Bully for Lane Beattie and the Salt Lake Chamber for supporting a state law banning hiring and housing discrimination against people who are gay, lesbian and transgender ("Chamber: Statewide anti-discrimination law good for business," Tribune, Jan. 20).

The statement by Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, made me want to scream: "I think it’s a local issue. I think each community should implement what’s best for their community. On an issue like this, I think mandating that La Verkin have a similar ordinance to Salt Lake when their community values may be diametrically opposite … I think that’s further than we ought to be."

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Using Waddoups’ logic, we wouldn’t have had a national law banning discrimination against blacks because the people of Mississippi had "community values" that were diametrically opposite. That’s why we pass such laws!

Is Waddoups saying that it’s OK in La Verkin to be a bigot, to fire someone simply because they’re gay? Discrimination violates people’s civil rights and it should be against the law. Everywhere.

Come on, Legislature, do the right thing. Finally.

Joel Jacobson

Salt Lake City