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SALT LAKE CITY -
There were about 65 protesters with gags over their mouths, sitting quietly on the east steps of the State Capitol's interior Friday. The protest stems from a newspaper article from Senate President, Michael Waddoups who was quoted saying, 'If the LGBT community are doing offensive activities in a public setting, that will push legislation in the other direction'.
"It absolutely is a 'sit down and shut up.' It was a threat," activist, Martha Amundsen said. The protesters said they do not like a deal where Republicans abandoned anti-gay rights bills if Democrats dropped pro-gay rights bills for the year. "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's extortion and I think that you don't make a deal with extortionists because their appetite is insatiable," Amundsen said.
Senate President Michael Waddoups declined to talk with FOX 13 but his spokesman referred to Waddoups' blog where he wrote about the controversy saying, "The Moratorium was born from a hope that the emerging civil, respectful, and educated dialogue on LGBT issues in Utah might continue." This shows something of a split in the gay rights community. Some want a moratorium to find some consensus with conservatives. The protesters think the moratorium steals momentum from a movement that was waited long enough.
The spokesman for Waddoups said he is surprised his comments have evoked such a reaction.
FOX 13's Max Roth reports.
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"It absolutely is a 'sit down and shut up.' It was a threat," activist, Martha Amundsen said. The protesters said they do not like a deal where Republicans abandoned anti-gay rights bills if Democrats dropped pro-gay rights bills for the year. "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's extortion and I think that you don't make a deal with extortionists because their appetite is insatiable," Amundsen said.
Senate President Michael Waddoups declined to talk with FOX 13 but his spokesman referred to Waddoups' blog where he wrote about the controversy saying, "The Moratorium was born from a hope that the emerging civil, respectful, and educated dialogue on LGBT issues in Utah might continue." This shows something of a split in the gay rights community. Some want a moratorium to find some consensus with conservatives. The protesters think the moratorium steals momentum from a movement that was waited long enough.
The spokesman for Waddoups said he is surprised his comments have evoked such a reaction.
FOX 13's Max Roth reports.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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