Gay Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Passes In Salt Lake City With LDS Backing

City Council in Salt Lake City, Utah yesterday unanimously passed ordinances barring discrimination in housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Full text of ordinances.) Yesterday's Salt Lake Tribune reports that passage came after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints announced its support for the ordinances. That support developed out of two months of secret meetings between mid-level LDS leaders and leaders of the gay community in Utah. Negotiations with Utah Pride and Equality Utah began after "kiss in" protests on the Church-owned Main Street Plaza in July over LDS treatment of a gay couple seen kissing on the Plaza. (See prior posting.) The agreement on support is seen as an attempt by the LDS Church to lessen some of the tensions that stemmed from strong Church support for California's Proposition 8. (See prior posting.) At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's Public Affairs, presented the Church's position (full text of remarks), saying in part: " The Church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage." [Thanks to Sheldon Gilbert for the lead.]