Candidates stretching boundaries

Gordon Storrs is the first to admit his candidacy is somewhat unique.

It's not because he's a Republican running for Utah's traditionally Democratic District 33 House seat. It's not because he is gay.

It's because he's both.

"People suggest the only way for me to win would be to switch and become a Democrat, but I said, 'I can't do that. I'm a lifelong Republican,' " Storrs said.

Storrs admits it's not easy to watch a Republican-dominated Legislature propose bill after bill aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In fact, as a lifelong Republican, Storrs says, "it embarrasses me."

If elected, Storrs said his party affiliation could give him an edge on lesbian and gay issues that Democratic lawmakers don't have — a seat at the table.

"My party sometimes doesn't follow its own tradition by making sure there's a place at the table for everyone," said Storrs. "There need to be voices within the party to help speak up and make sure all opinions are heard so that wise decisions can be made."

While Storrs is perhaps the only gay Republican candidate, there isn't a lack of gay Democrats running. And for the first time anyone is aware of, a transgender candidate is running for the state Senate. In fact, depending on how conventions and elections go, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community could become the most represented minority at the Capitol.

Advocacy groups and party officials are aware of six candidates running for the state Legislature, and the only other minority group with that many candidates is Hispanics.

Two of the candidates are incumbents — Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake, and Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake.

Biskupski suspects legislation targeted directly at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is motivating people to run. It wasn't too long ago that the voters approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. This past session a bill, vetoed by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., would have impacted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families' custody cases, and another failed bill would have prevented cities from issuing same-sex partner benefits.

"You can only push people so far before they are going to stand up for themselves and take a hard position on what is fair and what is right," said Biskupski, who is running for a fifth term. "They are going to continue to come forward."