Raised Greek Orthodox, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 11.

In 1971, he enrolled at Brigham Young University and sought guidance from Mark E. Petersen, one of the Church's apostles, about his homosexuality.

[3] He is also the host of a local TV show in Salt Lake City called UP with Jim Dabakis.

In 2014, Dabakis stepped down as state party chair for health reasons and to spend more time with his husband, Stephen.

Five candidates sought the senate appointment, with Dabakis besting Peter Corroon, the outgoing mayor of Salt Lake County, by a vote of 67 to 61 in the final round of balloting.

Source:[13] Senator Dabakis sponsored bill SB141 in 2016, which sought to alter one of Utah's peculiar liquor laws, specifically it would remove Zion Curtains from restaurants.