This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Until now, the debate about preventing discrimination against gay and lesbian Utahns has focused primarily on employment and housing, but a new proposal would go further, banning discrimination in any business.
Sen. Jim Dabakis, the Legislature's only openly gay member, said his SB99 merely would add eight words, extending to LGBT individuals the same protections already in the law barring businesses from refusing to serve people based on age, religion, gender, race or other factors.
"If you want to do business in the state of Utah, you ought not discriminate, and we've had those laws forever, and they're good laws," the Salt Lake City Democrat said. "They put the state on record saying, 'Discrimination is not tolerated, it's not accepted in our state.' And, in a way, certainly adding LGBT people to that protection of the other protected people doesn't diminish from Utah, it adds to Utah."
In other states, bakers and photographers, citing religious objections, have refused to provide services to same-sex weddings. Dabakis' bill would not allow Utah businesses to do so.
His proposal goes further than SB100, sponsored by Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, which covers only employment and housing.
This week's push by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for anti-discrimination laws didn't address specific legislation, although Mormon apostle Dallin H. Oaks did touch on LGBT protections in public accommodations.
Oaks called on governments to adopt legislation safeguarding religious freedoms for individuals and churches "while also protecting the rights of our LGBT citizens in such areas as housing, employment and public accommodation in hotels, restaurants and transportation — protections which are not available in many parts of the country."
Dabakis said he doesn't see that as an endorsement of his measure, but it does show the LDS Church is open to a discussion on the topic.
Twitter: @RobertGehrke