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| Jim Dabakis Utah's new Democratic State Party Chair Photo via Pride In Utah |
“I visited all 29 counties during the last five months, and people were very interested in what kind of a job I would do and what my experience was,” Dabakis said. “The whole gay thing just simply did not surface as an issue. People are broad-minded in Utah, and they want to know if you can do the job or not.”
Jim Dabakis became the first openly gay man to be elected to a statewide office in Utah. He is also among the first openly gay Democratic State Party Chairs nationwide.
Utah has seen two openly-gay Representatives in the State House. It has also seen an openly gay State Senator. But this is the first time an openly-LGBT person has been elected to an office by voters statewide, and it comes just 3 years after Prop 8.
“It’s an honor and a thrill [to be elected Chairman of the State Democratic Party,” says Dabakis.From the beginning of his campaign 5 months ago, Dabakis made it clear that he did not think his sexual orientation should be an issue in the race.“I don’t see it as a relevant factor,” he says. “I am here to do a job and do it the best I can whether I’m gay, straight, black, white or purple.”
Jim is the original co-founder of both the Utah Pride Center as well as the political advocacy group Equality Utah, and has built up a large following after his negotiations with the Mormon Church ended with them endorsing Salt Lake City’s Non-Discrimination Ordinances.
Utah still has a long way to go, but this certainly shows the great leaps and bounds it has taken within the past 2 years.
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