Written by Michael Flynn
Republican leaders in the Utah State Legislature have announced their intention to shelf an anti-discrimination bill sponsored by Sen. Steve Urquhart of St. George. The bill would alter provisions of the Utah Antidiscrimination Act and the Utah Fair Housing Act, protecting Utahns from housing and job discrimination that is based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
The bill is reportedly being shelved due to concerns that debate over the issue may bleed into Utah’s current battle to overturn last month’s federal court ruling, which struck down an amendment to the Utah State Constitution prohibiting gay marriage and civil unions within the state of Utah.
“The leadership is concerned that these issues would take up too much time and too much energy,” Urquhart said. “I think they would take up a lot of time and energy because they are important to the people of the state.”
“Pro or con, people have very strong opinions,” he added. “These issues matter to them.”
Urquhart said he doesn’t think his anti-discrimination bill should have any bearing on the outcome of the state’s pending Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage in the state of Utah.
“I don’t see how these things are equivalent,” he said. “I think they are entirely separate.”
The bill has significance for the economy of Southern Utah. For years, business leaders in Washington County have talked about the importance of attracting computer and technology companies to St. George from outside of the state.
“The companies that we want to attract,” Urquhart said, “those that we want to expand into Utah – they want to make sure that there is an environment where all of their employees can feel safe, can feel respected.”
“Housing and employment are sacred,” he added. “We have LGBT individuals who are being discriminated against in employment and housing, and that should stop.”
Utah House Speaker Becky Lockhart and Senate President Wayne Niederhauser did not respond to requests for comment on this issue.
