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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A measure outlawing gay marriages is on its way to Gov. Olene Walker's desk.
The Utah House gave final legislative approval Wednesday to the Marriage Recognition Policy, which sanctions unions only "between a man and a woman."
Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, pleaded with Republicans to reconsider.
"I'm not the only lesbian you know. Gay people are in every community in this state. We are your friends, family and co-workers. Same-sex couples live in every county in this state, some with children, some without. We work hard and pay our taxes. Defining marriage to exclude same-sex couples creates second-class citizens," Biskupski said.
Biskupski spoke haltingly, at first telling representatives she knew she was being maligned by whispered talk around the Capitol.
She didn't identify the source of the remarks but defended herself, saying, "I'm human, created by God just like all of you, with a loving and forgiving heart." After a long pause, she said gay people have been around for as long as human history but that "persecution" in modern times "has kept us quiet."
The House voted 62-12 to approve the Marriage Recognition Policy, which passed the Senate Jan. 30.
House Republicans kept the debate short, and Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, took the highly unusual position after introducing the Senate bill in the House of refusing to answer any representative's questions about it.
"I don't think any debate on this issue is going to change anybody's mind," Dayton said. "I choose not to answer any questions."
A Democratic effort to amend the bill to reinforce the state's ban on polygamy failed. Republicans said it wasn't needed.
Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden, said one Utah polygamist tried to hoodwink a marriage clerk by asking for three different marriage licenses claiming, "I haven't decided which one I'm going to marry."
As of mid-February, at least 38 states and the federal government have approved laws or amendments barring the recognition of gay marriage.
Democrats said Utah already has laws defending traditional marriage and that the Marriage Recognition Act amounted to nothing more than an election-year campaign slogan for Republicans.
"The problem with this bill is it helps no one and hurts many. It's a mean-spirited warning: 'You haven't asked to get married, but if you're even thinking about it, don't,"' said Rep. Carol Moss, D-Holladay, a retired schoolteacher.
"I think it's bigoted," she said.
Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, said the law was needed.
"This is not about what you're against, it's about what you're for," he said.
Walker hasn't taken a position on the bill yet, her spokeswoman Amanda Covington said Wednesday.
"She wants to read it and understand it," Covington said. "She believes in the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman, but she'll look at the bill closely."
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
