Utah residents protest proposal to ban gay marriage

Nearly 400 people filled the state capitol rotunda on Friday to tell Utah lawmakers they oppose a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban same-sex marriages. A resolution supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment, cosponsored by U.S. representative Chris Cannon (R-Utah) and 20 other members of Congress, is being drafted for consideration by the Utah legislature. The amendment would define marriage as being between a man and a woman. Under the proposal, state and federal governments would be prevented from conferring marital status "or the legal incidents thereof" to same-sex couples. "It's not a good idea for Utah," said Michael Mitchell, executive director of Unity Utah, the state's gay and lesbian political action committee. "It's not a good idea for the United States."