Advocates for full marriage equality in Utah say they will focus on the fight for civil unions in the Mormon Church's home state of Utah, as they continue to press for full marital rights. The Mormon Church has said it won't block civil unions in Utah,
Claudia Bradshaw is an advocate for gay activism in Southern Utah. She lives in St. George, Utah, a very conservative part of the state. She is a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, the Mormon Church. She also founded a local chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), after her son came out. Her son has since quit the Church.
Bradshaw regularly PFLAG meetings at her house and regularly invites members of southern Utah’s gay and lesbian community, and other advocates to drop by and discuss gay activism. On their mind these days is Utah’s latest attempt to pass a law allowing couples to form so-called, “civil unions.” The proposed bills cover various aspects of equal treatment for domestic partners.
The Church, however, has said it will not oppose the latest attempt to formalize civil unions in state law, but declines to elaborate on its position. Utah’s only openly gay state senator, Deomcrat Scott McCoy of Salt Lake City, has said to the news media that he's encouraged by the Church's position.
Homosexuality a Difficult Issue for People in Southern Utah
Bradshaw says this is a difficult issue for people like her in Utah. She says, “ I was blessed with a gay son to teach me to love all people, not just some people”. She also says she knows families who have been torn apart by the presence of a gay son or daughter. “I think they, (The LDS Church) need to listen to the gay community and really listen to their experiences.” She says that she also thinks the Church has been stung by recent criticism and she and her friends will keep fighting for gay rights and at least some legal recognition in this state.
Some Member's of Utah's Gay Ccommunity Have Gone to California to Get Married
One of Bradshaw's friends, Gary Christiansen and his partner went to California to get married. They are not Church members, and have been they have been aware of the Church’s position their whole lives. They grew up in Utah and graduated from the University of Utah. They say they settled in St. George for the weather and natural beauty of the area. They've been together for over thirty years. Gary says they got married to make a point, “When the Mormon church started getting involved, and working against, we decided that was motivation, just to show our support for California.” Gary says they live openly as partners and have received no overt discrimination from their neighbors.
But as to whether Gary and his partner will receive at least some legal recognition of their relationships will be in the hands of the state legislature, this coming year.
Whatever the outcome, the people who regularly gather inBradshaw's living room seem determined to keep fighting for full equal rights for Utah's gay citizens.
Jon Pike - Pike is a Ph.D. in communication and writes about activism and popular culture topics for Suite101.
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