Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Utah Governor Backs Civil Unions

February 2009

From a story in The Salt Lake Tribune

Here is a sentence you probably never expected to read: Utah's governor supports civil unions. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a spokeswoman said Monday, backs Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative, a legislative effort that would provide some rights to gay and transgender Utahns. Even more, the Republican governor favors civil unions.

It's a position that runs counter to his political party and against the majority of Utahns -- 70 percent of whom oppose civil unions, according to a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll.

“He's long supported many of the ideas that are presented within the Common Ground Initiative,” said Lisa Roskelley, the governor's spokeswoman, noting her boss waits to endorse specific bills officially until presented to him in final form. “He supports civil unions.”

It's doubtful Huntsman's backing will lead to civil unions getting past the conservative Legislature. And it may not help the rest of this year's gay-rights legislative push, which already has shrunk from four bills to two.

On Day Two of the 2009 Legislature, a measure died in committee that would have allowed financial dependents -- besides spouses, parents and children -- to sue in the event of a breadwinner's wrongful death.

And last week, Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, ditched her proposal, which would have sought the Legislature's and voters' approval to erase the second part of Amendment 3 -- Utah's constitutional gay-marriage ban -- that forbids civil unions.

Huntsman, who endorsed Amendment 3 when he ran for governor in 2004, now favors repealing that portion, Roskelley said.

Biskupski was pleased by the news that Huntsman supports civil unions. “Wow. That's absolutely fantastic. I wish the rest of the state felt the same way,” she said. “That's definitely a door to walk through.”

Of the remaining Common Ground bills, one would make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay or transgender. The other would allow two, unmarried cohabiting adults to file a “declaration of joint support” with their county recorder and gain benefits of inheritance and medical-decision making.

“We appreciate that the governor sees these are common-sense solutions to problems that Utahns are facing,” said Will Carlson, Equality Utah's public-policy manager. “We'll take all the help we can get.”

Carlson said the governor could make the difference on a nonlegislative piece of the Common Ground Initiative: extending state employees' health benefits to domestic partners.