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Paul Nelson ReportingGay advocates are reacting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' move to support a ban on gay marriage. They're starting a campaign of their own.
The Utah Pride Festival will officially kick off Thursday night, leading up to the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Center Director Valerie Larabee says it could be bigger than last year's, where 15,000 people showed up.
"Even at 15,000, we're very pleased," says Larabee.
Activists are sending e-mails to community members, saying they should also write their congressmen in opposition of the ban. Utah Pride Coordinator Jere Keys says the church can easily motivate members for political purposes.
"It's a lot harder for us to activate our members. We don't know where they're going to be every Sunday at 11 am," says Keys.
Utahns are showing support for the amendment. Utah Senator Orrin Hatch's office says they received over 1,000 letters over the weekend.
