In an area where The Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism) propagandizes a course unfriendly to civil rights for gay men and lesbians, the Salt Lake City Council's move is considered significant. The University of Utah and Salt Lake County have adopted similar policies, but federal and state laws are less specific.

"This shows that many Mormons have a sense of good old American fair play," said Marty Gardner, a gay rights advocate.

Gay city residents and area lawyers, including University of Utah Law School professor Terry Kogan, told city council members how important they felt the protective ordinance would be to them. Kogan said, "My life would be miserable if I had hanging over my head the worry that my superiors could fire me based solely on my sexual orientation, something totally unrelated to my job performance."

Erik Stringberg, an employment attorney, told the council that "employees are repeatedly and regularly fired from their jobs because of sexual orientation."

He also said, "This proposed ordinance would not give any special rights to gay employees. It would merely insure that employees are given a fair chance and are not discriminated against based on something that has nothing to do with their job performance."

Some 30-odd city residents argued for and against the passage of the ordinance, with the result that the council's chairwoman, Deeda Seed, reflected sadly: "My heart is broken by some of the comments we've heard tonight. I'm truly sorry that we have a situation in our society where people are still so bigoted and hateful. These comments have amply demonstrated the need for this ordinance."

Councilman Bryce Jolley attempted first to eliminate the ordinance and then to forestall its passage by introducing an alternative, less specific. When his peers outvoted him he threatened repeal of the ordinance in January when, he said, a new city council will sit in judgment on its predecessors.

"If you choose to pass this," he bellowed, "it will be for two weeks only. This vote will be symbolic. This ordinance will be repealed."