Openly Gay Mayor of SLC: Is the Sky Falling?

It is Wednesday morning and election results are being announced. It appears that Jackie Biskupski, an openly gay candidate, has won the race for mayor of Salt Lake City. I’ve already heard the claims: “Salt Lake City is a Mormon city. How can a gay woman lead here?” also, “Gays are immoral, the people that voted for her are also immoral.” In other words, the sky is falling!

Well I disagree. Strongly. Is the consternation over her election strictly a Mormon response to Biskupski? No. But Mormons wondering if a gay woman can govern with integrity and dignity have not visited LDS.org in recent years. Entire sections of the website are dedicated to confirming the dignity of gays.

Can a gay woman be mayor of Salt Lake City? Absolutely yes. Is the sky falling? Emphatically no. And by the way, Salt Lake City is not a “Mormon” city. Do Mormons really want to be that exclusivist? Especially when such claims do not even represent reality? No. However, I recommend civility in the face of such ethnocentric claims. Kindness and patience are virtues worth exercising.

Here is a link to a Salt Lake Tribune story that covers the mayoral race. Let the discussion continue.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/3133614-155/election-night-results-biskupski-bests-becker?page=1