Conservative spitfire Sen. D. Chris Buttars condemned homosexuality in strident language Monday, successfully urging fellow lawmakers to help him boot gay-student support clubs from public school campuses.

Buttars, R-West Jordan, joined three other members of the Senate Education Committee in voting to send his legislation to the full Utah Senate. Two Democrats on the committee voted against the bill.

Similar legislation from Rep. Aaron Tilton, R-Springville, is pending in the House of Representatives.

Tilton has said his proposal would help schools deal with clubs that break existing rules and is not aimed at clubs like the Gay Straight Alliance, which has chapters at several Utah schools.

Buttars was blunt, however, saying the clubs are a danger to minors. He said schools approve GSA chapters because they're afraid of getting sued. His bill would remove that fear, he said.

According to Buttars, GSA clubs are places that attract young people who are "confused or who may have a question" and "wander in" -- and "they become the people who become indoctrinated."

He described the issue as an assault on "the rock pillars of morality."

"The next step now is the Gay Alliances, where we're going to teach our kids that it's OK to have a different sexual orientation," Buttars said. "Really what they're trying to say is the new morality means there isn't immorality. ... These are places that condition our young people to accept homosexuality."

Salt Lake County resident Scott Soulier said that's what happened to his niece, who recently expressed doubts about the family's anti-homosexuality beliefs.

He said she was "targeted, recruited and indoctrinated to the extent that she questions her beliefs that she has been taught in her home."

Soulier further stated that GSA-type clubs are appropriate at universities or other institutions for adults, but not at high schools, "because the state of Utah says that she is legally incompetent to make a decision regarding any type of sexual behavior."

Monday's committee hearing was packed, but only Buttars and Soulier testified. Opponents of the bill testified at an earlier hearing on the bill.

The Progressive Student Youth Council has lobbied vigorously against the bill, but member John Spillman said he wasn't surprised that it passed the committee.

Spillman -- who also represented the Utah Organization of Chinese-Americans -- compared the anti-gay rhetoric with racism, using as an example the internment of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II.

"We're very worried ... that people are being targeted for who they are," he said.

He also noted that PSYC interviews of legislators asked, "What should be done if football players are talking about sex in the locker room?"

"They kind of laughed it off like it's a big joke, but it's ultimately the same issue," said Spillman, adding that it's also a mischaracterization of GSA chapters.

"The Gay Straight Alliances don't really discuss sex. There's so many issues that we all look into," he said. "To say that gay kids are only talking about gay sex is just a joke."

Buttars's and Tilton's bills would also distinguish between curricular and noncurricular clubs and require parental consent for club participation.

Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Salt Lake City, said existing law allows schools to handle the issue at the local level -- and that's where it should stay.

"I don't see the need for this bill. I think it will do more harm than good," she said. "I don't think this is a bill that will accomplish anything as far as helping our students."

She and Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, voted against the bill. Voting for it were Buttars and Sens. Dave Thomas, R-South Weber; Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain; and Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.