Utah lawmakers, Mormon church leaders discuss issues but not gay rights

SALT LAKE CITY — Equal rights for gay and lesbian Utahns was not on the agenda in meetings between GOP and Democratic lawmakers and leaders of the LDS Church.

Republican House and Senate leaders met with the Special Affairs Committee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a Tuesday luncheon.

Democratic leaders from both legislative bodies met with the same committee a week ago. Both meetings are traditional get-togethers to keep open political channels as a general legislative session approaches.

House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, said there was no "formal" discussion on the gay rights issue.

Some lawmakers want the 2010 Legislature, which convenes next Monday, to adopt a statewide anti-discrimination law modeled after a Salt Lake City ordinance passed late last year. That ordinance, endorsed by the LDS Church, outlines anti-discrimination rules for gays and lesbians in housing and employment.

Clark said as of now there is no decision by GOP leaders on whether to back a similar law in the Legislature.

Rep. Chris Johnson, D-Salt Lake, says she will introduce such a bill soon, and hopes, after the support found in Salt Lake City from LDS leaders, her law may pass.

Most of the 104 part-time lawmakers are members of the LDS Church. And while church leaders rarely take public stands on political matters, when they do it enhances such issues' chances of passage in the Legislature.

For example, in the 2009 session church leaders did not object to reworking state liquor law to do away with private club memberships, in effect allowing liquor by the drink in properly licensed restaurants and bars. The law passed with wide legislative support.

Some conservative lawmakers say the state should not adopt a Salt-Lake-like law on housing and employment for homosexuals, but should let each individual local government decide that for itself.

Clark and House Democratic leaders told the Deseret News that in their separate meetings church leaders presented slide shows on how the church meets humanitarian needs, both in Utah and elsewhere, and gave an update on the $1.5 billion City Creek redevelopment project in downtown Salt Lake City.

e-mail: bbjr@desnews.com