Sen. Urquhart smothers colleagues with notes from constituents: ‘Hear nondiscrimination bill’
Photo courtesy of Steve Urquhart
Written by Michael Flynn
A whole lot of little blue notes have been appearing on the doors of the Utah State Senate Chambers this week. The blue notes, which are traditionally meant for constituents who want to pass notes to their representatives on the senate floor, began appearing on the Senate door by the hundreds over the weekend. They all say “hear SB100,” a bill that would outlaw housing and workplace discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
In a press conference held at the capital on Friday, Jan. 31, Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, asked Utahns to deliver the notes to the Senate. Urquhart sponsored the bill, which was shelved by the Republican leadership in both the House and Senate after the State Attorney General’s Office warned state legislators last week that debate on any bill dealing with LGBT issues could hurt the state’s appeal to the Supreme Court over the constitutionality of Utah’s same-sex marriage ban.
Urquhart said that while a large number of bills have been proposed by legislators in response to the Dec. 20 same-sex marriage ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby, his bill has no bearing on the same-sex marriage debate.
“The nondiscrimination bill predates Shelby’s decision by many years,” Urquhart said. “Whereas other bills might be reactive to that decision, nondiscrimination has nothing to do with marriage.”
The nondiscrimination bill made it out of committee last session – but not in time to be heard on the Senate floor. Similar bills have sat on the hill for the past six years without making it to the floor, despite overwhelming support throughout the state for laws making it illegal to fire somebody or deny them housing based on gender identity or sexual orientation, according to a Deseret News poll.
Urquhart argues that Utah already has a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, or gender.
“Sexual orientation and gender identity should be added to that law,” he said. “That doesn’t hurt anyone – and it protects some individuals and, overall, it makes commerce better in the state. It makes us a better state.”
“Senator Urquhart really wanted to provide an opportunity for Utahns to express themselves in regards to this bill,” said Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah. She said the plan is for supporters of the bill to continue sending the notes until their senators agree to debate the issue.
Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, who represents much of eastern Washington County and Iron County, refused to discuss the bill or even his own thoughts about the issue of workplace discrimination, citing a warning issued to legislators by the Attorney General’s office that debating the issue on the floor may affect the outcome of the Supreme Court proceedings later this year.
“I’d like to be able to answer you honestly on that,” Vickers said, “but I’d prefer to decline comment.”
Linda Stay, Southern Utah event coordinator for Equality Utah, said she was disappointed that Vickers refused to let his constituents know his thoughts about the issue.
“In my opinion, he is taking the coward’s way out,” she said. “He’s just trying to remove himself from the discussion because he perceives it as difficult and he doesn’t want to discuss it. That’s his job, to represent all of his constituents.”
“Sometimes,” she added, “you are going to have to have some conversations that might be uncomfortable for you.”
Stay said if Southern Utahns would like to send a blue note to capital hill telling their legislators to hear SB100, they can either drop them off at Sen. Urquhart’s office in St. George, 643 E. 1100 South, or they can mail them directly to the State Capitol at:
320 State Capitol
PO Box 145115
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
