An openly gay man was sworn in recently as a Salt Lake City councilman.
Stan Penfold, who was elected to represent the Liberal Avenues and Capitol Hill areas, is thought to be the council’s first openly gay member.
Penfold said the council has done a “remarkable job” on social issues and he doesn’t intend to become a lightning rod for gay rights.
Among other actions, the council has passed ordinances banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment. Penfold said he will focus on grassroots issues such as affordable housing and improving neighborhoods’ quality of life.
The 52-year-old Penfold grew up Mormon in Humboldt County, Calif., and ran nurseries in Sandy and West Jordan after moving to Utah nearly 30 years ago. His parents hail from Idaho and met at Brigham Young University in Provo.
He was executive director of the Utah AIDS Foundation over the last decade.
