Jane Marquardt, the board chair of Equality Utah, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality group, said it is a "legitimate link" because all the laws deal with 'freedom of choice issues.

Marquardt said while Utah is viewed as a "very Republican state" things are changing for the better. She said as an openly gay person she has seen things change over the last 25 years in the state and believes as more gay people are willing to be open perceptions and myths will decline.

"Coming out of the closet remains to be a very important thing for people to do," she said.

She said two decades ago, talking about domestic-partner benefits would not even have been an option but now Salt Lake City passed a law allowing for city employees to enroll for such benefits. She said there are two gay members of the Legislature.

"I think the whole country will change," she said.

The map can be found online at www.mappingourrights.org.

---

E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com