Gay rights battle heads to Capitol

The fight for gay rights is getting civil.

Utah activists who took to the streets following California's ban on same-sex marriage say they have refocused their efforts, turning anger and protests into hope and legislation on Capitol Hill.

"That was a very emotional struggle, so it was a very emotional response," said Doug Jennings, the Utah Pride Center's special events coordinator. "Right now ... it's time for us to turn our focus on what is tangible."

At the center of the Utah movement is a body of proposed legislation known as the Common Ground Initiative. The set of six bundled measures addresses medical care, fair housing, employment, wrongful-death and domestic-partnership rights for same-sex couples.

"Everyone has an opinion on marriage, but we need to set aside this marriage dialogue for a while and look at basic protections," said Will Carlson, public policy manager for Equality Utah, the group spearheading the initiative. "People are really looking for something to come together on instead of being divided."

A legislative committee has already approved the proposal to expand wrongful-death benefits, but the initiative still faces major hurdles in the Republican-dominated congress.

Winning over the middle is the key to securing those rights nationwide, said California activist Sean Hetherington.

The battle plan is part politics and part public relations.

"Unfortunately, because of the way the movement started — underground and without much care because, when Prop. 8 passed, people were (angry) — maybe things weren't so well-thought out," Hetherington said. "In order for us to succeed any further, we have to motivate the moderates. ... I think we can win them back by going out in the community and being vocal, but being helpful."

Hetherington and his partner have helped organize Wednesday's national "Day Without a Gay" campaign, which encourages people to skip work if they are able and spend the day volunteering. People who cannot afford to miss work are being asked to spend their lunch hours writing letters to their legislators.

The campaign is a more productive version of a nationwide one-day boycott being promoted by bloggers, Hetherington said.

"If we can keep our cool and not throw our arms up in a gay panic, we'll succeed," he said.

A number of events have been planned around Utah for Wednesday's campaign.