By ERIKA POTTER
SALT LAKE CITY — A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints read a statement supporting the anti-discrimination employment and housing laws in Tuesday’s Salt Lake City Council meeting.
The laws prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing and employment matters.
“The church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage,” said Michael Otterson, church director of public affairs. “The issue before you tonight is the right of people to have a roof over their heads and the right to work without being discriminated against.”
In drafting this law, the council has granted common-sense rights to everyone while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organization in terms of hiring those or providing housing for their university students that preserve religious requirements, he said.
“I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially hen we disagree,” Otterson said.
Members of the community on both sides of the issue gathered at the council meeting to express their opinions on the legislation.
“It’s a great moment in our city’s history where people who can have some strong differences can learn to respect and even love each other,” said Jim Debakis, who helped found the Pride Center and Equality Utah.
Those against the legislation also expressed opinions.
“The issue is a matter of sexual conduct, not a matter of civil rights,” said Jonas Bilbo, a resident of Salt Lake City. “We’re not talking about race or religion. It’s an entirely different issue that enforces acceptance upon their behavior.”
The council vote was unanimous in favor of the ordinance.
Feeds 
I recognize the fair-minded reasoning behind an endorsement for supposed "equal treatment" under the law. I certainly can't predict the future outcome of such actions. But I wonder if in all the fanfare anybody besides me and Jonas Bilbo will stop and think for two seconds about some of the possible implications.
"In drafting this law, the council has granted common-sense rights to everyone while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organization in terms of hiring those or providing housing for their university students that preserve religious requirements, he said."
Implication: religious organizations will be able to hire and house whom they want -- but nobody else will.
Implication: religious organizations deserve the freedom to express their beliefs by policy, but other business entities do not.
Implication: while this may set a helpful precedent for Church schools, it also may very well help to push religion further out of public life and into a small, impotent corner represented only by organized churches.
But, hey, as the mayor of Buenos Aires put it, "We have to live with and accept this reality: the world is moving in this [secularizing] direction." (Implication: 'we are the world'; we're the ones who are now moving in this direction.)
What's remarkable is that Salt Lake City now provides stronger protection for LGBT individuals than currently exists under Title VII, the federal employment nondiscrimination statute--due, in part, to the Church's support.
Bravo!
I think its sad that this is even considered a big deal. Why hasn't a law like this been passed before now?
Agreed. This should have happened years ago. But regardless, I am glad to see it happen now.