Utah State Senator Chris Buttars has been thinking outside of the box lately. The box of reality, actually. He's been channeling the deceased North Carolina U.S. Senator, Jesse Helms (died July 4, 2007 - just about the ONLY patriotic thing he ever did). He wasn't successful.
So, instead of working through mediums (gypsies from the circus), Buttars has decided to raise Helms from the dead. And he intends to do it during the party in his honor named Buttar-Palooza! The party will take place from 11:00 to 1:00 in front of the Utah Capitol. Thousands of spectators and partiers are expected to attend this most unusual resurrection.
(Seriously now, he says) You have to give Mormon gays credit: from a rather oppressive (but droll) Christian sect laden with symbols, rituals, and strange beliefs they've managed to come up with a reason to party. Why would they celebrate another nemesis? More attention? More media? More sex? I think they're celebrating the diversity of Utah and Salt Lake City as well as drawing attention to the castigated Chris Buttars as an example of extreme prejudice and discrimination.
His statements about gays being the biggest threat to the United States drew fire from a host of people and organizations.
But the biggest problem Senator Buttars has besides being a homophobe? Being a former Executive Director of a "boot camp" for wayward youth called West Ridge Academy (formerly Utah Boys Ranch). Eric Norland, a former "resident" of the "Ranch" (he would probably prefer the title "inmate") has written an expose article (Trapped in a Mormon Gulag) detailing some practices by the "Ranch's" staff members that border on torture. Re-education of youths in the Mormon faith has most certainly occurred. Re-education by physical as well as mental and emotional means. Think Gitmo for rebellious teens.
Buttars has steadfastly defended his comments about gays and will not resign from the Senate--of his own will. But the Utah State Senate is mulling over the possibility of asking Buttars to step down. The Republicans of the Senate have supported Buttars in a way, saying that they agree with MOST of what he said about homosexuals while not delineating what statement they would disapprove of.
Would that Buttar's forced resignation be a REAL celebration.
For more information on Buttars-Palooza! click here.
