SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A new poll shows some 69 percent of Utahns think state lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert should push to pass statewide anti-discrimination laws to protect gays.
The Deseret News/KSL TV poll of 408 Utahns comes after the Salt Lake City Council passed ordinances banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints backed the measures, which include exemptions for religious organizations.
In the poll, 69 percent of respondents said the Legislature should follow Salt Lake City's lead. Just 28 percent opposed an anti-discrimination proposal.
The poll was conducted Nov. 19-23 by Dan Jones & Associates. It has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.
Rep. Chris Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, called the poll results "exciting." Johnson, unsuccessfully sponsored anti-discrimination bills in the past and has plans for more during the 2010 Legislature, which convenes Jan. 25.
The polling shows "that now is the time; the fruit is ripe," Johnson said. "We have a great opportunity to create fair housing and fair employment laws within Utah and in doing so not infringe on religious beliefs or marriage. So let's do it this session."
Johnson said she's in talks with some leading GOP legislators to find co-sponsors for her bill, which is patterned after Salt Lake City's ordinances.
But it's unclear if the majority of Republicans in Utah's House and Senate would support such a measure.
Some lawmakers say they expected a bill that would outlaw Salt Lake City's ordinance and prevent other local governments from adopting similar laws will be proposed.
Others suggest leaving gay discrimination in housing and employment alone in the 2010 session and waiting to see if other local governments pass similar measures.
"For now, it is wise of the Legislature not to rush to any sort of judgment on either repealing or passing statewide expansions" in gay anti-discrimination laws, Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, said.
Herbert is noncommittal on 2010 legislative action. Spokeswoman Angie Welling, said the governor is opposed to discrimination, but believes Utah's local government should move to pass ordinances that represent the needs and desires of their individual constituencies and communities.
The poll found broad support across political and religious lines for statewide anti-discrimination laws, including 61 percent of Republican respondents who said they would "strongly" or "somewhat" support a proposal. Among Democrats, 83 percent would support such statewide laws and 73 percent of independents.
Among Mormon respondents, 67 percent said the would support anti-discrimination legislation.
