Utah saints?

Utah was one of those states that passed a gay marriage ban in November. Despite warnings from the Republican Attorney General that the bill went to far, it passed in the state with 66% of the vote.

Now lawmakers see the limits of the bill they passed and are working to make amends:

Taken literally, Utah's provision could deny hospital visitation or survivor's property rights to children being brought up by grandparents, or to senior citizens who live together but do not marry for financial reasons. Siblings living in the same household also could find themselves without customary rights.

(snip)

Now, in a moment of sober reflection, the same lawmakers are looking at giving back to adults who live together but are ineligible to marry -- a category that includes same-sex couples -- some of the rights of husband and wife.

"It addresses the need of persons who may have some relationship other than marriage to delegate responsibilities to each other,'' said Utah Republican Sen. Greg Bell.

So how'd the bill do?

It won tentative approval 15-10 in the Utah Senate on Friday, despite a warning from Republican Chris Buttars that the measure may be part of a gay agenda.

"You can say what you want, but this is the first step toward their real goal, which is marriage,'' he said.

Now wait a minute. Are any of the 25 legislators who voted, especially the 15 that voted yes for it gay? Did homosexuals specifically lobby for this bill? If not, then how can you say this is the part of the "gay agenda?"

This bill is designed to redress rights that have been taken away by the state's tunnel visioned attempts to discriminate against a group of people. Now, seeing the wide range of effects this had, people want to make it right.

So that's where the line is for you, Utah Republicans. Either allow gay people the basic rights of a civil union, or deny grandma and grandpa the rights to visit the grandkids they've been raising if they end up in the hospital.

As an added rider to the bill, someone should introduce a special provision that would force the legislators who voted no to explain to granny that she can't see her grandson that just got hit by a car because he's protecting her from "the gays."