During an appearance on The Daily Show, Utah Governor Spencer Cox faced questioning from host Jon Stewart regarding Utah laws that protect gay residents from being fired while maintaining First Amendment protections for individuals such as wedding cake bakers. According to a September 9 report, Stewart characterized the legislative compromise as a contemptuous position that asks a vulnerable community to accept a diminished status.
The discussion occurred during Cox's appearance to promote his new book focused on helping Americans avoid mutual hatred. Stewart suggested that the current legal framework creates a power disparity, arguing that requiring a group to accept a bargain for their humanity is difficult to view as a victory. He noted that the law allows for the denial of services, such as wedding cakes, based on religious beliefs.
Cox responded by stating that the protections in Utah go both ways and are not intended to show contempt. He argued that the laws are centered on religious freedom, noting that bakers would not be forced to bake cakes for Christians if they did not wish to. Cox added that such protections were rare and had not previously occurred in a red state.
