SALT LAKE CITY — A new poll finds that 60 percent of Utahns say the state should adopt legal protections against discrimination of LGBT people in housing and the workplace.
The Salt Lake Tribune poll comes just weeks after a highly publicized federal court decision that overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The Salt Lake County Council and the City Council passed legislation in 2010 outlawing workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Another 16 municipalities in the state have done so, as well, according to the Tribune.
But about 35 percent of the survey respondents said Utah doesn’t need statewide protections for LGBT people, while another 6 percent weren’t sure.
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The campaign for statewide LGBT protections cleared a Utah Senate committee last year — the most progress it’s made in five years.
Sponsor Sen. Steve Urquhart (R-St. George), said it’s unclear how the recent marriage ruling could affect his proposal to amend state law to include LGBT people.
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His bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s non-discrimination laws affecting housing and employment.
Last week, another Salt Lake Tribune poll found that Utah residents are now evenly split on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to get state-issued marriage licenses — 48 percent in favor, and 48 percent opposed.
