Utah Gay Rights Truce Growing Shaky

A carefully crafted compromise to withhold pressure for statewide gay rights legislation in order to prevent challenges to new local laws appears increasingly fragile in Utah.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports on the agreement and what is threatening it:

"Last week, Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, and Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, announced a 'compromise' aimed at keeping lawmakers from challenging ordinances in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County that protect gay and transgender residents from housing and workplace discrimination.

"Johnson plans to drop a statewide anti-discrimination bill for the session and instead launch a yearlong study of such statutes in Utah and out. If Johnson's bill, HB128, garners approval, a legislative committee would decide whether to recommend action on anti-discrimination in 2011.

"But some Republicans still are weighing whether to push bills that could break the truce. And they might ask for modifications to the study bill, which is cosponsored by Stephenson, that could prove to be deal breakers."

Despite the risks, Johnson said she is moving forward with her part of the deal, until she is notified otherwise, according to the Tribune.