Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Monday, February 06, 2006

(Kanab, Utah)

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the hillbilly's who run the city of Kanab, Utah passed a nonbinding resolution - drafted by the conservative Sutherland Institute - that calls marriage between a man and woman "ordained of God" and urges homes to be open to a "full quiver of children." It also encourages young women to become "wives, homemakers and mothers" and young men to grow into "husbands, home builders and fathers.

This has excited local yahoos, who want the town to be known as homophobic:

"Thank God for a community that doesn't think it has to be 'gay-friendly. We don't mean to be mean-spirited," says the Rev. Doug Hounshell, pastor of Cliffview Chapel Baptist Church in Kanab. "But the message to a homosexual might be that this is probably not the friendliest town for that type of thing."

Not that many of you were planning to visit Utah with your "quiver" of children. But if you are considering a vacation here, maybe you should think about a change in plans. It is a shame that an area so full of natural beauty, could be filled by such unnatural ugliness and hate from a few local politicians that besmirch the name of the town.

TO SCREAM AT THE KANE COUNTY TOURISM BOARD CLICK HERE

19 Comments:

This is a GREAT idea! If those people were here in my hometown of NYC, shipping them off to a small, unknown hick town is EXACTLY what I'd want to do to them! For once, there is harmony in the universe!
posted by Anonymous, at 2/06/2006 5:51 PM

Why would gay people go to Utah, anyway? No big deal for me, just one more entry on the List of States I Will Never Visit, Ever. I'll slip it in-between Alabama and Virginia.

--Johnny in Minneapolis
posted by Anonymous, at 2/07/2006 9:23 AM

I recall in Myrtle Beach S.C. in 1998 that when a new gay dance club Metropolis was to open,the Mayer publicly opposed it, it resulted in organizing a Gay pride parade, so if the town of Utah wants to make gay people feel unwelcome, maby a full scale gay pride celibration will get thier attention,perhaps even bring back Brokeback Mountain that was canceled.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/07/2006 9:52 AM

I don't do red states, let alone fly over them, so Utah is already on my list of "no-go zones". Maybe they should check our Crawford, Texas and see what's going on there. Definitely another no-fly zone for me.

Robert, NYC.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/07/2006 10:11 AM

Oops, I meant to have said..."check out Crawford" in my previous comment.

Robert, NYC.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/07/2006 10:12 AM

No big deal. So you fly over my home state. Doesn't bother me one bit. You can ignore the hicks and enjoy the scenery (and local boys) or you can skip it entirely.

You're right. Gays don't deserve Utah. At least your kind of gays.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/07/2006 2:52 PM

1. Why is it that some beautiful places in America are taken over by bigots. Look at what the Aryan Nation did to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

2. There are a lot of extremists in southern Utah. Kanab is just east of the polygamist towns of Hildale and Colorado City.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/07/2006 11:42 PM

Cowboy, how should we react to a locale which issues a proclaimation basically saying that "you gays aren't welcomed here"? I think flying over the state is appropriate. And Virginia, too. Those homophobes down there are just as hopeless. It's true, not everyone in any place is all bad, but when leadership speaks, people take note. If they don't want gay people, they are the ones who are missing out. We will take our magic elsewhere. :-)
posted by Anonymous, at 2/08/2006 9:55 AM

Chris L,
Our reaction should be as any mature, rational individual would do. Work to change the ignorant.

We’re much better than the simple gut-reactionary tripe we do sometimes. Really! We are much classier than these folks. Much like a bore or an uncouth guest at a party: You politely ignore them.

Kanab is situated ridiculously remote from civilization. That’s why the polygamists like it there (in that area). Nobody bothers them. You can pass by Kanab but don’t lump all Utahns as those found in Kanab. And if you do find yourself exploring the Grand Staircase and environs in Southern Utah just wave and say hello to the hicks.

We need to look back in history and our neighboring state: Colorado. Folk in Colorado Springs made strides in making gays second-class citizens. The reaction: Boycott Colorado! The gay community said NO! to skiing in gay-friendly Aspen! What really happened: it hurt the gays in Aspen and in Colorado in general. (Though, it made Utah happy to host a gay ski week. Its first.)

Come to Utah. Get to know the people. Show how classy YOU are. That will change their ignorant, misguided views on gays.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/08/2006 11:18 AM

I am certainly embarrassed by the actions of some of fellow Utahns (from Kanab to Larry Miller’s reaction to Brokeback Mountain) but there are more things to worry about.

Gays will be and will always be amongst every aspect of life. This week, for example, Utah is hosting a grand Winterfest. Check: http://www.slcwinterfest.com/

Larry Miller and gay-phobics will always be part of our lives. Even some of my close bigoted family members will be part of my life. We do not have a choice in these matters. So, it is mentally healthier to make up your mind to be yourself. Be proud of whom you are and never let these annoying little gnats spoil your gay life.

I am hoping for a position as the official host for Utahs Welcome Wagon. (No. Not really.) But, I would welcome almost anyone and would personally guide you on a tour of what this State has to offer.

Thanks Jim. You have the right attitude.
posted by Anonymous, at 2/08/2006 3:34 PM

I've been thru Kanab many times over the years. It is situated in one of the most beautiful natural areas imaginable. And, as a matter of fact, I knew a gay man who grew up there and, I believe, still lives there.
He's super closeted and it seemed to me, rather lonely, but Kanab is his home. I'd visit again any time - I just wouldn't move there.....
posted by Anonymous, at 2/09/2006 1:35 AM

I am not gay but I am not by any means homophobic. I have lived in the south and learned that it isn't what the others around you think but what you do your self. I now live in Utah near Kanab. I have heard so many people bash Kanab but I have never found the people there to be anything except nice. Maybe I fit their mold of what a person should be, it isn't on purpose, but they are always nice and helpful. I love the area and I believe that you will get out of people what you put into them...be nice! Try it...my Momma always told me...Kill them with kindness!
posted by Anonymous, at 3/03/2006 9:24 AM

I live in the Myrtle Beach area. I remember the incident "Anonymous" is referring to.
But yeah... To be honest I think gays in this country are pretty much screwed... I'm waiting for them to make it a crime so my partner and I can claim asylum elsewhere.
posted by Anonymous, at 3/07/2006 12:15 PM

The Natural Family resolution begins: “We envision a local culture that upholds the marriage of a woman to a man, and a man to a woman as ordained of God.” It ends with: “And we look to local government that holds the protection of the natural family to be their first responsibility.” The NF resolution brazenly states an elected official’s first responsibility is to people who believe in God, specifically a God who ordains heterosexual monogamy. Atheists, Buddhists, secular humanists and plain old Pagans are thus relegated to what? A government’s “second” responsibility? Third? Fourth?

Joe Tucker, a U.S. Congressional candidate for Utah’s 2nd District, supports the City of Kanab’s adoption of the Natural Family resolution. He states, “We have been preached separation of church and state by secularists for so long that we begin to believe that our moral beliefs have no place in government.” Briefly, then, Mr. Tucker feels secularists hinder morality in government. His feelings are validated by the fact that one-hundred percent of the major political scandals in U.S. history have centered around people who belonged to one organized religion or another.

Mr. Tucker also explains why a citizen’s right to brandish a lethal weapon is embraced by the U.S. Constitution: “We have just seen in New Orleans how quickly civilization can deteriorate into lawlessness in a crisis. As a member of Congress I will fight to insure that the right of good citizens to bear arms is not infringed.”

Which is why I’m urging people to vote Joe Tucker into Congress. We’ll never get a Democrat elected in THIS district so our next best strategy is obvious: Elect a Republican who openly supports both the Natural Family manifesto as well as city-wide gunplay following a natural disaster.
posted by Anonymous, at 3/19/2006 2:38 PM

I live in Kanab, and this is the most divisive and damaging thing that's ever happened here. Businesses are considering bankruptcy, the tourists are cancelling in droves, and the local people are boycotting each other. All over the web, right wingers are praising the new Kanab Utopia while the people here trying to fight this attempt to put religion in City Hall can't get the word out enough about what this has done. We've a web site www.whatsupwithkanab.com to speak out. I bought two Kanab UT Bigotville USA tee-shirts on the web. We can't recall the Mayor as there is no recall provision in the City's charter. AP has picked this up and that helps a lot. Please don't believe everyone is a bigot, and watch for this where you live. The Sutherland Institute is peddling this all over the US, and it may be considered in your town next. They're not just bashing gays here, they're bashing everyone.
posted by Anonymous, at 3/24/2006 3:10 AM

Just because our wacko mayor and city council pulled this lame stunt don't hold it against the rest of the citizens. If the mayor in your town went out and shot someone it wouldn't mean the whole town condones murder. I'm not gay, but that doesn't stop me from visiting San Francisco every year. I don't boycott Waco, Texas because of some of the idiocy around those parts.

Some of us are trying to heal the community and to correct what was done, it doesn't help when Etremists (right or left) want to drive the wedge further between what is otherwise a peaceful community.
posted by Anonymous, at 3/24/2006 10:01 PM

My partner and I have enjoyed our visits to Kanab, and found business owners very welcoming. I feel for these folks that will suffer as a result of this resolution. I can't however, bring myself to stop in this town - even though the area is stunningly beautiful - until this resolution is rescinded.

When it is rescinded, please consider a visit to celebrate. I hope that the pro-diversity Kanab Boosters have a welcome to Kanab party. I'll make the trip down to Southern Utah for that!
posted by thudhead, at 5/12/2006 1:48 AM

ONE YEAR AFTER, MARCH 2007:

An update on Kanab, Utah, Birthplace of America’s Natural Family Resolution.

KANAB’S CURRENT STATUS: AA-FUBAR:

As always, fucked up beyond all recognition.

Navigate to:

www.cliffviewchapel.org

click on the “Read Bible Answers Column” box.

click to view PAST columns.

click on “Why The Natural Family's Full Quiver Is Good?” ( February 14, 2007 )

Here you will finally be taught why both Muslims AND queers mark the end of Western Civilization as we know it.
posted by Anonymous, at 3/02/2007 8:20 PM

And then there’s Kanab, Utah, and the Sam Brownback connection. When Kanab adopted its Natural Family Resolution last year, the references to a full “quiver” of children were puzzling to some and comical to others. Ironically, however, neither the Natural Family concept nor the “Quiverfull” movement are products of Kanab or Utah or even Mormonism in general. The Natural Family manifesto originated with Dr. Allan C. Carlson, head of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society in Rockford, Illinois. Dr. Carlson is also a high-profile advisor to prominent conservative legislators such as Kansas Senator and current Presidential candidate, Sam Brownback.

And the Quiverfull movement amounts to a few thousand families in the Midwestern states who believe America is being swallowed up by immigrants because tolerance of homosexuality and abortion is slowly bleeding our country dry of honest, normal, God-fearing Americans. Thus do Quiverfull couples devote their lives to producing as many babies as possible in a selfless effort to help keep America dominated by white Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

Yet both Allan C. Carlson and the Quiverfull Christians dropped Kanab like a hot potato once they realized that, even in Utah, the Natural Family manifesto is offensive to a large portion of the population.

What remains to be seen is whether or not Sam Brownback will drop Dr. Carlson as an advisor.

I mean, how can you put your faith in a carnival barker who can't even sell traditional family values to the uber-conservative rural Mormons of Utah?
posted by Anonymous, at 3/19/2007 6:43 PM