HB393; "Morals" Trump Facts

Enraged, Sad, Despairing; I can't decide which emotion is primary for me after reading “Panel Oks bill on Gay Clubs” in the Tribune this morning. Incidently, the headline also misrepresented the Gay/Straight Alliance as a “Gay” club The article described the House Education Committee's supporting 8-4 vote on HB393, which prohibits Gay/Straight Alliance Clubs on campus. Chris Buttars is quoted at the end of the article as being opposed to the clubs because "it goes against MY morals".

Chris Buttars and his fellow supporters of this bill want to impose THEIR morals on constituents. Since Chris Buttars has not responded to any of my previous communications to him, I wrote letters to all of the other committee member. I described my experiences as a clinical social worker/therapist who has counseled gay and lesbian clients. I described my serious concerns about the mental health and suicide risk of gay/lesbian youth. I was hoping and yes, praying, that my experiences as a psychotherapist and research facts might have more weight than someone’s "morals" in making legal decisions.

Not withstanding Gayle Ruzikia's predictable testimony, there were others who testified against passage of the bill. The Utah School Boards and Utah School Superintendents see the bill as an unnecessary encroachment into public schools. Chris Johnson, a parent of a straight child who participates in the club and Daniel Holsinger, a U of U medical student, testified that they have concerns about the emotional effects of the passage of this bill on all children.

Research shows evidence that teasing and bullying and being made to feel marginalized is a sorry fact of the public school experience. Bullying of those who are seen as “different” is also a fact of life in schools. The resultant feelings of the victims of this psychological torture and increased risk of suicide by these youth is, also, unfortunately, a fact.