A rally to defend traditional marriage will be held next week at the Utah State Capitol in response to the recent change in Utah law concerning same-sex marriage.
After a federal judge reversed the law banning same-sex marriage in Utah, the state has appealed the ruling with the Supreme Court.
Celebration of Marriage, a non-profit organization supporting traditional marriage, will be holding a Stand for Marriage event on Jan. 28 to encourage the State Legislature to fund the Supreme Court appeal.
The organization was created in February 2013 in response to the Supreme Court reviewing Proposition 8. Mary Fielding Summerhays is the chairwoman of the organization. She said it is just a group of people interested in the topic and have the energy to do something about it.
“Marriage is the only institution that prevents the creation of fatherless children and protects a child’s rights to both a mother and a father,” Summerhays said. “The power of the state should not be used to take that away from children. We are asking the state legislature to give $1.2 million to fund the appeal to the Supreme Court.”
The event on Tuesday will include a speech by Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage. Celebration of Marriage will be accepting donations and signing up volunteers. Summerhays said participants are invited to wear pink or blue to support traditional gender roles.
“Utahns are thinking that there is nothing we can do, but that isn’t the case,” she said. “This is our debut as a swing state. The nation is watching how we respond to this judicial tyranny. Be heard at a historic point in time.”
Equality Utah is the leading advocate for LGBT rights in Utah. Brandie Balkin, executive director for Equality Utah, said they do not plan on having a presence at the event.
“We won’t have a presence at the event because we also believe in supporting marriage and stable and committed couples and their children,” Balkin said. “We are currently preparing for the legislative session to ensure the best policies for all Utahns.”
The event will take place Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda. For more information visit utahcelebrationofmarriage.com or email .
