SALT LAKE CITY — Members of the so-called “Capitol 13,” who led a protest at the Utah State Capitol over the death of a gay rights bill, appeared in court demanding to go to trial.
The group appeared briefly in Salt Lake City Justice Court, where they face charges of class B misdemeanor disrupting a meeting. Earlier this year, they blockaded the entrance to a legislative committee hearing in protest of the legislature’s refusal to hear a non-discrimination bill that included sexual orientation and gender identity.
Outside the hearing, members of the Capitol 13 told FOX 13 they were planning to go to trial as early as next year. Among those facing trial — new Equality Utah director Troy Williams, who will now lobby the very people he was protesting.
“Utah’s gay and transgender community belong in the people’s house. We are always going to be there. This is our statehouse, this is our state,” he said. “We are your friends and your neighbors and the constituents of our legislators. So we are going to continue to engage, continue to rally, continue to lobby until LGBT Utahns can enjoy the full rights of American citizenship.”
