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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Mark Barr might not be a "spouse" in the eyes of the Utah Constitution.
But that didn't keep him off the invitation list at a gathering of legislators' spouses today.
Barr was among 50 or so lawmakers' spouses at a luncheon held by Utah first lady Mary Kaye Huntsman, but he was the only same-sex partner in attendance.
He admits he was nervous -- a little about being there and a little bit for having to speak in public.
But the partner of newly appointed state Senator Scott McCoy -- the Senate's only openly gay member -- says from his vantage point, there was nothing uncomfortable about the luncheon.
Even though a few eyebrows went up when Barr introduced himself as McCoy's partner at the luncheon, the state's first lady says it NEVER would have occurred to her not to include Barr.
She says she and her husband -- Governor Jon Huntsman -- are inclusive, NOT exclusive, people.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
