from web site
November 12 2009, Deseret News, Protections for gays face tough fight at Utah Legislature, by Bob Bernick Jr.and Lisa Riley Roche and Arthur Raymond,
Now that Salt Lake City has approved ordinances that make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay, will the Legislature and Gov. Gary Herbert follow suit?
Government and civic leaders said Wednesday the fight will be much tougher in the conservative Legislature, though the odds of passing an anti-discrimination law may get a boost from the Mormon church's endorsement Tuesday of the Salt Lake City Council's ordinances. Lawmakers could do three things when they come into January's general session: They could adopt a statewide law similar to the city's; they could actually repeal the city ordinance and ban all other local governments from doing likewise; or they could do nothing, which would let the city ordinance stand.
Rep. Chris Johnson, D-Salt Lake, said Wednesday she will again introduce a bill that is "very similar" to the city's new ordinance. Whether it will pass or not is certainly debatable, said Johnson, one of three openly gay Utah legislators.
House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, said he's not sure what the reaction would be to such legislation.
But, he pointed out, "the position the LDS Church takes does have a tremendous sway on public sentiment. And public sentiment does have a tremendous sway on the Legislature."
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he expects the issue to come up next session.
"I don't know where it will go," he said. "It depends on whether they try to plow new ground with it." Waddoups said he would be willing to support legislation protecting employment and housing rights for gay Utahns if current statutes are unclear.
However, Waddoups, a property manager, said he wants the "right to protect the image of my company" against gay employees "out flaunting the gay lifestyle" during work hours. He said he also had concerns about similar behavior among his tenants. "I'm not going to put up with that on any of my properties," Waddoups said.
Angie Welling, the governor's spokeswoman, said, "As a strong proponent of local government, Herbert respects the right of municipalities to pass rules and ordinances in their jurisdictions. As such, the governor defers to Salt Lake City in this case."
Regarding possible statewide legislation, Welling said it would be premature for Herbert to discuss undrafted legislation.
A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also said it's too early to comment on bills that haven't been proffered.
"The church statement (Tuesday) night addressed the employment and housing ordinances in Salt Lake City and that statement speaks for itself," Scott Trotter said. "As to any other legislation, the church would reserve judgment. We are not prepared to speculate on something we haven't seen."
Church public affairs director Michael Otterson told the Associated Press the church had supported "basic civil values," but the church's position found some critics on both sides even as it preserved its religious belief that same-sex marriage poses a threat to traditional marriage.
"There are going to be gay advocates who don't think we've gone nearly far enough, and people very conservative who think we've gone too far," Otterson said. "The vast majority of people are between those polar extremes and we think that's going to resonate with people on the basis of fair-mindedness."
yeezy shoes
nfl jerseys cheap
eahawks jerseys
parada bags
michael kors outlet online
ralph lauren outlet online
nike tn pas cher
thunder jerseys
mbt
phillies jerseys
chaussure louboutin pas cher
nike air max 95
marc jacobs outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
ralph lauren sale
coach outlet online
coach outlet online
pandora outlet
michael kors handbags
fitflop shoes
hermes bags
christian louboutin shoes
yeezy boost 350
louboutin outlet
toms
polo ralph lauren outlet online
pandora charms sale
air max outlet
coach factory outlet online
longchamp bags
salomon outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet online
fitflops sale clearance
air jordans
birkenstock shoes
longchamp bag
nike outlet store
moncler jackets
cheap oakley sunglasses
oakley sunglasses outlet
cheap air jordans
sac longchamp
kate spade uk
michael kors outlet canada
discount oakley sunglasses
cheap nike sneakers
mulberry uk
christian louboutin shoes
kate spade purses
toms outlet
coach factory outlet
louboutin outlet
michael kors
coach outlet online
air max
longchamp pliage
coach outlet online
mlb jerseys
gucci borse
pandora jewelry
ray bans
cheap jerseys
discount oakley sunglasses
tory burch outlet online
ralph lauren outlet online
adidas
adidas nmd r1
burberry outlet
fendi bags
michael kors bags
kate spade outlet online
louis vuitton outlet online
yeezy boost
coach factory outlet online
cardinals jerseys
moncler pas cher
yeezy boost
ed hardy store
coach factory outlet
purs jerseys
adidas nmd runner
ray ban sunglasses discount
polo ralph lauren
patriots jerseys
christian louboutin shoes
cheap jordan shoes
birkenstocks
mlb jerseys
red bottom
ralph lauren sale
michael kors outlet online
texans jerseys
nike blazer low pas cher
nike outlet
coach outlet online
rolex replica watches for sale
rolex watches
michael kors uk
marc jacobs
discount nike shoes
pandora
coach factory outlet online
adidas uk
ralph lauren
mulberry bags
coach outlet online
christian louboutin
rockets jerseys
true religion
coach purses
salomon outlet
coach outlet online
kate spade bags
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet store online
adidas sneakers
lakers jerseys
coach outlet store online
true religion jeans outlet
adidas sneakers
jimmy choo shoes