Utah's Republican-controlled Legislature passes Mormon-church-backed anti-discrimination bill
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, leaves a House committee hearing Tuesday, March 10, 2015, in Salt Lake City. An anti-discrimination bill protecting LGBT Utah residents and religious rights awaits a final vote by lawmakers. The bill was approved on Tuesday afternoon. It was originally scheduled for Monday, but postponed by the House Judiciary Committee after an hour-long hearing so that they could hear more comments from the public. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (The Associated Press)
Utah's Republican-controlled Legislature has passed a landmark anti-discrimination bill that protects gay and transgender people, and religious rights.
The proposal earned a rare stamp of approval from the Utah-based Mormon church, and the state House voted 65-10 Wednesday night to pass it.
The Senate passed the bill Friday, and Republican Gov. Gary Herbert has said he'll sign it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bill was unveiled last week after lawmakers spent weeks negotiating with LGBT advocates, representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others.
Conservative critics of the bill have argued that it doesn't go far enough to protect religious rights, such as an individual's right to refuse service to a gay couple. They also say it creates special protections for gay and transgender people.