The rights of lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Utah have significantly evolved in the 21st century. Protective laws have become increasingly enacted since 2014,despite the state's reputation as socially conservative and highly religious. Utah's anti-sodomy law was invalidated in 2003 by Lawrence v. Texas,and fully repealed by the state legislature in 2019. Same-sex marriage has been legal since the state's ban was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts in 2014. In addition,statewide anti-discrimination laws now cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing,and the use of conversion therapy on minors is prohibited. In spite of this,there are still a few differences between the treatment of LGBTQ people and the rest of the population,and the rights of transgender youth are restricted.
Curtis Scott Bramble is an American politician and Certified Public Accountant serving as a member of the Utah State Senate,representing the state's 24th senate district. Prior to redistricting he represented the 16th senate district in Provo. On March 18,2024,he announced that he would retire from the legislature at the end of 2024.
Lyle W. Hillyard is a Utah politician and an attorney. A Republican,he was a member of the Utah State Senate,representing the state's 25th senate district in Cache and Rich Counties including the city of Logan. He served in the legislature from 1981 to 2020,first as a representative from 1981 to 1984,then as a senator from 1985 to 2020.
Mark Benson Madsen is an American politician and attorney from Utah. A Libertarian,he is a former member of the Utah State Senate,where he represented the state's 13th senate district in Utah,and Tooele Counties including the city of Lehi. Madsen is the grandson of Ezra Taft Benson,Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower.
Mark Archuleta Wheatley is a Democratic member of the Utah State House of Representatives,representing the 35th District since 2004. He lives in Murray,Utah,with his wife Josie.
Luz Robles Escamilla is the Senator for the Utah State Senate's 10th District. Prior to redistricting she represented the 1st District,defeating Republican Carlton Christensen for the seat November 4,2008 after having beaten incumbent Sen. Fred Fife for the party nomination earlier that year.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Utah since October 6,2014. On December 20,2013,the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as a result of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah's ruling in the case of Kitchen v. Herbert,which found that barring same-sex couples from marrying violates the U.S. Constitution. The issuance of those licenses was halted during the period of January 6,2014 until October 6,2014,following the resolution of a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage. On that day,following the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal in a case that found Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional,the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to recognize same-sex marriage.
Michael Shumway Lee is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Utah,a seat he has held since 2011. A member of the Republican Party,Lee became Utah's senior senator in 2019 and dean of Utah's congressional delegation in 2021.
Benjamin Michael McAdams is an American politician and attorney who served as the U.S. representative from Utah's 4th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. He was the only Democratic member of Utah's congressional delegation,and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. From 2013 to 2019,he served as mayor of Salt Lake County,and from 2009 to 2012,he was the Utah state senator from the 2nd district,which includes Salt Lake City,South Salt Lake,and a portion of West Valley. McAdams was elected to Congress in 2018,narrowly defeating two-term Republican incumbent Mia Love. In 2020,McAdams ran for reelection,but he lost to Republican challenger Burgess Owens. He is the most recent Democrat to represent Utah in Congress.
J. Stuart Adams is the Senator for the Utah State Senate's 7th District. Prior to redistricting he represented the 22nd District. Adams was appointed to the Utah House of Representatives in 2002,and then to the Senate in 2009. In 2012,he was chosen to be Senate Majority Whip. In 2018,he was chosen as the Senate President.
Todd Weiler is a Republican member of the Utah State Senate. He lives in Woods Cross,Utah. Weiler was first appointed to the state Senate in January 2012.
Spencer James Cox is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th governor of Utah since 2021. A member of the Republican Party,he served as the eighth lieutenant governor of Utah from 2013 to 2021. In Fairview,Utah,where Cox lives and was raised,he was elected to the city council in 2004 and then as mayor in 2005. In 2008,he was elected as a Sanpete County commissioner.
Brian Smith King is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 23rd district. Before redistricting following the 2020 census,he represented the 28th district since January 1,2009. In April 2024,he became the Democratic nominee for the gubernatorial election against Republican incumbent Spencer Cox.
Don L. Ipson is an American politician. A Republican,he serves and represents the 29th District of the Utah State Senate. He was previously a member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 75 from 2009 to 2016. His term will expire on January 1st,2025. He is going to run for re-election,and is on the ballot in the Republican primary that is being held on June 25th,2024
Bradley 'Brad' G. Last is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 71.
Wayne A. Harper is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 16 since 2023. Prior to redistricting he represented District 6 starting in 2013. Harper served in the Utah House of Representatives from January 1,1997,until December 31,2012,in the District 43 seat.
Ralph Ole Okerlund was an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate that represented District 24 from 2009 to 2020. He was the Senate's majority leader from January 28,2013,to 2020.
David P. Hinkins is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 26. Prior to redistricting he represented District 27. since January 1,2009.
Walt Brooks is an American politician who has served in the Utah House of Representatives from the 75th district since 2016. He was appointed in September 2016 to replace Representative Don Ipson,who himself was appointed to the senate to replace Senator Steve Urquhart.
The 161st Virginia General Assembly,consisting of members who were elected in both the House election and Senate election in 2019,convened on January 8,2020. It was the first time Democrats held both houses of the General Assembly and the governorship since the 147th General Assembly in 1993.
