Anti-Gay Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars Stripped of Chairmanship For Homophobic, Racist Comments

A state senator isn’t backing down, even as Senate GOP leaders announce his punishment. In a statement posted online, Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, says he disagrees with the censure, but he’s a “grown man who can take his knocks.” Senate President Michael Waddoups knocked him clean off the senate judiciary committee.

The words that started it all:

“Sen. Chris Buttars: “Homosexuality will always be a sexual perversion. And you say that around here now and everybody goes nuts. But I don’t care.”

“They’re mean. They want to talk about being nice. They’re the meanest buggers I have ever seen.”

And just seconds later, Buttars draws a comparison between some gays and radical Muslims.

“It’s just like the Muslims. Muslims are good people and their religion is anti-war. But it’s been taken over by the radical side.”

Buttars also claims he’s “killed” every gay rights bill in the legislature for the last 8 years.

He also talks about gay marriage being the beginning of the end.

Buttars: “What is the morals of a gay person? You can’t answer that because anything goes.”

And finally, this is how senator Buttars refers to the “radical gay movement.”

“They’re probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of.”

Now, in the interview, senator Buttars also talks about a certain type of reported gay sexual activity which he claims is taking place.

Buttars has been kicked off a judicial committee he chaired after comparing gay activists to radical Muslims. Buttars also told filmmaker Reed Cowan that gay activists are “probably the greatest threat to America going down.”

Waddoups announced this morning that Buttars will be removed as chair and a member of the Judicial Standing Committee. He will remain on the Senate Rules Committee.

There has been outrage over the comments this year because gays have unsuccessfully sponsored a package of bills they say find common ground on the issue of equal rights. Also, Butters has a record of speaking off the cuff when it comes to gays, illegal immigrants, and African Americans.

Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, says the move shouldn’t be viewed as punishment but rather the removal of a distraction.

“I want the citizens of Utah to know that the Senate stands behind Sen. Buttars and his right to speak, that we stand behind him as colleague and support his right to serve in this state,” Waddoups said.

He said this will free Sen. Buttars to be more at ease when speaking his opinions. He also said he stands behind Buttars’ rights to express his opinions and to serve in the Senate.

The LDS has distanced themselves from Buttars in a statement they released:

“From the outset, the Church’s position has always been to engage in civil and respectful dialogue on this issue. Senator Buttars does not speak for the Church.”