Utah lawmakers aren't stopping local governments from following Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County in protecting gay and transgender residents from discrimination. So some communities are forging ahead.

Discussions, at least, on anti-discrimination ordinances are sprouting in Park City, Summit County, Taylorsville, Murray and Ogden.

Park City, which is studying measures in and out of Utah, plans to hold a public hearing on the issue in March.

Last fall, Salt Lake City unanimously approved two ordinances that ban housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The measures -- the first of their kind in Utah -- gained a historic endorsement from the LDS Church.

"I was a proud Utahn when I saw that," Park City Mayor Dana Williams said this week, referring both to the ordinances' approval and the church's backing. "Our council feels very strongly that [protecting people from discrimination] is the right thing to do."

State lawmakers -- Republicans and Democrats -- have agreed to a yearlong moratorium on any bills that affect the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, has shelved a statewide anti-discrimination proposal in favor of blocking legislation that would have overturned such protections in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville and a key player in the compromise, has dropped a bill that would have stopped other cities and counties from adopting anti-discrimination laws while the Legislature observes the "laboratory" of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. He said he still would prefer that local governments hold off for at least a year.

But, in Ogden, the Rev. Theresa Novak doesn't think justice can wait.

"The state should not be telling cities that they have to allow discrimination," she said. "The time is always right for justice."

Her Unitarian Universalist Church is holding an interfaith service and rally Sunday, "Standing on the Side of Love," to call on the Ogden City Council to adopt anti-discrimination ordinances of its own.

"As a pastor, I've talked to people who are afraid of losing their jobs if someone finds out their sexual orientation or gender identity," Novak said. "The message of all religions -- at their heart -- is love and loving thy neighbor and the golden rule. When you see these discriminatory practices, it feels so inconsistent with what faith should be."

Ogden City Councilwoman Susie Van Hooser plans to attend Sunday's event and gather information, including a petition attendees will sign, to share with the council. She is interested in passing an anti-discrimination policy, but she's not sure when the council will be able to schedule it for formal discussion.

"I do think it's something that is very important," Van Hooser said, "and should be looked at by our community."

Summit County Councilwoman Sally Elliott said her county, which offers health insurance benefits to employees' domestic partners, is looking at anti-discrimination ordinances but has yet to take action.

In Taylorsville, an ordinance-review committee is examining Salt Lake City's statutes and others outside of Utah before determining whether to recommend such protections for the state's 10th most-populous city.

"I've looked at Salt Lake City's ordinances," Mayor Russ Wall said, "and I think it's something I would support."

Murray Councilwoman Krista Dunn, a Salt Lake City employee, said she wants to learn more about the capital's ordinances and whether they could work for Murray. But the City Council has not yet discussed the issue.

The city's mayor, Dan Snarr, sees Salt Lake City's anti-discrimination statutes as "a good thing." For now, though, he noted Murray is dealing with a thornier topic: balancing the budget and preserving services amid the Great Recession.

rwinters@sltrib.com