Elitist gays harm Demos

As a politically active gay man and a Democratic delegate, I was distressed to see Scott McCoy appointed as Utah's first openly gay senator. Once again the elitist gay politicians have shot the Democratic Party in the foot. In a perfect, progressive world, McCoy could be our hero, but in Utah's realpolitik, he becomes the most junior liberal senator in a minority party, in the most conservative state of the most conservative democracy on earth. Any bill to which he attaches his name is dead. That's what happened to David Litvack, Utah's only Jewish lawmaker, and to Jackie Biskupski, the first openly gay representative on the Hill. It's not fair, it's not Scott's fault, but it's reality. The overall needs of the Democratic Party would be far better served by a sympathetic senator who could advocate gay needs without attracting attention.

Stuart Merrill

Salt Lake City