Utah GOP Gubernatorial Candidates All Come Out in Support of LGBTQ Equality

Salt Lake City — On Thursday, May 21, the LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality Utah hosted The Equality Forum featuring all four Republican gubernatorial candidates. The Equality Forum was a first for Utah, and a first for red states across the country.

“​Four years ago we would never have seen a moment when all Republican candidates vying to be Governor would join a forum hosted by Equality Utah​,” stated Executive Director Troy Williams, who hosted the event. “Today, all four Republican gubernatorial candidates expressed love and friendship to LGBTQ Utahns and made a commitment that our voices will continue to be at the table.”

Former Utah governor and U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman was unequivocal in his support:

“An overriding philosophy for me, as a human being and as an elected official, has always been ‘equality under the law.’ So as a Republican that’s what I’ve always thought Abraham Lincoln stood for: equality under the law, not for some, but for all.”

Current Lt. Governor, Spencer Cox, also shared his support, specifically reaching out to transgender Utahns: “I have had the opportunity to meet with members of our transgender community many times . . . They are an important part of our state, and they deserve to be at the table.”

Former Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives Greg Hughes joined his Republican rivals in expressing support for LGBTQ Utahns. When asked how he would address the struggles of LGBTQ youth, he said, “​ I’d tell them what I tell my friends who are gay: You are my friend, that is the bottom line. Our relationships and how we hold our relationships are most important.”

Former Republican Party Chair Thomas Wright declared, “I am an ally” to LGBTQ Utahns. He went on to discuss the work he’s done to move the state’s Republican party forward on LGBTQ issues.

All four candidates have helped move the state forward on LGBTQ issues. In 2009, then Governor Jon Huntsman challenged party orthodoxy to advocate for antidiscrimination protections. As Lt. Governor, Spencer Cox has long championed suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth and helped the state ban conversion therapy. As Speaker of the House, Greg Hughes helped pass Utah’s landmark LGBTQ employment and housing nondiscrimination law. As Republican Party Chair, Thomas Wright challenged the party to include and involve LGBTQ Utahns.

Over the past five years, Utah has made remarkable strides toward equality. In 2015 Utah passed a law protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment and housing. In 2017, Utah repealed an anti-LGBTQ curriculum law that prohibited discusson of homosexuality in public schools. In 2019, the state passed an LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes law. Earlier this year, Utah became the 19th state in the nation to protect minors from conversion therapy.

The event was simulcast on Facebook Live, and is now available to view on ​Equality Utah’s YouTube​ channel.

The Forum will continue next week with Democratic nominee, Chris Peterson.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
‍Troy Williams
Executive Director
Equality Utah
[email protected]