Salt Lake City gets gay, les and trans protections

New ordinances in Salt Lake City that protect gay, lesbian, and trans people from discrimination took effect on Friday.

"These ordinances demonstrate our determination to foster an environment of good will and acceptance welcoming every member of the community as an integral part of our Great American City," Mayor Ralph Becker said in a statement.

The two ordinances prohibit employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill wasn't well-received by all lawmakers. "I don't think the discrimination they scream about is really real," Republican Senator Chris Buttars told Salt Lake City-based KCPW radio. "I'm watching that to see what they try to do, and if they keep pushing it, then I will bring a bill about it."

The ordinances, however, received support from the Mormon church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). "The church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage," said spokesman Michael Otterson.

The Mormon church played an integral part in the passing of California's proposition 8. Salt Lake City becomes the first city in Utah to ban such discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.