The Utah State Legislature passed an anti-discrimination bill on Wednesday that will prevent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from being discriminated against in housing and employment situations. The Senate Bill 296 (SB296) will also protect religious organizations that oppose homosexuality.
The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended a press conference last week at which they endorsed the bill. The bill prohibits employers, with 15 or more employees, or landlords, with four or more units, from turning away individuals based on their sexual orientation. The only exemption to the bill is for religious organizations, which includes private colleges/schools and charities.
The New York Times quotes Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the Human Rights Campaign, saying,
It is a landmark. This is a Republican-controlled Legislature with a Republican governor, and this will be the first time that a Republican-controlled process has led to extension of protections for L.G.B.T. people.
The Utah House passed the bill with a vote of 65 to 10 after the Senate passed it last week with a 23 to 5 vote.
The legislature also passed a revised version of SB297, which, according to KSL, would require a “county clerk or the clerk’s ‘willing’ designee” to be available to perform wedding ceremonies during business hours for any couple. SB297 will also protect religious officials from conducting the services or churches from accommodating the ceremony if the marriage contradicts their beliefs.
LDS spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement Wednesday, March 11, “The church has been consistent in its support of marriage between a man and a woman while teaching that all people should be treated with respect. There have been various attempts discussed by lawmakers to deal with the changing definition of marriage in our state. We are supportive of SB297 because it is a more balanced and fair approach to marriage and religious freedom protections.”
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert will sign SB296 on Thursday in the Capitol rotunda at 6 PM.
