http://www.mormonlife.com/tag/Politcis Mormon Life - Politcis tag http://www.mormonlife.com/story/65241-gay-democratic-leader-reaches-out-to-mormons http://www.mormonlife.com/story/65241-gay-democratic-leader-reaches-out-to-mormons Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:39:00 -0600 <div> source: sltrib.com </div> When former state senator and U.S. Senate candidate Scott Howell heard that Jim Dabakis was planning to run for Utah Democratic Party chairman, he went to officials of his LDS Church, hoping they would be comfortable with the idea of an openly gay man leading Howell’s party in Utah. <p> They were. </p><p> Dabakis, along with Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, had worked before with LDS officials to get the church on board with Salt Lake City’s anti-discrimination ordinance, which protects the rights of gays and lesbians in housing and employment issues. McAdams, an active Mormon, is also a top official in Mayor Ralph Becker’s administration, which initiated the ordinance.</p>