Spencer Cox was once a beacon of hope in a divided world. A moderate Republican, it was a breath of fresh air to see him stand up for the rights of LGBTQ people against the currents of his party. We could believe back then that the American principle of equal rights was more important than party loyalty or the bias of one side of the debate.
As Gov. Cox signed HB269 to discriminate against innocent people like my trans child by effectively banning them from university dorms, it’s time that he drop the pretense of being anything but a partisan puppet.
His past tells me he must not be bigoted, but what is the difference really between someone who discriminates out of bigotry and one who discriminates out of fear?
Cox has now shown that to stay in power he will not only grovel at the feet of a strongman but will also watch as his party abandons even the pretense of equality. What is the point of staying in power at the expense of your principles?
I don’t know who will defend the innocent minorities in our new America, but I see it is no longer Spencer Cox.
Doug Staker, Salt Lake City
