Salt Lake Mayor-elect Working to Update Domestic Partnership Policies

[Drunken Irishman]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2148708

One of the first things Salt Lake City's new mayor wants to do is update city policies on discrimination and domestic partners. It's something Mayor-elect Ralph Becker says he feels strongly about. Becker does have a couple ideas he wants to pass by ordinance or executive order, if he needs to. He says it's not politics, but that he's doing it because it's the right thing to do. Becker is already on the go at City Hall. He's spending a lot of time meeting with a transition team and thinking about taking over as mayor.

Voted in by a landslide, Becker says he hears the progressive voice in Utah's capitol city. Ordinances he plans to push include a non-discrimination policy with city contractors, extending city retirement benefits to domestic partners, and creating a domestic partner registry.

The ordinances reflect the city's population, especially in neighborhoods like Sugar House, 9th and 9th, and Capitol Hill. For liberal Salt Lakers, in particular gays and lesbians, Becker's ambitious agenda is a switch from what they face over the same issues at the capitol.

It's funny reading the comments from non-Salt Lake Utahns, who are bigoted, hate filled individuals. But it's good to see Salt Lake has another great mayor to follow Rocky Anderson.