High School Clubs

Utah State House of Representatives legislature Arron Tilton, R-Springville and State Senator Chris Buttars want all of the citizens of Utah to pay for any legal defenses their bias and bigoted HR235 may cause. Through the use of our tax dollars, these two want to make it, and I quote Representative Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, “easier to start a corporation than to create a high school club” here in Utah. Buttars and Tilton want to give school administrations the ability to reject any school club which is, in their opinion, outside the “boundaries of socially appropriate behavior” without fear of needing to pay for legal defenses arising out of the rejection of a club’ application.

In legislation clearly aimed at high school clubs of Gay Straight Alliances these two elected officials want to pass legislation which would curtail the rights of a select group of people just because they are part of the group. Which “group of people” are you part of which could find itself the target of legislation intent upon limiting your rights? I suggest you think about that long and hard. Do you only get involved when your club or group is singled out? As I recall, it was a number of such proclamations from a king, which stirred men of integrity to start a revolution around 1776.

Buttars’ and Tilton’s self righteousness attempt to limit the rights of a select group is both an affront to the U S Constitution as well as a denial of human sexuality. The constitution prohibits legislation targeted for select constituents based upon criteria of membership. Part of human sexuality is homosexuality. Homosexuality is displayed in countless species on earth. Mother Nature and men far wiser that these two elected officials strongly disagree with the premise of this bill.

Perhaps a closer look at the suicide rate among young people in this state, which rants near the top in the nation, and the correlation of the pressures brought to bear by a ultra conservative majority would give cause to review the intent of HR236. Certainly the lives of our young people are more important than with whom they decide to share their sexuality. Curtailing the rights of these young constituents by denying them the opportunity to openly gather and discuss issues of great importance to their lives with their peers is a great injustice. The clubs’ name suggests a coming together of two different groups for the purpose of understanding and support rather than recruitment of one group by the other. The supposed moral superiority of Buttars and Tilton falls well short of the integrity and understanding of the young members of these alliances.