After years of being bottled up in the Senate, a bill that would impose a statewide ban on discrimination against gay and lesbian individuals will get its first committee hearing Friday.
"Whether or not it passes out of committee, this is an important milestone," said Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, the sponsor of SB51.
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Bill when and where
Who » Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions
When » 2:10 p.m.
Where » 415 Capitol
Bill is fifth on agenda
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The celebration may be short-lived, as the committee that has been assigned the bill is made up of some of the Senate’s most conservative members who are almost certain to vote down the measure.
And, Rep. Derek Brown, R-Cottonwood Heights, who had agreed to sponsor the bill should it make it to the House, still has reservations about the language in the bill.
Brown said he still isn’t comfortable with a section of the bill that would protect Utahns from discrimination based on their political activity or speech. McAdams said it was added to prevent people from, for example, losing a job because they supported a contentious political issue.
But Brown said every time drafters tried to refine the language, other potential issues popped up, and until it is worked out, he won’t add his name as a sponsor.
McAdams’ bill is patterned on anti-discrimination ordinances passed by 14 Utah local governments, and would prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Gov. Gary Herbert said he doesn’t believe people should discriminate, but he does not support a state law prohibiting it, although communities can enact ordinances if they choose.
"I don’t ask that question when I hire people and it doesn’t matter to me and I think that’s the way we should treat each other," Herbert said. "If we do have a law, I think it should be bottom-up. … I don’t think it should be a top-down micromanaging."
The non-discrimination bill has the backing this year of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and leaders from several prominent Utah businesses. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which endorsed Salt Lake City’s non-discrimination ordinance, upon which the bill was patterned, has not taken a position on SB51.
"I agree with President Clinton on this: Don’t ask, don’t tell," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, a member of the committee that will hear the measure. "I don’t care what somebody is and I don’t want to know. … This bill makes you blast it all over the place."
McAdams said adoption of the ordinance has been beneficial where it has passed.
"Those cities that have enacted this have provided a healing dialogue and it hasn’t hurt business. In fact, it’s improved business," he said.
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