SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A bill to provide statewide protection to gays is about be unveiled on Utah's Capitol Hill.
State Senator Ben McAdams has drafted a bill which protects gays against housing and employment discrimination.
It's more than 30 pages and seeks to do what nearly a dozen Utah cities have already done - protect gays from discrimination and to do it statewide.
McAdams explained it this way to ABC 4,
"You cannot be fired based on your sexual orientation or you can't be evicted based on your sexual orientation."
McAdams believes there is discrimination against gays.
He also worries Utah is getting a bad reputation in this area.
"I don't think most people in Utah discriminate. I think the people of Utah are good people. But that's not our perception around the country."
Ten Utah cities have already passed similar anti-discrimination ordinances.
McAdams, a married Mormon, says the timing is now right for a statewide law.
"I think it can be a model for the nation about how we can coexist."
But McAdams' bill may meet resistance in the legislature.
In the past, there's been talk of passing a different state law, one prohibiting cities from passing these anti-gay measures.
McAdams admits,
"I don't know it will pass this year. I hope it will. But I think that's yet to be seen."
McAdams says he has already gotten feedback on his bill from several legislators.
Some support it, others don't see a need and, he says, there are those who simply don't like it.
