The Utah Compromise of 2015 : Balancing LGBTQ+ Rights and Religious Freedom

초록

This article examines the Utah Compromise of 2015, a landmark legislative achievement addressing tensions between LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedoms. Before this compromise, Utah lacked comprehensive statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Driven by shifting public attitudes, judicial rulings such as the legalization of same-sex marriage, and critical endorsement from the LDS Church, diverse stakeholders—including LGBTQ advocates, religious groups, legislators, and businesses—engaged in groundbreaking negotiations. This collaboration led to two complementary bills: SB 296, establishing statewide anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals with certain exemptions for religious institutions, and SB 297, reinforcing protections for religious expression and conscientious objections on issues of marriage and sexuality. Widely praised as a model for pragmatic negotiation and civic pluralism, the compromise also faced criticism from conservatives who felt it conceded too much on LGBTQ+ rights, and from progressives concerned that religious exemptions curtailed equality. Nevertheless, Utah’s experience provides valuable lessons on democratic governance, pluralistic coexistence, and offers comparative insights for South Korea’s ongoing debates over LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom.

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