Perhaps they've learned not to underestimate the strength of our community
U. rally brings out 2 views on marriage
By Deborah Bulkeley
Deseret Morning News
A bride and groom, so to speak, were at the University of Utah Wednesday, to garner support for what they consider marriage - a union between a man and a woman.
A crowd of people wearing purple ribbons were also out in support of marriage - straight or gay. They held signs and chanted slogans at the woman in a flowing bridal gown and the man decked out in a tuxedo.
"I think it just got some good debate going," said Suzy Richardson, who played the bride in the College Republicans-U. Chapter demonstration. "The great thing about this country is the opportunity to be heard, to say how you feel."
The students and community activists were out to voice their opinions on a new state law that bans gay marriage and a proposed state constitutional amendment that will be on the November ballot.
"We've got everything else - the house, two cars. Now all we need is to get married," said Megan Garcia, shading her lesbian partner's infant with a sign reading "Protect our families."
"I want to be able to legally adopt my daughter so I'll be able to take care of her if something were to happen," said Garcia, who said the right of adoption is just one of many rights she and her partner don't have because they can't get married.
Ben Kingerly, a senior political science major, said he supports equal rights but thinks allowing gay marriage could "open the floodgates" to other types of marriage such as polygamy.
A petition supporting the amendment garnered around 150 signatures, said Daniel Fowles, U. Chapter chairwoman. The number of signatures on a Human Rights Campaign petition to allow gay marriage approached 500, said Adam Bass, political co-chairman of the Human Rights Campaign Utah steering committee.
"I think that the main idea is to let people know the institution of marriage is worth defending," Fowles said.
Tom Robins, chairman of the Utah Federation of College Republicans, was the "groom" in a similar demonstration at Utah State University last month. He said about 1,000 people signed a petition in support of marriage that has been forwarded to the governor.
"It's a way to get people to stop and think about what's going on," Robins said. "It's going to be a very real issue about the presidential and local campaigns. The vast majority of students in Utah support traditional values and marriage." Robins said other Republican campus groups have expressed interest in doing their own wedding-themed demonstration.
Matthew Overly, who played the groom, said he has nothing against civil unions for same-sex couples.
"Marriage is defined as a man and a woman and needs to stay that way," he said. "We're maintaining the status quo."
Some passersby, such as Salt Lake City filmmaker Clay Essig, posed questions to the "couple," such as "why can't I get married?"
Paul Coles, a junior business student, told Essig: "What we're doing is trying to define marriage, not discriminate. . . . We're not taking away any rights."
To which Essig replied: "A loving commitment between two people is not a crime."
An unlikely ally for those opposing the amendment came from the U.'s other Republican group.
"I don't think the use of the Constitution for the purpose of addressing this issue would be an appropriate measure," said David Busby, president of College Republicans at the U. "We were there supporting protestors, not necessarily on the issue of marriage. . . . Whether or not we agree with somebody being gay, to go out and disrespect or mock somebody because they are different is just not tolerable."
Groups at U. face off on gay marriage
By Kirsten Stewart
The Salt Lake Tribune
Tim Carter considers himself "politically dispassionate."
He doesn't subscribe to a political party, sign petitions or write to elected officials. But a contentious debate over gay marriage sweeping the United States has stirred the 28-year-old University of Utah student to activism.
"I'm fed up with fear; sick of my own fear and sick of their fear," said Carter, gesturing to a gathering of College Republicans who staged a mock heterosexual wedding Wednesday at the U. campus and handed out cake to passers-by who agreed to sign a petition against gay marriage.
Responding to the stunt, Carter and other members of the university's Lesbian, Gay and Transgendered Student Union organized their own demonstration, marching and carrying signs that read: "Discrimination is not a family value" and "With justice and marriage for all."
The opposing groups -- each 75 to 100 people strong -- faced off at the Marriott Library plaza. And while demonstrators kept the peace, the fear and anger were palpable as students sporadically crossed the plaza to confront one another and erupted into shouting matches.
"Both sides are afraid of each other's agenda," said David Cunliffe, a 25-year-old majoring in Chinese. "If all the liberals get their way and homosexual marriage becomes OK, what's next, polygamy? Where does that leave our country?"
Cunliffe, who is engaged to be married, takes comfort in polls showing most Utahns support proposed amendments to the U.S. and Utah constitutions banning gay marriage.
But he worries that the growing gay rights movement will eventually take hold and prevail, even in "Mormon country."
"We're doing our best do slow it down," said Cunliffe. "Marriage should be between a man, woman and God. It's that simple."
But Carter doesn't understand why people consider his lifestyle threatening. Nor does he hold out much hope for rapid change in Utah, where civil unions are illegal and lawmakers recently passed a law prohibiting the state from recognizing same-sex unions performed in other states.
Legislators also approved an amendment to the Utah Constitution, which voters will have a chance to approve or reject in November.
"Win or lose, I figured it's time for me stand up for something I believe in. I want kids, I want a family. And I don't want my children to grow up in a world that preaches hate," said Carter.
Carter and other gay-rights activists found allies in another group of campus Republicans who decried Wednesday's mock nuptials as "tasteless."
Dave Busby, president of College Republicans at the University of Utah -- not to be confused with College Republicans -- said his group neither endorses nor opposes efforts to ban gay marriage, although he believes a constitutional amendment is unnecessary.
"We're here to send a message that to disrespect and make light of another group's differences is unacceptable," he said.