West Valley City Moves Toward Anti-Bias Draft
by Jennifer Sanchez
Salt Lake Tribune
West Valley City The City Council agreed Tuesday to allow city officials to come up with a draft ordinance to protect gay and transgender people from housing and employment discrimination.
Mayor Mike Winder and most council members seemed to support the measure during their 30-minute discussion at the council study meeting. Councilman Russ Brooks was the only member not at the meeting.
At least three people attended the meeting for the council discussion, but public comment is not allowed at study meetings.
Winder, a Mormon Republican who supports the measure, said he was glad the council was being proactive about the issue.
Some council members said the issue of an anti-discrimination ordinance needs to be addressed using federal and state guidelines.
“It’s unfortunate we have to keep spelling out nondiscrimination issues,” said Councilman Steve Vincent. “It’s sad we have to do this.”
Other council members agreed, but acknowledged it has to be done.
“It’s the wise thing to do,” Councilman Donald Christensen said.
After Salt Lake City adopted in late 2009 its two ordinances – one bars discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in housing and the other bans it in employment – Salt Lake County passed similar statutes. Park City, Summit County and Taylorsville are considering such ordinances.
Wayne Pyle, West Valley city manager, said city officials will study the Salt Lake City ordinances that are 16 pages each and draft their own proposed ordinances for the council.
The council will discuss the proposed ordinances at another study meeting, and then, if the council favors them, the ordinances would be the subject of a public hearing, Pyle said.
The idea for the ordinance was discussed at the city’s strategic planning meeting in January.
Wayne said the idea to provide health insurance benefits to gay and transgender city employees was not part of the proposals and a completely different topic.
After the meeting, John Bowers, a West Valley City resident, showed up at the regular council meeting because he thought there was a public hearing. Still, he addressed the council during regular public comment. He said he opposes the idea of such ordinances because it would force employers and landlords to compromise their morals, if they don’t agree with homosexuality.
“We are destroying people’s fundamental rights,” he said.