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It's going to be a much quieter legislative session for gay rights.
On Friday, three Democratic lawmakers announced they are dropping bills -- until 2011 -- that would provide anti-discrimination protections, probate rights and adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Utahns. The move is a "compromise," sanctioned by leaders in the House and Senate, intended to halt efforts to overturn or weaken the newly minted anti-discrimination ordinances in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County.
Instead of her anti-discrimination bill, Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, is running one that would assign a legislative committee to study measures -- both in Utah and other states -- that bar housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The legislators, working with the Utah Labor Commission, would collect information on instances of bias against sexual- and gender-based minorities. The committee would be required to issue a report no later than Nov. 30 and determine whether to recommend and draft legislation.
As part of the compromise, Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, has dropped plans for a 2010 bill that would enable same-sex partners to sue when a breadwinner suffers a wrongful death. And Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, has put aside her third-year effort to allow cohabiting, unmarried couples -- including gay and lesbian partners -- to adopt and foster
"That is not an easy pill for us," McAdams said. "It's my hope that we will shift from a discussion of things we disagree about to a discussion of things that we agree on."
One sign that Republicans also are on board with the Democrats' compromise: Johnson has a Republican co-sponsor for her study bill, Sen. Howard Stephenson, of Draper.
"It's important now that we let [Salt Lake City's anti-discrimination policy] work and see how it works," Stephenson said. "Then we can return next year with data and science and, hopefully, with greater civility than we've ever experienced between our communities."
Stephenson and Johnson both said they want to build on the collaborative spirit that produced Salt Lake City's anti-discrimination ordinances (endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), which bridged divides between Democrats and Republicans, Mormons and non-Mormons and the LGBT and straight communities.
Clearing a "stressful," budget-crunching session of gay-rights measures, Johnson said, will open a "window for pressure-free conversations" on the topic.
Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah, said her group supports the deal.
"We'll have good data and a much better chance of passing meaningful legislation [in 2011]," she said. "While I personally would very much wish for things to move more quickly, I respect this process."
