawmaker will be left, unless GLBT equality groups accomplish their stated goal of keeping Johnson's seat "a pro-LGBT seat," as Balken said her group hoped to do.