Utah AG Candidates Oppose Gay Marriage Ban
By AP from the NYTimes on the Web, August 7, 2004
SALT LAKE CITY, Aug.6 -- Utah's three candidates for attorney general jointly announced their opposition Friday to a ballot measure banning gay marriage, saying it is so poorly written it could strip away fundamental rights for unmarried heterosexual couples.
Residents will vote Nov. 2 on the proposed amendment to the state constitution, which would define marriage in Utah as between a man and a woman and deny legal benefits to any other domestic union.
It was the second part that drew the most opposition from the three candidates.
"I just think it goes too far and actually hurts Utahns," said incumbent Republican Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
In a joint statement, Shurtleff, Democrat Greg Skordas and Libertarian Andrew McCullough said the amendment would prohibit the Legislature from extending even the most basic partnership rights to unmarried couples, such as rights to hospital visitations, to emergency medical decision-making and to inheritance.
"However well-intentioned this may be, there will be unintended consequences," said Rob Latham, a spokesman for McCullough.
He said McCullough opposes both parts of the proposed amendment.
One of the amendment's co-sponsors, Republican state Sen. Chris Buttarse, defended the two-pronged proposal.
"If you believe that marriage is only between a man or woman, part two is absolutely necessary," he said.
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