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."
However, Paul Mero, president of the Sutherland Institute, doubted that the candidates would have any real influence. He pointed out that concerns this year expressed over Rep. LaVar Christensen's HB148 weren't about gay and lesbian issues but about possible impacts on other custody cases involving the best interest of a child, such as instances in which grandparents are involved.
Mero said even if the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lawmakers doubles, or triples, it's not going to change "the political reality of the make-up of the state Legislature."
And, Mero said, even if Storrs beats out Michael Montgomery for the Republican nomination and wins the election, he probably won't be taken seriously in closed caucus meetings.
"The premier defining issue of conservative Republicans in this state revolves around family value issues; they are anti-abortion and pro-family," Mero said. "If the vote were just about abortion or homosexuality, straight up, and everyone knew that was the issue at hand, it would pass with an overwhelming, veto-proof majority."
Still, if any, or all, of the candidates does win the election, Mero said it could help the state's democratic process by bolstering the debate.
McCoy, who was selected midterm to fill the Senate District 2 seat, is running his first campaign against six opponents, and at least one believes McCoy's sexual orientation could work against him.
Republican Mark Towner says McCoy has painted himself as a single-issue candidate.
"That is his issue, it is not my issue," Towner said. "I could care less about his sexual orientation. He is not an effective legislator."
Another Republican, John Pickering, has no issue with McCoy's orientation but said having a Democrat in the seat is robbing Salt Lake of representation in the Republican-dominated Legislature.
"He is a Democrat," Pickering said. "Because of that Salt Lake City suffers."
McCoy, however, said while gay and lesbian issues are important to him it's no different than Sen. Darin Peterson, R-Nephi, having a passion for agricultural issues.
"People had some preconceived notions about what my purpose was," McCoy said. "Over time, being there and working with my colleagues in the Senate and the House . . . that falls away as the defining characteristic."
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates running for office are hoping to make a change, by defeating so-called "message bills" and at the same time representing their districts' interests.
Openly gay candidates Chris Ferguson and Christine Johnson are among Democrats vying to fill the vacant Salt Lake District 25 House seat.
Ferguson said he's tired of seeing "message bill after message bill."
"It's enough already," Ferguson said. "For me, personally, education is the most important issue."
Johnson is also fed up. She became a citizen activist during the Don't Amend campaign against the state's marriage amendment and believes she can accomplish more as a lawmaker.
"Of late, it's just everything," Johnson said. "The inability of our legislators to fund full-day kindergarten, to fund Medicaid dental and vision care. . . . It's just a lack of prioritization."
In Sandy, Jenni Jackson is running against former state Rep. Trisha Beck for the Democratic nomination for the vacant Senate District 9 seat.
Jackson, a transgender candidate who served two terms as a Sandy City councilman in the '80s and '90s before her sex change from man to woman about a year and a half ago. Jackson said bills targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are a big part of her decision to run. She also sees a need for addressing social issues, such as senior care, the environment and education.
Jackson acknowledged that it may seem like a transgender candidate may not have a chance in her conservative Sandy district. She disagrees.
"People are waking up and saying 'now is the time for change,' and they are going to make that change," she said, and she hopes her openness will give others the courage to stand up.
"I can honestly say I know what both males and females are thinking," she said. "I stand for all people . . . let's get rid of the bias and the bigotry and the hate."
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com