News in from local radio station KCPW reports of anger over Pat Jones vote. It seems that some in the LGBT community are furious over Democratic Senator Pat Jones’ vote against a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to share parental rights for the biological child of one partner. PRIDE in Utah blogger and activist Eric Ethington calls Jones a “traitor,” saying the Senator has turned her back on her constituents. He says when Jones claims that children are better off in a traditional family, she’s either lying or incredibly misinformed.
“We can go in very easily to the fact that every bit of research that’s available says that that is not the case,” he told KCPW. “But the true issue behind it is that had nothing to do with Senate Bill 62. Whether Senate Bill 62 passed or failed would in no way influence who children were going to be living with.”
Jones has defended her vote, saying she follows the lead of her constituents and has supported the gay community in the past.
But Brandie Balken, Executive Director of Equality Utah, says she’s not surprised to see the LGBT community up in arms.
“I think that might be one of the reasons why Senator Jones is hearing so much information now, to make sure that she understands that there are LGBT families who are her constituents,” said Balken.
Jones will appear at a town hall meeting tonight at 7 at Holladay City Hall. When asked to comment on whether or not she’d address the LGBT community, she said she had already made her point clear. If Jones had supported the bill, it still would not have passed, because every Republican in the Senate committee where it was heard also voted against it.
Follow the story KCPW
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