In Brief

Staff Reports

Utahns favor legal protection statewide for LGBTQ individuals when it comes to employment and housing

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- A recent poll commissioned by Equality Utah — a Salt Lake-based civil rights organization focusing on equal rights and protections for LGBT Utahns and their families — found that a majority of those polled favored a statewide nondiscrimination law that would make it illegal for someone to be fired from a job solely because they are LGBT. Additionally, Those same persons polled also favored a Utah-wide law that would make it illegal for someone to be evicted from housing solely because they are LGBT.

There was a caveat as those polled also indicated that they did not support same-sex marriage equality nor did they approve of adoption rights for same-sex couples.

The poll was conducted by the Salt Lake City based public opinion and market research firm Dan Jones and Associates. The survey polled 801 households across the state and contained a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. According to the firm, the poll found that nearly 80 percent of respondents believed such statewide nondiscrimination laws already existed in Utah.

Trent Kaufman, researcher and executive vice president of the Cicero Group, parent company of Dan Jones and Associates said, "Utahns showed some interest in antidiscrimination laws in some areas and not in other areas. The data suggests the marriage or adoption issues relate to the family, while the other (data) aren't as related to family," he said. "These findings held true all across the state with respondents representing every county."

The poll also revealed that 54 percent of respondents believe that being gay is probably or definitely a choice.

"Utahns at their core are non-discriminatory people," said Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah. "We don't believe that discrimination is OK regardless of the reason that it's being practiced. As understanding about the broad support of these protections and also understanding about the implications of discrimination on our communities continues to grow, it enhances our opportunity to achieve statewide passage for these important protections," Balken said.

"Making inroads toward equality will require more time and continued education, she said, so that "people are able to see people who are gay or transgendered at their full human selves, not as a category or preference. When we can speak about the values that we share, and what we see as a state as fair-minded, common sense protections based on our shared values, then we have the opportunity to make really good policy," she said. "Today in the state of Utah, I can say to you, 'I'm firing you because you're straight. I don't think you represent my company well,' or 'I'm evicting you because you're not transgender.' That's not a value set that Utahns hold." 

Gay rights in Utah Poll results

Of those polled:

• 73% somewhat or strongly favor a statewide nondiscrimination law in employment
• 73% somewhat or strongly favor a statewide nondiscrimination law in housing

[ More than 80% of respondents believed such laws already existed in Utah. ]

• 55% somewhat or strongly oppose gay or transgender couples becoming foster parents
• 52% oppose gay or transgender couples adopting children to whom they have no relationship
• 64% somewhat or strongly favor allowing legally recognized forms of partnerships, short of marriage
• 5% somewhat or strongly oppose allowing gay and transgender couples to marry in Utah
• 57% somewhat or strongly oppose Utah recognizing marriages of gay and transgender couples who move here
• 54% believe that being gay is probably or definitely a choice

Information: Equality Utah

Duluth, Minnesota Passes Resolution Against State Constitutional Amendment That Would Ban Same-Sex Marriage

DULUTH, MINNESOTA -- In passing a resolution Monday, Duluth became the first city in Minnesota to take a stand against the proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, which is slated to appear on the ballot for a statewide referendum vote in November 2012.

The Duluth City Council passed the resolution Monday in a 6-2 vote, with one city council member absent, having left prior to the vote's roll call. According to the local paper, the Duluth News Tribune, several city councilors earlier were critical of the council taking up the matter, suggesting it was not the proper venue, but they remained silent at Monday’s meeting.

“Equality concerns me. It will always concern me,” said Councilor Jeff Anderson, who co-sponsored the resolution. “This directly affects and impacts people in the city of Duluth.”

“This is about maintaining inclusive communities that will help us grow and thrive,” he said, suggesting that Duluth’s future will be brighter if people view it as a welcoming city.

After the meeting, Councilor Jim Stauber explained his opposition to the resolution.
“The good citizens of the state of Minnesota will all get a chance to vote on this. It’s a pretty simple issue, and people should be allowed to vote. I don’t think city council is the place to convince people whether to support this amendment or not. We’re here to conduct city business.”
On a personal level, Stauber indicated he is supportive of the amendment.
“I, for one, will not support any definition of marriage other than as a union between a man and woman,” he said.
But he said he will leave individuals to decide the issue for themselves.
“People shouldn’t be badgered by this council to vote one way or another,” Stauber said.
But speakers at the meeting all voiced support for the council taking a position on the issue.
Lana Youngblom said her son is gay and in a committed relationship. She urged the council to support the resolution, saying: “It shows Duluth is a welcoming, inclusive community.”
Youngblom said the state is home to more than 100,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual people. “What better way is there to let them know they are welcome here and supported,” she said.
Gary Boelhower said the city has an important role to play with an important symbolic action.
“The very foundation of our society is at stake,” he said. “This amendment would put discrimination into the constitution of our state.”
Council President Sharla Gardner, who co-sponsored the resolution, contended that the city shouldn’t remain silent on important issues.
“I believe the role of city government is to be the front line of democracy,” she said. ~ The Duluth News Tribune