Many LGBT people feel like Utah is one of the most oppressive states when it comes to gay rights because it’s the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), usually referred to as the Mormons. However, while they do call Salt Lake City their home, not everyone in the state is a part of the Mormon religion. In fact, many are not, and there are a number of ways in which Utah is actually very welcoming to LGBT people.
Same-Sex Marriage
Many people would have thought that Utah would go down as one of the last holdouts against same-sex marriage, but it was actually made legal in the state in late 2014 after the ban was ruled unconstitutional by the Tenth Circuit. This was one of the first appeals to go to the US Supreme Court, but they declined to hear the case. The state’s laws against sodomy, however, were on the books until 2003. In fact, these laws are technically still in effect today because they have never been removed from the constitution.
Adoption
Prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2014, LGBT couples living together could not adopt children. Only legally married couples or single people living alone could adopt – a law stated that a single person who was cohabitating with another outside of a valid marriage was not eligible. Fortunately, this is no longer an issue. Finding the right adoption agency, though, can be tricky. Fortunately, there are a number of gay and lesbian real estate experts who can help steer you in the right direction.
Antidiscrimination Laws
Some LGBT people were surprised when the LDS church supported a bill that banned discrimination based on orientation and gender identity in housing and employment. However, the law does include religious organization exemptions, any school or hospital affiliated with a religious group, and the Boy Scouts of America. While some see this as a win, others see the religious exemption clause as dangerous and have worked (so far unsuccessfully) to pass a protection bill without any restrictions.
A State of Contradictions
As you can see, due to its relationship with the LDS church, Utah is something of a state of contradictions. The church has rallied against certain LGBT freedoms, yet it also has supported a number of bills that prohibit discrimination against everyone. If you’re thinking about living in Utah, remember that the state is also very different in places. Salt Lake City isn’t representative of many of the smaller towns, some of which are more liberal, some more conservative.