This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

[Video: Vintage BBC comedy. John Cleese and the Two Ronnies.]

We take advantage of an opportunity to look good:

An Open Letter to Our Friends Doing Business in North Carolina & Mississippi — Mayor Jackie Biskupski and the Salt Lake City Council

" ... In Salt Lake City we are no strangers to robust public discussions about equality, discrimination, access, and accommodation. We know by taking these issues seriously, we make our city a great place to live and do business. In 2009, Salt Lake City adopted an ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing and employment. In 2015, the State of Utah followed suit by adopting a similar measure. Both of these statutes were supported by religious groups across the state, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, proving to the nation that equality for LGBTQ people and religious liberty are not mutually exclusive principles.

"In Salt Lake City, economic strength is intrinsically tied to treating all people with dignity and respect. Like you, we recognize that our economic success depends on inclusion and protection for everyone. So, in light of North Carolina and Mississippi's recent actions, we'd like to invite you to consider doing business in our beautiful and welcoming city. ..."

" ... In addition to Biskupski's travel ban, the mayor and city council issued a joint statement urging businesses and individuals concerned about the North Carolina and Mississippi laws to consider moving their companies to Utah.

" 'Fairness and equality are more than political footballs to be tossed around when politicians put politics over their humanity,' said City Council Chairman James Rogers. 'We as a city and a council have taken actions over the years to make the capital city a welcoming beacon for all.'... "

The race is on:

" ... Are we perfect? No, but while other states move backward on civil rights, Utah moves forward. ..."

Well. Sometimes we move forward.

Sometimes, other places get to look down on us:

"new Utah law requiring abortion providers to administer anesthesia to a woman if she is having an abortion at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy is the first of its kind in the nation and it is a reckless intrusion of a state legislature into the practice of medicine. In order to assure the best possible care for patients, decisions about what type of pain medication or anesthesia to administer should be made by medical professionals, not by state legislators. ..."

But, hey, L.A. Times. Not everyone in Utah was for that:

Utah, they're talking about you, and it's not all good — George Pyle | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... But that was tame compared to the flood of condemnation responding to last week's signing by Gov. Gary Herbert of a bill that will require abortions involving a fetus more than 20 weeks along to be done under anesthesia.

"This despite the fact that the current view of medical science is that such organisms can't feel pain, and that any time you use anesthesia when it isn't medically necessary, you add a risk — in this case to the mother — that is unnecessary. ..."

Abortion anesthesia bill should have been vetoed — Ogden Standard-Examiner Editorial

The danger of Utah's abortion law — Leah Torres | Salt Lake City ob/gyn | For CNN

" 'How can they make my medical decisions for me? You can't even do that,' my patient said to me, referring to legislators passing laws like the 'Protecting Unborn Children' law, which revokes her autonomy. I have no explanation because she's right. ..."

Also, something else we might attract:

Migrating Birds Boycott North Carolina — Samanta Bee | Full Frontal | Medium