More than 200 gay and lesbian activists filled the steps of the Utah Capitol Saturday as part of an "Equality Begins at Home" campaign, which has involved more than 250 similar demonstrations in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Supporters of the effort have included the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force , the Gay and Lesbian Political Action Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union. The campaign began last Sunday and ended Saturday.Spanish Fork High School teacher Wendy Weaver was among the speakers who talked about discrimination in the workplace. Weaver recently won a discrimination lawsuit against school officials. U.S. District Judge Bruce S. Jenkins ruled in favor of Weaver's constitutional rights of free speech and equal protection.
Weaver called herself an "accidental activist" who fell into national media attention after being complacent for 17 years as a teacher and volleyball coach.
ACLU attorney Stephen C. Clark continues to represent Weaver in a lawsuit filed against her by a citizens group in Utah County.
Dave Jones, Rocky Anderson and Jim Bradley, Democratic mayoral candidates for Salt Lake City, all spoke out against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Jackie Biskupski, the first lesbian candidate elected to the Utah House from District 30, said she wanted activists to do more than just sit on the steps of the state Capitol. Biskupski asked activists to get involved and dedicate their time, energy and finances to win the battle for equality.
Gay activist Richard Teerlink said he had retired from Kearns High School after 31 years of employment as a biology and chemistry teacher. He held a poster that read: "Some of your best teachers are gay."
Teerlink said he kept his sexual orientation quiet until after his retirement in 1997 to protect his career and retirement benefits.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force field organizer Alexis Sainz said she was confident that full equality for activists could be achieved in the next decade.
The rally came to a close with live music performed by Gearl Jam, a local group of singers and songwriters.
During Saturday's rally, the America Forever Foundation protested across the street against homosexuality "propaganda." The foundation held a three-day vigil to promote a Youth and Children Human Rights Campaign, which ended Friday evening.
A Utah family founded the America Forever Foundation last October.