Utah Sen. Scott McCoy introduced the first of six planned gay rights bills today in a coordinated effort with Equality Utah. The bill, which would allow a person to name an unmarried partner as a designee in the case of a wrongful death, will first move to the Senate’s Judiciary Interim Committee.

The bills are part of a campaign to challenge the LDS Church to prove their claim that they support legal recognition of same-sex couples.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

Together, the bills make up the so-called Common Ground Initiative, which also includes proposals for a statewide domestic-partner registry, health benefits for gay couples and partial repeal of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The initiative marks a bold move in a state where the Republican-dominated Legislature has fought gay student clubs, stopped gay couples from adopting children and barred any domestic unions that would give same-sex couples rights traditionally granted to married couples.

The movement takes its cue from remarks by the LDS Church in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8, California’s measure to ban same-sex-marriage. The church, which pushed the ballot measure but did not oppose California’s domestic-partner registry, stated it “does not object” to rights for gay couples regarding health care, probate, fair housing and employment.

“The planets are aligned,” said Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, who will sponsor laws to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from being fired or evicted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Utahns have never been more aware that there currently exist no protections for members of the LGBT community.”

But she acknowledged it will be a “challenge” to get all of the laws passed.