From: DavidN1327@aol.com
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 1995 18:49:32 -0500

Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

Tuesday, February 21, 1995

Measure on same-sex unions OK'd despite legal threat

Legislation that would deny recognition to same-sex marriages won unanimous
endorsement by a Utah House committee that was told the measure could face a
legal challenge.

Utah already bans same-sex marriages. House Bill 366 would deny recognition
of such marriages performed in other states. Hawaii is one state that could
legalize such unions.

The House Energy, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee unanimously
endorsed the measure Monday with no debate.

"(There are) possible due-process issues since marriage is a fundamental
constitutional right," legislative attorney Janetha Hancock wrote in a legal
assessment of the bill. "But there are strong arguments that the state's
interest outweighs any infringement."

Rep. Norm Nielsen, R-Orem, the sponsor, urged lawmakers to act on the merits
of the measure "without being held hostage by some threatened lawsuit."

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Jensie Anderson told the committee
that her organization is "adamantly and resolutely opposed to HB366 as
unconstitutional."