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Gay rights advocates focus on Utah

Posted at 5:49 PM, Jun 27, 2013
and last updated 2013-06-27 23:22:59-04

SALT LAKE CITY - After a big win in the Supreme Court, gay rights advocates are taking aim at Utah.

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, was in Salt Lake City on Thursday, saying their goal is to legalize same-sex marriage in Utah within five years. Advocates say if they can legalize same-sex marriage here in Utah, they can do it anywhere.

"Within five years, we will bring marriage equality to all 50 states. Yes, right here in the state of Utah, too," Griffin said. "We will secure full equality everywhere, for everyone."

Derek Kitchen and Moody Speity, one of the three couples currently challenging Utah's Amendment 3, which protects traditional marriage, say they're holding out hope for a change.

"We're just holding out. Salt Lake. We will be married in Salt Lake, hopefully. So that's what we're pushing for," Kitchen said.

Representatives for the Human Rights Campaign believe the Supreme Court will eventually state marriage bans discriminatory and unconstitutional. But many believe the Supreme Court will leave the issue up to states, so the battle is far from over.