Leaders plead for equality

On a day honoring one of the nation's greatest civil rights leaders, local gay rights activists pleaded for equality of their own Monday.

"This is not a gay agenda," said the Rev. Russell Baker of the Bountiful Community Church. Baker was one of a few dozen leaders who packed the dais of the White Memorial Chapel at the Capitol on Monday. "This is about human rights."

Monday, as many around the state honored the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gay rights leaders called on Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaders and Utah's legislators to support a body of legislation aimed at securing basic civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Utahns.

Armed with statements from LDS leaders saying the church is "not anti-gay," Equality Utah, an LGBT advocacy group, has been the driving force behind the Common Ground Initiative. The initiative looks to address fair housing and employment, wrongful death and domestic partnership rights for gay and transgender Utahns.

Hoping to add to their ammunition, Equality Utah leaders released the results of a statewide poll that showed a majority of Utahns support basic protections for the LGBT community. According to the poll of 600 voters, 61.7 percent believed it should be illegal to fire someone because they are gay or transgender. More than 72 percent believed state employees should be provided with optional health care for a spouse, partner or another adult designee.

"There is much more common ground where we can find peace and understanding than there is battlefield for neighbors to squabble over," said Stephanie Pappas, chair of Equality Utah's Board of Directors.