LGBT Protections Expected in Ut County

Following the recent passage of two nondiscrimination ordinances in Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County council is expected to pass two similar laws following debates on Tuesday.

The new provisions would protect individuals from being fired or being turned away from housing on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Democratic council chairman Joe Hatch (pictured) says the ordinance will likely pass unanimously. Even Republican council members have been voicing their support.

"I don't have any problem with an ordinance that protects people from discrimination in work or in housing just because they happen to have a particular, you know, way of life," said Republican council member David Wilde, reports KCPW. "I mean, I think that's probably going a little too far to say, 'Gee, I think that person is gay, so gee I'm not going to even let them have a job or even let them rent from me.'"

The county already has an ordinance that protects its government employees from employment discrimination, but the new provision would extend that to the 170,000 residents living in unincorporated Salt Lake County.

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Park City, Utah, is also considering antidiscrimination ordinances, which the city council is expected to adopt Thursday.