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SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City School District is poised to become the first district in the state to ban discrimination over sexual orientation.
The school board discussed changes to the current policy Tuesday night.
The new policy, if adopted, would ban discrimination, harassment and retaliation during investigations into cases.
Will Carlson, a prosecutor for Salt Lake City and a candidate for school board, says the measure doesn't go far enough because it does not approach transgender issues.
"They'd cover gay kids, but it wouldn't cover transgender children or teachers," Carlson says. "As a result, it leaves half of the community that they're trying to protect out."
Incumbent Doug Nelson said he agreed with Carlson, that ideally gender identity should make it into the policy.
"Of course I would love gender identity added to that policy," Nelson said. "I'm not sure the political reality of the current situation, though, will allow that to happen."
Nelson wasn't ready to make any predictions whether the changes to the policy, as they stand now, would pass. He suspected it may come down to a 4-3 decision in a clearly divided board.
"Times have changed and the membership of the board has changed, so I think there's at least a reasonable possibility of adding sexual orientation to the list of protected classes," Nelson said. "I am fine making the progress we can get now."
The board plans to discuss the measure again on Nov. 2.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
