Gay rights activists issue a call for equality for all

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 Rev. Russell Baker, of the Bountiful Community Church of Christ. Baker was one of a few dozen leaders who packed the dais of the White Memorial Chapel on Capitol Hill 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 The 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.

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.

The bills will likely face fierce scrutiny from lawmakers when the Legislature convenes next week, but the senate's highest-ranking Republican said he is willing to consider them.

"I think we should look at them," Senate President Michael Waddoups said, adding that he opposes giving "rights or privileges to someone that's in a situation that's not approved by state statute."

Waddoups and other legislators will be lobbied heavily for the passage of those bills, said Equality Utah's public policy manager Will Carlson.

Activists will use phone banks and video testimonials to put a face on LGBT discrimination in Utah, he said.

Last week, a handful of people gathered at a Salt Lake coffee shop to share those stories. There was a man who has seen his weekly hours cut, from 55 down to 10, because he is gay. There was a barista who is afraid to quit her job because she is afraid she cannot get another.

There was Jeffrey Kroon, who never got to say goodbye.

"It didn't matter that I was his roommate, that I'd been keeping him alive for three and a half years," Kroon said. "I was not allowed to visit him. I never got to see him before he died."

Email: afalk@desnews.com