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SALT LAKE CITY — A group supporting traditional marriage has drafted a resolution urging Gov. Gary Herbert to enforce Utah's Amendment 3, which a federal appeals court struck down as unconstitutional.
And one state lawmaker says it's an issue he expects the Legislature will consider when it meets in regular session in January.
The Rev. Bill Owens, founder of the Coalition of African-American Pastors, held a news conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, saying people need to rise up against same-sex marriage.
"We're going to fight until we eradicate this thing," he said.
The coalition, based in Henderson, Nevada, describes itself as a grass-roots movement of Christians who believe in traditional family values. It's calling for a new "civil rights movement" for faith and families.
Longtime conservative activist Cherilyn Eagar, who invited Owens to Utah, said the state's voter-approved Amendment 3 defining marriage as between a man and a woman is the law until the Legislature strikes it down. She presented a resolution asking lawmakers to call on Herbert and Attorney General Sean Reyes to enforce it.
The U.S. Supreme Court last week let stand a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the law, making same-sex marriage legal in Utah. Herbert and Reyes advised state agencies to immediately comply with the court decision.
We're going to fight until we eradicate this thing.
–Rev. Bill Owens
"We looked at various options, but saw none," Reyes told the Deseret News editorial board this week.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, said Herbert "jumped the gun" in saying the state would uphold the law.
"Hopefully, he'll see what needs to be done here and take a step back," he said.
Oda said he would sponsor the resolution but his legislative plate is full. He said he could think of a half-dozen lawmakers who would "love to do it."
