Data shows hate crimes in Utah are increasing. Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, is sponsoring S.B. 86, a hate crimes bill. Thatcher likes to call it a victim targeting bill. Even though multiple cities and counties, and almost two dozen religious leaders, support the hate crimes measure, the bill is almost dead.
There’s the Utah high school sports team that has to play through slurs shouted from the stands: “Look at all those n------ out there playing.” Coaches had to address bias in refereeing two years ago.
There’s the breast-feeding bill, which was introduced to protect a woman’s right to breastfeed in Utah businesses without being relegated to the bathroom.