LGBT community protests at Capitol with 44K signature petition


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SALT LAKE CITY — At a rally Friday, members of Utah's LGTB community urged Gov. Gary Herbert to reconsider his decision to put Utah recognition of same-sex marriages on hold.

Herbert and the Utah Attorney General's Office made the announcement Wednesday, saying the state could not recognize same-sex marriages under Utah's Amendment 3 — which the state reverted back to once the Supreme Court granted its request to stop gay marriages until the appeals process was over.

A press conference is expected to happen sometime Friday afternoon, all in an effort to hand over a petition equipped with 44,000 signatures in favor of same-sex marriage. Roughly 75 percent of those names are said to be from Utah.

Troy Williams, one of the protest's organizers, has been at the heart of this fight against Utah's Amendment 3, which defines marriage as only between one man and one woman. He's one of the speakers at the protest Friday and wants people to know this is a call to action for Utah.

"Sean Reyes, you represent LGBT Utahns, and Gov. Herbert, we are your constituents," Williams said. "We are your neighbors and your family members, and please, be on the right side of history."

Herbert has previously stated that he wants to uphold the law passed in 2004 by the people of Utah. But William, along with the man who created the petition, believes that ban isn't accurate any more — as evident through all the signatures.


Sean Reyes, you represent LGBT Utahns, and Gov. Herbert, we are your constituents. We are your neighbors and your family members, and please, be on the right side of history.

–Troy Williams


"We are a part of the fabric of this state, and people love their gay family members," Williams said. "So of course hearts are opening, minds are opening, and right now we are seeing a great transformation all throughout the state and it's so exciting."

Protesters are demanding the Utah Attorney General's officer drop the court challenge to Judge Shelby's Dec. 20 ruling. Currently there is an appeal pending filed by the state of Utah in the 10th Circuit Court of appeals in Denver.

The LGBT community, along with all advocates in the community, have been asked to gather at the main Capitol rotunda at 12:30 p.m. Friday to show their support for same-sex marriage.

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Haley Smith and Richard Piatt

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