From Salt Lake Metro, Sept 29. 2005

City Council Candidate Supports Hate Crimes
Bill, Partner Benefits
by JoSelle Vanderhooft

Leslie Reynolds-Benns' bid for a city council seat began after a funeral. While standing at local civil rights leader Alberta Henry's grave in May, she entered into a conversation with Equality Utah board member Boyer Jarvis. At the time, she was writing a letter to Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson about joining his newly-formed human rights commission.

"I mentioned that to Boyer and he looked me straight in the face and said 'No! You need to run for city council! Your district needs you and your council needs you!'" laughs Benns, a Democrat. "I started
walking [campaigning door to door] that night."

A therapist, author and political activist, Benns will run against Republican incumbent Carlton Christianson in 2006 for his District 1 seat- the seat representing the city's northwest quadrant bounded by
North Temple and 900 West. While the election is still months away, she's got plenty of ideas for improving her district, which she loosely terms "Rose Park and Beyond." These include working to end prejudice against the area's Spanish-speaking population, revitalizing North Temple (the sprawling businesses of which she terms "an eyesore") and recruiting more people to join the neighborhood watch.

She also hopes she can make a difference in the lives of District 1's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents. Her campaign website, electlesliebenns.com, reads: "We are a welcoming community, one that is transformed and strengthened by the diversity of its residents. All families, whatever their configurations,
need to be connected to the neighborhoods and communities in which they live." The statement, she says, is aimed partly toward the gay and lesbian community.

''I'm just going to be an advocate for them. I don't know what else to say," she continues. "In my book, Confession is Good for More Than the Soul, I talk about a commitment to having a world that works
for everyone. That's what guides my day." As part of creating such a world, Benns says she believes "gay partners should have the same rights as non-gay partners." This position has led her to support two bids for domestic partner benefits in Utah-Salt Lake County's attempt to offer benefits for county employees in July and Anderson's recent executive order. The first failed by one vote while Anderson signed his controversial order on Sept. 21.

"It's not a problem for me at all," she says. ''I'm strongly in favor of [offering benefits to gay and lesbian partners], particularly because I think we're punishing the children by not giving them. The thing that comes to mind for me is we're making innocent children suffer for something that's not their fault at all." She also says she's in favor of the creation of a domestic partner registry-though she says she needs to learn more about what such registries can do for gay and lesbian couples. In most cities, domestic partner registries merely offer a way for same-sex couples to make a public declaration of their unions. They do not confer the legal status, benefits or rights akin to marriage.

Further, Benns says she's a "big supporter of the hate crimes bill," which certain Utah legislators have been pushing for the past nine years. A recent version of the bill sponsored by State Senator Karen
Hale (Salt Lake City), was defeated in a 3-4 vote last February. A second bill, sponsored by Representative David Utvak (D-SaIt Lake City) died in committee the same month. When the bills were still being considered, Benns says she sent "emails like mad" to everyone she knew, encouraging them to write their legislators in support of the legislation. She also said she voted against Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment which defined marriage as the union between a man and a Woman. Utah Voters overwhelmingly
approved the controversial legislation in November 2004.

Renns says she'd like gays and lesbians to feel at home in her district, despite its reputation as being a rough part of the city. "I believe Rose Park is very welcoming," she says. ''I've been walking the district since May and I haven't heard a single slur about gays and lesbians." Overall, she wants to help the district become known for what she sees as its strength in diversity. "I want to change the rep of the area. It's a wonderful neighborhood and I believe we should tout it as the next Sugar House, where young couples will
move in to start their families. That's how it was built initially and that's how it should be."

Feel free to call or email with questions 801.531.0600