Utah Legislature Passes Landmark Anti-discrimination Bill Providing Protections For Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
On March 12, 2015 the Utah Legislature passed a landmark discrimination bill extending protections in Utah's Antidiscrimination Act of 1965 to sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill has been recognized across the United States as a progressive step toward balancing the competing interests of the LGBT community with religious expression. The bill amends the Utah Antidiscrimination Act of 1965 and Utah's Fair Housing Act to provide protections to the LGBT community. While the bill sidestepped the issue of whether private business owners, based on truly held religious beliefs, may refuse services to to homosexuals, it provides clear protections for employees against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill modified Utah Code Ann. Section 34A-5-106 to prohibit discrimination in the terms, privileges and conditions of employment, or the hiring, promotion, demotion or termination of an employee because of ...