In a state where 70% oppose civil unions, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman announced late yesterday that he favors civil unions and supports parts of Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative, which would make it illegal to fire or evict someone based on their sexual orientation, while allowing gay couples the chance to file a declaration of joint support.
Huntsman spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley:
"He's long supported many of the ideas that are presented within the Common Ground Initiative. He supports civil unions."
There were signs Huntsman might back gay rights leading back to his 2004 run for governor. During that race, he said he favored Amendment 3, which would constitutionally ban gay marriage and civil unions in Utah. But Jeff Reynolds of conservative think tank The Sutherland Institute isn't surprised at Huntsman's sudden conversion:
"He had to be dragged to the altar of Amendment 3. And everyone has known since then that Governor Huntsman would rather be nice than right."
Tack this onto his fight against draconian liquor laws and global warming, and you've got a genuine, and very popular moderate (90% of Utahns approve of the job he's doing) in the most un-moderate of states. We'll see if this makes a dent in his numbers. At least one conservative blog is sounding the inevitable alarm:
Perhaps we should put those "Huntsman 2012" bumper stickers on indefinitely hold. I'm beginning to detect the odor of "RINO" at the governor's mansion.
[Hat tip: Voice of Deseret]
