Gay nuptials? Not in SLC | Salt Lake Tribune

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Gay nuptials? Not in SLC


Judy Shepard, mother of the slain
gay student Matthew Shepard, is
greeted by Salt Lake City Mayor
Rocky Anderson before a town meeting
on civil rights at the City-County
Building in January.
(Isaac Brekken/Tribune file photo)

Tribune Staff and Wire Services

Rocky Anderson, arguably one of Utah's most gay-friendly politicians, won't be following San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's lead and offering gay marriage licenses.

Anderson can't. County clerks are the only ones in Utah with authority to provide marriage licenses. But even if he could -- and Anderson does support gay marriage -- Salt Lake City's mayor said he wouldn't take Newsom's "anarchic" tactic. "The principle of the rule of law needs to be taken more seriously," said Anderson, who noted that if he questioned the constitutionality of a law, he would go to court first. But, "I like the result."

Anderson is hardly the first city, municipal or county official who has found Newsom's decision has implications beyond San Francisco.

Dozens of gay and lesbian couples arrived in the rural New Mexico town of Bernalillo on Friday to get married after a county clerk announced she would grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The offer was soon revoked.

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