By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

UTAH, United States – On Tuesday, the Salt Lake City Council passed an ordinance that outlawed discrimination because of sexual orientation in housing and employment within the city. The ordinance was passed after a number of back room meetings over the past few weeks. The ordinance was also supported by the Church of Latter Day Saints. It was the first time that the Mormon Church supported gay rights legislation.

The Mormon Church has been criticized over the past year for not supporting California’s Proposition 8, which would have allowed homosexual couples to marry in the state. The Church does not support homosexual marriage. However, the Church was crucial in passing the Salt Lake City ordinance. According to Michael Otterson, public relations director for the Mormon Church, the leaders of the religion supported the ordinance because it did not make homosexuals a special class of people and protect the institution of marriage. He stated that the Church respected all the dignity of all classes of people and that the ordinance promoted basic civil rights.

The Salt Lake City Council passed the ordinance unanimously. It was the first city in Utah to pass such protections. The ordinance will take effect in April. The mayor must appoint an administrator to investigate complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identification. Besides Salt Lake City, approximately one hundred cities across the United States have passed similar anti-discrimination ordinances.

Gay rights and transgender rights supporters see the passage of the ordinance and the Mormon Church’s support as a welcome sign. Will Carlson, a manager of Equality Now, Utah’s largest gay rights support group, stated that the Mormon Church’s support was “huge.” Also, the statement of the Church in regards to the ordinance gave Carlson hope that the Church would support more legislation. Equality Now initiated a program of “common ground” bills in 2009 that would halt the discrimination of homosexuals and transgender people.

Opponents of homosexual and trans-gender rights felt the passage of the ordinance brought the passage of homosexual marriage closer to being law. According to the Sutherland Institute: “Each new inclusion in the law of such vague terms as sexual orientation and gender identity represents a mounting threat to the institution of marriage.”

For more Information, please see:

AP – Mormons Throw Support Behind Gay-Rights Cause – 11 November 2009

NYTIMES – Mormon Support of Gay Rights Statute Draws Praise – 11 November 2009

Salt Lake City Tribune – Salt Lake City Adopts Pro-Gay Statutes, with LDS Support – 11 November 2009