Additionally, those same persons polled also favored a Utah-wide law that would make it illegal for someone to be evicted from housing solely because they are LGBT.

There was a caveat as those polled also indicated that they did not support same-sex marriage equality nor did they approve of adoption rights for same-sex couples.

The poll was conducted by the Salt Lake City based public opinion and market research firm Dan Jones and Associates. The survey polled 801 households across the state and contained a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. According to the firm, the poll found that nearly 80 percent of respondents believed such statewide nondiscrimination laws already existed in Utah.

Trent Kaufman, researcher and executive vice president of the Cicero Group, parent company of Dan Jones and Associates said, "Utahns showed some interest in anti-discrimination laws in some areas and not in other areas. The data suggests the marriage or adoption issues relate to the family, while the other (data) aren't as related to family," he said.

"These findings held true all across the state with respondents representing every county," he added.

The poll also revealed that 54 percent of respondents believe that being gay is probably or definitely a choice.

"Utahns at their core are non-discriminatory people," said Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah.

"We don't believe that discrimination is OK regardless of the reason that it's being practiced. As understanding about the broad support of these protections and also understanding about the implications of discrimination on our communities continues to grow, it enhances our opportunity to achieve statewide passage for these important protections," Balken said.

"Making inroads toward equality will require more time and continued education," Balken said.

"People are able to see people who are gay or transgendered at their full human selves, not as a category or preference. When we can speak about the values that we share, and what we see as a state as fair-minded, common sense protections based on our shared values, then we have the opportunity to make really good policy," she said.

"Today in the state of Utah, I can say to you, 'I'm firing you because you're straight. I don't think you represent my company well,' or 'I'm evicting you because you're not transgender.' That's not a value set that Utahns hold."

Gay rights in Utah Poll results:

Of those polled:

• 73% somewhat or strongly favor a statewide nondiscrimination law in employment;
• 73% somewhat or strongly favor a statewide nondiscrimination law in housing (More than 80% of respondents believed such laws already existed in Utah.);
• 55% somewhat or strongly oppose gay or transgender couples becoming foster parents;
• 52% oppose gay or transgender couples adopting children to whom they have no relationship;
• 64% somewhat or strongly favor allowing legally recognized forms of partnerships, short of marriage;
• 5% somewhat or strongly oppose allowing gay and transgender couples to marry in Utah;
• 57% somewhat or strongly oppose Utah recognizing marriages of gay and transgender couples who move here;
• 54% believe that being gay is probably or definitely a choice.

Willowcreek Middle School, Lehi, UT.

The incident began last week when students in a Willowcreek Middle School class were assigned to create an advertisement about themselves to hang on the classroom wall.

One 14-year-old student's ad was about him being gay.

The teacher asked the student if he wanted his ad put up on the wall, and he responded yes.

But school officials later worried that the student might be a potential target for bullying because of negative comments overheard in the hallway, according to Alpine School District spokeswoman Rhonda Bromley.

“If there is the potential for a bullying or a harassment situation, it’s the responsibility of the school to step in and to make sure the student is safe,” she said.

The assistant principal decided it was important to let the boy's parents know about their concerns over bullying, and after the student “reluctantly” agreed to let school officials contact his parents, they informed the boy's parents that their son is gay. At the boy’s request, he was not present when his parents were told.

Valerie Larabee, director of the Utah Pride Center, said she was "disturbed" by the incident.

"It’s important to me that school officials deal with bullying issues and don’t cause another problem for the child by outing him to his parents," she said. "That conversation can be really devastating to young people when their family rejects them. Once you’ve uttered the words, ‘I’m gay,’ your home life can change forever."

“The administrator did exactly the right thing,” said Bromley, defending the school's action. “We are not going to back down. We take bullying very, very seriously.”

The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network urged caution in these situations.

“Schools should not out LGBT students without their consent,” said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard. “Outing a student not only violates their right to privacy, but also could compromise their safety. Parents can be notified of their child being bullied at school, but without disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

A Facebook page was launched in support of the student, but Bromley said some of the information on the page was inaccurate, including the claim that the district suspended the student. She said his parents chose to keep him home from school this week.

A spokesperson for Equality Utah said their organization had received a complaint from a female high school student in Sevier County, Utah, and advised her to contact her the ACLU for assistance.

In a letter dated Monday, ACLU of Utah's Interim Legal Director Joseph Cohn wrote:

Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah Foundation, Inc. (“ACLU”) received information that a student was asked to leave her school’s homecoming dance because she was there with a female date.

I am writing to you now because any rule, policy, or practice that forbids students from attending school dances with same-sex dates is unconstitutional, and must cease or be rescinded immediately. It is my sincere hope that by addressing this issue now, we will be able to avoid costly litigation should we learn of any future instances of LGBT students being turned away from school functions.

It is in this spirit of cooperation that I urge you to contact each of the school principals in your district to inform them that policies of LGBT exclusion must be abandoned immediately.

Cohn's letter goes on to point out that two federal court cases have evaluated the constitutionality of a public school’s ban on same-sex couples at prom.

In the first case, Fricke v. Lynch in 1980, the school's principal testified that the policy was based on concern for possible disruption and violence at the prom in reaction to the participation of a gay couple.

The Court ruled that the Constitution required the school to take steps to protect the couple’s free expression rather than to stifle it.

Nearly twenty years later, a public high school in Mississippi cancelled the prom rather than allow a student to bring a same-sex date.

In the highly publicized case that resulted, McMillen v. Itawamba County School District, a federal court in Mississippi ultimately determined that school policy that ban same-sex prom dates violated the right to free expression guaranteed by the First Amendment.

In addition to violating free speech rights, the ACLU maintains a policy prohibiting same-sex couples from attending prom or school dances violates the equal protection provisions of the constitution as well.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that policies by public entities (like public schools) that are based upon animosity or prejudice towards gay people violates a commitment to equal rights guaranteed to all Americans by the Fourteenth Amendment.

"As we have worked closely with school districts across the state to protect the rights of students to form Gay Straight Alliances and exercise free speech, the ACLU of Utah looks forward to working with Utah’s district superintendents and school principals to ensure the constitutional right of all students, regardless of sexual orientation, to attend school proms, dances and other functions," said ACLU Utah, in a statement.

Kevin Kloosterman

Speaking at an interfaith service held at the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, Illinois-based Bishop Kevin Kloosterman told the crowd of around 300, “If you leave here not remembering what I have to say, remember this: I’m sorry."

Kloosterman spoke at the final event of a weekend-long seminar dedicated to exploring gay Mormon issues, titled Circling the Wagons. He said he recently became aware of LGBT issues and his views changed from that of the church — that acting on gay urges violates its moral code — and had a “mighty change of heart.”

“I began to see the emotional wounds and scars that many of you have today,” Kloosterman said, “and I began to ask, ‘Where did you get these wounds?’ And the answer, unfortunately, was in the house of my friends.

The straight members of the church have a lot of repenting to do,” he said.

He clarified that he was speaking only on his own behalf and did not intend to represent the views of the church.

The Salt Lake City Tribune

John Dehlin, a researcher and founder of Mormon Stories and the Open Stories Foundation -- the organizations that hosted the event -- told the Salt Lake City Tribune, “I thought it was highly significant just to have a sitting bishop who cares so much for these issues that he’s willing to fly himself out here and speak publicly.”

Cameron Nelson said he was attacked at his place of employment, that his assailants called him "faggot" and other slurs, and said he believes he was assaulted because of his sexual orientation.

Nelson was on the job at an American Fork hair salon when he said two or three people began beating him up and yelling anti-gay slurs at him.

The 32-year-old was taking out the garbage at the salon near Center Street and 100 North at 12:45 a.m. when the assault began. Nelson said he is gay and that he believes that was why the attackers, whom he did not know, targeted him.

Sgt. Gregg Ludlow of the American Fork Police Department called the remarks made toward Nelson "disgusting" and said the actions of Nelson’s attackers were "quite repugnant."

Salt Lake Tribune

Nelson was treated for a broken nose and minor injuries.

On Aug. 26, Dane Hall, 20, was attacked and brutally beaten outside Club Sound in Salt Lake City after leaving the dance club on "gay night." Hall lost six teeth, suffered a broken jaw in multiple places and a piece of broken bone was shoved into his brain when his attackers "curbed" or "curb stomped" him.

Earlier this year, another gay man, 21-year old Jordan Corona, was also attacked from behind by several assailants after leaving Club Sound on "gay night." Corona was treated for a concussion as a result of the attack, he said.

In the third recent assault, a group of men broke into a gay man’s Salt Lake City apartment and beat up his boyfriend.

It is the second attack on a gay man this year outside the same club.

Dane Hall, an openly gay man, lost six teeth and his jawbone was broken in three places as a result of the attack, which left him hospitalized for four days.

Hall said he left Club Sound, which is gay-themed on Friday nights, and crossed the street to the corner of 600 West and 200 South in Salt Lake City, when four men approached him and began yelling gay slurs. He was then punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. One of the assailants grabbed his shirt and began punching him in the face, he said.

After Hall fell to the ground again, the attacker grabbed him, placed his open mouth over the street curb and stomped on the back of head, knocking out six teeth in a move commonly referred to as ‘curb checking,’ which can result in death in many cases. Two other assailants kicked him repeatedly in the stomach, Hall said. The attackers called him a ‘fag’ and took his identification and $40, he said.

“I could have died. And a piece of bone from my jaw was jammed into my brain, to make things worse,” Hall said in email correspondence because his jaw is still wired shut after the attack.

QSaltLake

Hall said his medical bills could reach $30,000 or more -- he is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of his assialants.

Two accounts have also been set up in Hall's name to help pay for medical treatment, one at Wells Fargo Bank and one at Zions Bank, both under Dane Hall. Part of the proceeds from Club Sound on Friday will also be going to help Hall.

QSaltLake reports that the attack comes just months after a similar attack in April outside of the same club of another gay man.

On April 23, Jordan Corona, 21, left Club Sound and was attacked from behind by several assailants. Corona was treated for a concussion as a result of the attack, he said.

So far, no arrests have been made in either attack.

Jim Dabakis

The Utah Democratic Party on Saturday voted in favor of electing as its new chairman an art dealer who is believed to be the first openly gay leader of a political party in the state.

Jim Dabakis, co-founder of Equality Utah and the Utah Pride Center, was elected to lead Utah’s Democratic Party, making him the first openly gay head of a major party in Utah.

The convention, held on Saturday in Salt Lake City, attracted more than 1,000 people. Dabakis handily beat his opponent for the top office, Robert Comstock, with a 528 to 71 vote. He will replace outgoing state chairman Wayne Holland Jr.

Dabakis said he wanted to focus on making the party inclusive to all races, genders, sexual orientations and religions. He called Mormons in Utah a “tremendous resource,” and invited them to join the Democratic Party for solutions to everyday problems and an alternative to the old-style of governance that is present in Utah.

“When I said all people, I meant all people,” Dabakis said. “I want to speak directly to the LDS people in our state. We want your spirit and we want to earn your votes.”

QSaltLake

Dabakis said his sexual orientation was common knowledge, but came up during the nomination process.

"The whole gay thing just simply did not surface as an issue," he told the Salt Lake Tribune. "People are broad-minded in Utah, and they want to know if you can do the job or not."

DESERET NEWS

Roseanne Barr, a Salt Lake City native, served as grand marshal of this year's parade

The party atmosphere Sunday essentially turned the parade route into a giant block party.

And aside from the handful of protesters holding anti-gay signs on one street corner, the two-hour parade was filled with cheering, dancing and people wearing just about anything and everything — and sometimes next to nothing. [...]

Drag queens marched along city streets in high heels, rode bicycles and waved from the back of trucks. The Dykes on Bikes motorcycle club roared along the parade route. Men in Speedos and women in bikinis danced to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

And there were lots and lots of rainbow flags — including one that stretched an entire city block.

"We've been consistently breaking records this entire festival," said Marina Gomberg, spokeswoman for the Utah Pride Center.

This year’s 100-entry event — now ranked among the top two parades in the state in terms of size — seemed to signal that the LGBT community has become more mainstream and that businesses and politicians recognize its clout.

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon were among the elected officials with parade entries.

"My hope is that as we enjoy the celebration this weekend, we can remember to always respect the diversity we have in our community, in our society and in our world,” said Becker at a Utah Pride Interfaith Coalition service on Saturday.

"Salt Lake City is changing," said one resident. "It's nice to see people accepting each other for who they are."

After a frantic week of work by activists, all 3 holdouts on the city council changed their vote and voted 7-0 to overturn the veto by Mayor Matthew Godfrey and pass the non-discrimination ordinance on Tuesday, which prohibits discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The change came after equality advocates agreed to add language to the laws which made it clear that the ordinances in no way would violate the 1st amendment, religious freedom or free speech.

The public comments were still as entertaining as ever, with members of Dave Mallinak’s Baptist church claiming that no christian could ever respect “god” and support the “gay lifestyle.”

Ogden is now one of 12 municipalities in Utah to pass non-discrimination ordinances.

LaVar Christensen

SALT LAKE CITY -- Three controversial, anti-gay bills brought forward in the Utah Legislative Session this year by State Rep. LaVar Christensen, have been shelved.

The three bills -- which did not garner much support, even among the more extreme conservatives -- would each have reduced rights and recognition for gay and lesbian couples.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

Christensen said the measures are too important to be rushed with only three weeks remaining in the 2011 session. The bills — currently labeled HB270, HB109 and HB182 -- could return next year.

“I would like to have time for that dialogue to continue so there is no confusion, misunderstanding or unintended consequences in the bills as they may ultimately be adopted,” Christensen said in a statement.

The first bill would have voided contracts that went against state policy, prohibiting same-sex couples from making contractual agreements, such as wills and financial arrangements.

The second bill aimed to create state policy on traditional families, saying they are supported by "nature and nature's laws."

The third bill supported religious liberty by exempting anyone from local non-discrimination laws if they do it on religious grounds.

LaVar Christensen

SALT LAKE CITY -- In his third anti-gay bill of the 2011 Utah legislative session, extremist Republican LaVar Christensen has introduced legislation that would exempt anyone from local non-discrimination laws if they do it on religious grounds.

The latest Christensen hate-bill, HB 109, would amend the non-discrimination ordinances passed by 11 Utah cities and municipalities to exempt any person or business who discriminates as long as they say they do it because of their religion.

This is one we’ve been expecting since Christensen’s boss at the Sutherland Institute, Paul Mero, first suggested and started pushing the amendment after Salt Lake City first passed the non-discrimination ordinance in 2009.

This bill would allow any corporation, company or person to fire someone or evict them from their home because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, without any ramifications, as long as when investigated they claim that it was based on their religion.

Of course the bill provides no actual provisions to determine whether or not a person’s religion actually does encourage discrimination.

The bill’s language is so broad, it may actually mean discrimination against sex and possibly even race would be allowed on religious grounds as well.

Christensen’s first bill would strip the ability to create contracts between same-sex couples, and the second is a "family policy" bill which states Utah endorses only marriage between a man and a woman “as god created it.”

LaVar Christensen

SALT LAKE CITY -- Extremist and anti-gay Utah state Representative LaVar Christensen (R) has introduced House Bill 270, called the “Family Policy” bill.

The language includes the State affirming marriage as “ordained by god” between a man and a woman:

"As the public policy of Utah, that a family, consisting of a legally and lawfully married man and woman and their children, is the fundamental unit of society; and requires that publicly funded social programs, government services, laws, and regulations designed to support families be carefully scrutinized to ensure that the promote the family."

And as if we needed any more proof that Christensen and his Sutherland Institute cronies have never actually read the constitution, it also says;

“Marriage and family predate all governments and are supported by and consistent with the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God, the Creator and Supreme Judge of the World.”

Welcome back to the dark ages folks.

I’m still going through the details of the bill, but it appears that it doesn’t actually effect any actual policies, but rather is a typical Utah GOP ‘Message Bill’ designed to garner favor with the most extreme 1% of the population.

Utah already has a constitutional amendment (Amendment 3) which prohibits same sex marriage, civil unions or any governmental recognition similar to marriage in the state.

Last Week, Christensen reintroduced a bill he tried to pass in 2006 which prohibits same-sex couples from making contractual agreements, such as wills and financial arrangements.

LaVar Christensen

Christensen (R-District 48) has reintroduced a bill he tried to pass in 2006 which prohibits same-sex couples from making contractual agreements, such as wills and financial arrangements.

The bill, known in 2006 as HB 304, but now as HB 182, slides in under the generic title “Voiding Transactions Against Public Policy,” and declares "an arrangement, agreement, or transaction that is illegal or against public policy to be void and unenforceable."

In a 2007 report, the Utah Law Review, commenting on HB 304, wrote:

Representative Christensen is the same legislator who introduced the Utah marriage amendment, the basis for this discussion. Christensen explained the purpose of the bill was to reduce to statute a common law practice which has been around for a century.

He said the main purpose of the bill was to outlaw contracts based on drugs and gambling. However, Christensen’s consistent agenda to curb the expansion of rights to unmarried heterosexual and same-sex couples had many worried about Christensen’s intention.

Terry Kogan, Professor of Lawat the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, spoke against the bill during the session. He stated, “[Christensen] may be trying to undermine the ability of same-sex couples to protect their financial and other interests.”

HB 182's language is virtually word-for word from the narrowly-defeated 2006 measure, and if passed, would strip even more rights away from the same-sex couples who depend on contractual arrangements, as Utah denies them any of the inherent protections afforded to heterosexual couples.

Same-sex couples in Utah have so few protections in Utah, and must rely on creating legal contracts to protect loved ones in the event of each other's death.

Christensen's bill would leave surviving same-sex partners at the mercy of their deceased partner’s family.

Chris Buttars

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah State Senator Chris Buttars is proposing a new resolution designed to repeal the recently passed anti-bullying and non-discrimination policies created by the Salt Lake School Board. Buttars calls the policies a “program to bring down America.”

Buttars was recently named as chair of the State Public Education committee, despite his call in 2010 to eliminate the 12th grade as “unnecessary.”

It appears he plans to use his latest position of power as much possible in his war against civil rights. His proposed resolution, SJR 1, strips the State School Board of the power to make changes to their policies unless they are already provided by statute.

In other words, take away the protections for straight and LGBT kids from bullying, and the non-discrimination rules for district employees.

“We’re in big trouble in our public education system. I didn’t realize how much until a month ago when I was asked to chair public education appropriations,” said Buttars, speaking at a meeting for the anti-gay group Eagle Forum. "We met and when we got done we were all so terrified we couldn’t believe it. This was right under our nose."

“By accepting that, there’s no God because he deals in absolutes,” said Buttars. “This is an entire program to bring America down and I want to tell you right now it’s well entrenched in Utah.”

Other speakers at the Eagle Forum called the anti-bullying and non discrimination policies a “Socialist and Communist plot to take over children.”

In 2008, Buttars caught the ire of of Utah's minority community, when he referred to an education bill he apparently took issue with as the "ugly baby" bill, saying, "This baby is black … this is a dark, ugly thing."

PRIDEinUtah is organizing a rally on the opening day of the Utah Legislative session, Jan. 24 at 5:30pm in the rotunda of the Utah State Capitol Building.

VIA PRIDEINUTAH.COM

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Salt Lake City School Board on Tuesday evening passed an LGBT inclusive anti-bullying policy, as well as a mostly inclusive non-discrimination policy after almost two and a half hours of debate.

The non-discrimination policy would grant protections to students, teachers and other staff of the district; the anti-bullying measure protects students. Both measures have been debated on and off for the past 5 months.

As originally presented, the non-discrimination policy would have only included sexual orientation, but no protections for gender identity or gender expression.

Board member Alama Uluave immediately moved to remove sexual orientation from the list of protections, claiming the protection would put gay people on a pedestal above heterosexuals.

But Board Member Doug Nelson disagreed, and said the policy would in no way provide “special” protections for any class of person, but rather creates a level playing field for all. Board member Heather Bennet followed up on that, pointing out that every person has a sexual orientation as well as a gender identity -– the policy protects all students, not just the LGBT kids, she said.

The amendment to strip out sexual orientation was defeated, at which time it was proposed adding gender identity to the policy.

The measure passed by a vote of 4-3, inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, but not gender expression.

The anti-bullying measure provides a comprehensive policy, covering several issues, including weight, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Again, Uluave proposed no less than 4 amendments to the bill, trying in every way possible to strip any mention of LGBT out of the bullying policy, and said that there are no concrete and visible benefits, and asserted that LGBT people aren’t discriminated against. All amendments failed, and the anti-bullying measure passed.