Gay Marriage Watch » utah

UT: Lawmakers Put Off Anti Discrimination Legislation for a Year

scott — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:39:00 +0000

Utah lawmakers will not consider a law that would ban discrimination against gay men and lesbians in the workplace and in housing, and will instead spend the next year studying the issue, key lawmakers said Friday. In exchange, opponents of gay-rights legislation will drop any effort to prevent local governments from passing their own nondiscrimination laws this legislative session.

Gay-rights advocates had hoped to build on recent momentum created by the Salt Lake City Council, which passed nondiscrimination ordinances last year. Those ordinances passed after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it would support the measures.

In Utah, few law changes occur if the church disapproves. More than 80 percent of state lawmakers are Mormon, including Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican.

Full Story from the NY Times
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UT: New State Senator Supports Gay Rights Bills

scott — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:20:00 +0000

New state Sen. Ben McAdams wants to let gay couples and non-traditional families have more rights. Right now, only a parent or spouse can bring a lawsuit in the case of a wrongful death. McAdams wants to let gay couples, unmarried siblings, grandparents, etc., be able to do the same.

“In the case of my wife and I, if one of us were to be killed in an accident because of the negligence of another person, the surviving spouse would be able to bring a lawsuit to recover for that negligence,” McAdams explains. “Under current state law that only applies to a spouse or parent or child who could bring that wrongful death claim.”

McAdams is continuing where his predecessor Sen. Scott McCoy left off and says he thinks this is in line with family values.

Full Story from KSL.com

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To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

UT: Conservative Congressman Chaffetz Has Liberal Family Ties

scott — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Gay rights groups are flabbergasted that Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is leading a charge to block gay marriage in the District of Columbia, since his family has some interesting gay and liberal ties. After all, his father, John Chaffetz, wrote a complimentary book about a gay couple that competed in the “Amazing Race” reality TV show. And liberal, former Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis (whose wife, Kitty, was once married to Chaffetz’s father) has been helping the young Chaffetz to pass legislation.

So gay groups are questioning in widespread Internet posts why Chaffetz, with such ties, could do such a thing. They wish aloud that he would listen to his more liberal relations, and stop his pledges to try to overturn a D.C. ordinance signed by its mayor last week to allow gay marriage.

Chaffetz told the Deseret News on Monday that such groups should not hold their breath for that.

Full Story from Deseret News: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705353303/Chaffetz-family-differ-on-gay-marriage.html

Click here for gay marriage resources.

DC: Utah Republican to Lead Charge Against DC Gay Marriage in Congress

scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz has vowed to lead an effort in Congress to block a gay marriage bill approved in the District of Columbia Tuesday. With an 11 to 2 vote, lawmakers approved the gay marriage bill, which is expected to be signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty before Christmas. Under Home Rule, Congress has final say on laws approved in the District.

Chaffetz, a freshman representative, told the Salt Lake Tribune that he’ll introduce a resolution in January.

“It’s going to be exceptionally difficult because Democrats have us outnumbered by large amounts,” he said. “Nevertheless, we’re going to try.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5009&MediaType=1&Category=26

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

UT: Salt Lake County to Consider LGBT Housing, Employment Protections

scott — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:49:00 +0000

The state’s most populous county is poised to follow the capital city next week in passing new protections for gay and transgender residents. The Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday will consider a pair of statutes that offer protections against discrimination based on sexual preference and gender identity in the areas of housing and employment.

While the county has had more general anti-discrimination laws on the books for decades, the new proposals extend them and were adapted from two ordinances unanimously adopted by the Salt Lake City Council last month. On Friday, Salt Lake County Council Chairman Joe Hatch praised the city for passing the new laws and opening doors with the decision.

“I totally salute the efforts of Salt Lake City and the hard work they’ve done,” he said. “It’s clearly paved the way for this to be a successful and uncontroversial issue for the county.”

Full Story from Deseret News: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350965/Salt-Lake-County-to-consider-anti-bias-proposals.html

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UT: Sundance to Show "8: The Mormon Proposition"

scott — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

At 2 p.m. Thursday, the 2010 Sundance Film Festival announced that former Utah newsman Reed Cowan would bring his new documentary to the elite festival. By 5 p.m. Thursday, Cowan learned religious and anti-gay activists were organizing, discussing online whether they should gather at Park City to show their angry opposition to the screening.

Cowan’s film is “8: The Mormon Proposition.” It is described on the Internet Movie Database, www.imdb.com, as “a scorching indictment of the Mormon Church’s historic involvement in the promotion and passage of California’s Proposition 8,” the proposition that banned same-sex marriage in California.

“I know that it’s going to be protested,” Cowan said in an e-mail interview from his home base in Florida. “I just got forwarded a blog threatening boycotts and protests. … I can tell you thousands of gay-rights leaders from all over the country are going to be marching in counterpoint to the other marches.”

Full Story from Standard.net: http://www.standard.net/topics/features/2009/12/03/prop-8-film-prompts-promises-boycotts-protests

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UT: Poll Says 60% Support Anti Discrimination Laws Statewide for Gays

scott — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:58:00 +0000

A new poll shows some 69 percent of Utahns think state lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert should push to pass statewide anti-discrimination laws to protect gays. The Deseret News/KSL TV poll of 408 Utahns comes after the Salt Lake City Council passed ordinances banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints backed the measures, which include exemptions for religious organizations.

In the poll, 69 percent of respondents said the Legislature should follow Salt Lake City’s lead. Just 28 percent opposed an anti-discrimination proposal.

Full Story from NewsOK: http://www.newsok.com/poll-most-utahns-back-anti-bias-laws-for-gays/article/feed/111922

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UT: Salt Lake County May Follow City's Lead on Gay Rights

scott — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:05:00 +0000

“I would expect that we would pattern ours after what salt lake city did, says Salt Lake County councilmember, Joe Hatch.

He says the county will likely move quickly towards an ordinance similar to one passed in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. That’s when the LDS Church said it supports laws extending such protections.

The county council has already taken steps in favor of gay rights. Recently it extended same-sex partner benefits to its employees. If it does pass an ordinance it would likely affect unincorporated Salt Lake County, which takes in about 170,000 residents.

Full Story from Fox 13: http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-sl-county-may-see-gay-rights-measures-as-slc,0,7814208.story

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Utah'sRep Jeff Chaffetz Wants House to Vote Against DC Gay Marriage Bill

scott — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:57:00 +0000

U.S. House and Senate Democratic leaders are afraid to take a vote over same-sex marriages in Washington, D.C., says Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.

Chaffetz, although only a freshman, is the ranking Republican on the House subcommittee overseeing District of Columbia issues. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that there are enough votes on the district council to pass a same-sex marriage bill in the district.

As the creator and overseer of the district, Congress has 30 days after any new district law is passed to overturn the measure. But congressional Democrats are afraid to take that vote, Chaffetz said. Republicans and conservative Democrats “would like to try to stop” a same-sex marriage law in the district, Chaffetz said. “And we should take a vote on it.

Full Story from Deseret News: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705334870/Chaffetz-targets-DC-marriage-bill.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.