Gay-rights group planning '09 drives

Equality Utah, fresh off a series of Capitol Hill defeats, on Wednesday rolled out a post-Legislature agenda for the ongoing battle over gay rights.

Beginning with 2009 municipal elections, the long-term plan will include phone banks, coalition building and educational programs, officials said.

"This is not a one-time shot," Equality Utah board chairwoman Stephanie Pappas said during a meeting at the Salt Lake County Building. "This is a plan for the long haul."

Mike Thompson, Equality Utah's executive director, said the advocacy group would continue to focus on "basic" rights for the gay community — not marriage or civil unions.

The advocacy group already has started targeting candidates to support for 2009, Thompson said, pointing to Lisa Allcott, an Avenues activist who has announced her candidacy for the Salt Lake City Council.

Beyond that, Equality Utah plans to meet with city councils around the state in an effort to have fair workplace and other gay-rights laws implemented at the local level.

Similar efforts at the state level failed this year, despite high hopes for some.

Thompson said he expected bills sponsored by Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake, and Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake, to reach the floors of the House and the Senate. In each case, however, the bills never made it out of committee.

To counter that, Thompson said, Equality Utah would target constituents in districts with legislators who voted down the bills.

Monthly phone banks could begin as early as April. The group also plans to host town hall meetings in those districts to educate people about the initiative.

On a more basic level, Equality Utah officials urged supporters to make connections with people in the community and talk to their friends and colleagues about gay rights.

"At some point, these efforts are going to have an impact," Thompson said. "We're a united voice. … We're not going to be quiet any more."

E-mail: afalk@desnews.com