COLUMN: Utahns support hate crime legislation, why don’t legislators?
On Utah’s Capitol Hill, there are very few pieces of legislation that receive the support of the House and Senate Democrats, the Republican Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and our newly elected Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman. There are very few pieces of legislation that are supported by members of both parties, members of the police department and an overwhelming 64 percent of Utahns. The hate crimes bill was this piece of legislation.
The hate crimes laws are designed to enhance penalties to people who have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt to have committed a crime out of “bias or prejudice.” These laws are fashioned all over the nation to separate the heinous crimes committed by neo-Nazis and the ilk from your everyday run-of-the-mill mugging; a deterrent and a message to the world that says “hate is not tolerated here.”
The hate crimes bill has failed nine years in a row and has possibly made Utah the last state to still not have effective hate crimes laws on the books. Even though a majority of Utahns are in support of it, the Legislature seems to be detached from what their constituents want when it comes to creating deterrents for people who commit crimes motivated by hate.
This year, the S.B. 181 sponsored by Sen. Hale failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee 4-3. Logan’s Sen. Lyle Hillyard was noticeably absent from the vote. However, in a recent phone interview with Mr. Hillyard, I learned that he supports hate crimes legislation on the recommendation of local police authorities. Mr. Hillyard also stated that his vote would have tied the judiciary committee on the issue, but that would still not be enough to send the legislation to the house and senate floors. However, the message of his absence speaks louder than his vote. Why aren’t Utah legislators representing the opinions of their constituencies?
Part of this dissonance comes from a few influential people who have made their careers out of progressing hate. Chris Buttars and Gayle Ruzicka, who were both present at the Judiciary committee hearing where the bill was tabled, are determined to disrupt the lives of people who are different.
Ruzicka, infamous grandma and president of the Utah Eagle Forum, peddles hate the way most grandmas peddle Amway. She was quoted at this year’s hearing as saying, “I want you to know that if you took out the words ‘sexual orientation,’ I would still be against this bill.” However, her tone has changed a bit since she first fought against hate crimes in 1999. She said such a law is wrong because it would “protect illegal and immoral behavior.” She is basically saying that it’s OK for a person to hate in the form violence, as long as it’s aimed against gay people.
Chris Buttars is the mastermind behind the controversial marriage amendment. Buttars, in 2001, changed his vote twice before deciding to vote against the hate crimes bill. Survey says: flip-flopper. Buttars, at his anti-gay Amendment 3 tour to Brigham City, stated that he believed that homosexuals are “sexual perverts.” He went on to add that perversion was inherent in homosexuals much like “alcoholism is inherent in Native Americans.” At least Buttars is an equal opportunity hate monger.
Many Utah legislators are on the fence on hate crimes because they feel uncomfortable with including “sexual orientation” in the bill. By purposely excluding sexual minorities Utah would be sending a message that hate is unacceptable against every class of people but one. That would shirk the very purpose of the bill. We need to do it right; we need to do it now. However, Utah legislators seem to be torn between protecting their citizens from violence and condemning homosexuality.
The dissension also comes from a lazy constituency that, out of habit, gives antiquated Republican legislators a “free-ride,” a job security, which over time creates a legislative body that no longer represents the values of the people of Utah. They no longer have anything but their own prejudice to rely on, not their constituency, not their church. In 2003, the LDS church, in response to the hate crimes bill controversy, released this statement: “The Church’s well-known opposition to attempts to legalize same-gender marriage should never be interpreted as justification for hatred, intolerance or abuse of those who profess homosexual tendencies, either individually or as a group.” That is to say, that they do not condemn hate crimes legislation.
As well they shouldn’t. Hate crimes threaten our nation’s right to diversity. The majority of Utahns understand this, and we need to communicate this to our legislators. We must send a message to our representatives and senators that we want Utah to denounce hate. It is crucial that we communicate with delegates and not just reward them aimlessly at the polling booth. Send them e-mails, call them and let them know how you feel. At the time I write this, the S.B. 181 for hate crimes has failed. However, H.B. 50 for hate crimes has passed the House Rules Committee and will be heard in front of the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee. It is imperative that Utah constituents let their voices be heard.
Cy Martz is a senior majoring in public relations. Comments can be sent to cmartz@cc.usu.edu.