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AMERICAN FORK -- American Fork is the latest Utah city to consider non-discrimination ordinances, based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The proposal is on the agenda for next week.
Salt Lake City became the first city in Utah to make it illegal to discriminate in both housing and employment, based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Salt Lake passed those first non-discrimination ordinances at the beginning of 2010. 11 other cities and counties quickly followed suit,
American Fork is the first city in Utah County to consider it. Next week, in the heart of one of the most conservative areas in the nation, the City Council will consider similar non-discrimination ordinances. Based on a complaint from an American Fork resident more than a year ago, at least two members of the City Council recognize what they call a larger issue.
"I think this is an important issue of human rights," said Heidi Rodeback, a City Council member. "We have a gay population in American Fork. And the problem of discrimination is real."
- 1) Unlawful discrimination in housing practices based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
2) Unlawful discriminatory employment practices based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Some in American Fork have reservations about the ordinances, and debate is expected to be lively at a public hearing next Tuesday. City offices are being hit with dozens of emails from people who are worried about the proposals.
The conservative Sutherland Institute sent an email to American Fork residents alerting people about what it calls the unintended consequences of such an ordinance.
Bill Duncan Sutherland's director of the Center for Family and Society, says there are Constitutional questions about an employer or landlord's right to choose with whom they associate. He says this isn't race, or religion American Fork is dealing with here.
"The situation is slightly different because there are long-standing religious teachings about sexual morality that potentially run afoul of an ordinance like this," Duncan said.
But at Equality Utah's offices, Director Brandi Balken says this is about human rights.
Because Utah county is renowned for being a conservative part of our state, I think this conversation is critically important," Balken said. "Yet it's not surprising. Because these are values the majority of Utahns hold."
In fact, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints supported Salt Lake City's ordinances, which are similar, calling them 'fair and reasonable.'
Email: rpiatt@ksl.com
