SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Here are words you probably thought you would never hear:
Senator Chris Buttars may co-sponsor a gay rights bill with an openly gay legislator.
Earlier this year, Buttars unleashed a fire storm with his anti-gay comments, and no one spoke out more forcefully then State Representative Christine Johnson.
But now, Buttars tells ABC 4 the two are talking about teaming up to protect gays.
Just nine months ago, ABC 4 broke the story about Senator Buttars making anti-gay remarks.
His comments brought tears to the eyes of fellow (and openly gay) legislator Johnson.
But sometimes politics makes strange bedfellows.
Monday, Buttars confirmed to ABC 4 he is talking to Johnson about co-sponsoring her gay rights bill in next year's legislative session.
Johnson's bill mirrors an ordinance recently passed by the Salt Lake City Council and supported by the LDS Church.
The city’s new law expands protection of gays when it comes to housing and employment.
And while neither Johnson nor Buttars wants to talk about them walking down the legislative aisle quite yet, the mere fact they're talking is a far cry from her crying just nine months ago.
Also, a high ranking legislative source now also tells ABC 4 the following :
That resistance to this gay rights bill is "softening" in the Republican caucus.
Which means the Johnson (Buttars?) measure appears to be gaining momentum.
