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Nondiscrimination, religious liberty bills not sure bets in Utah Senate

Nondiscrimination, religious liberty bills not sure bets in Utah Senate

(Courtesy of le.utah.gov)


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SALT LAKE CITY — There’s hesitation in the senate.

“Some people have the concern that we should listen a little longer before we hear what the Supreme Court says,” said state Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Beaver.

Majority Leader Okerlund was referring to the Sixth Circuit Appellate Court’s same-sex marriage case now before the Justices. Okerlund wonders if their decision will impact bills that could move through the Utah Legislature this year.

On Tuesday, three apostles from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called upon local, state and federal governments to approve laws that would guarantee nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as laws that would protect liberties of religious groups that claim homosexuality is against their teachings.

Okerlund wants a single bill, or at least concurrent bills, that would guarantee protections for both camps.

“I think there would be less suspicion, and more likelihood that both sides could agree, instead of pointing fingers at one another, saying, “Well, yours should or yours shouldn’t [advance],” Okerlund said.

Okerlund thinks other lawmakers will be emboldened by the statement of LDS Church leaders to at least pass bills out of committees this year.

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Peter Samore

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