HRC - the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) civil rights organization - aims to train 1,500 volunteers nationwide to work on key campaigns this fall as part of its massive "Year to Win" effort.

The organization also targets ballot measures that limit the rights of the GLBT community, such as California's Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage. Barack Obama, endorsed by HRC, has come out against the measure, while The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports it.

Salt Lake City is one of 18 cities selected to host Camp Equality training this summer - surprising since no federal candidates from the Beehive State have HRC's backing.

"The people who participate will be able to go out and help progressive politicians, whether it be Barack Obama at the top or candidates further down the ticket," said Trevor Thomas, HRC's deputy communications director.

In 2006, the group helped elect 211 candidates, ousting a number of anti-gay-rights politicians, including Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. The National Journal ranked the organization as the second-most effective interest group that year.

In selecting Utah's capital as a host training site, the organization also is gazing down the road, beyond November's election.

"We're looking long-term, where we can continue to mobilize voters who support pro-equality state and federal legislation," Thomas said. That would include the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, establishing workplace protections and enacting hate-crime legislation.

Sen. Scott McCoy, one of Utah's three openly gay state lawmakers, is pleased to see HRC's selection of Salt Lake City.

"It shows that things are changing," the Salt Lake City Democrat said. "In the past, there might have been a tendency for some of these national organizations to write off a conservative red state. But we've demonstrated that we can make progress."

Although Utah voters approved a ban on gay marriage in 2004, Salt Lake City adopted a mutual-commitment registry earlier this year.

That progress is due partly to a willingness to get involved, McCoy said. "The GLBT community continues to understand the importance of electoral politics in the advancement of our cause."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

Camp Equality Training

* When: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 16

* Where: Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State St.

* Sponsors: Human Rights Campaign, Equality Utah, Utah Stonewall Democrats, Utah Aids Foundation and the Utah Pride Center

* To participate: Apply online at www.hrc.org/campequality

HRC's candidates

The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed these U.S. Senate candidates:

Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Joe Biden, D-Del.

Susan Collins, R-Maine

Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Al Franken, D-Minn.

Tom Harkin, D-Iowa

John Kerry, D-Mass.

Mary Landrieu, D-La.

Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

Carl Levin, D-Mich.

Jack Reed, D-R.I.

Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

Mark Udall, D-Colo.

Tom Udall, D-N.M.