By denying recognition to gay and lesbian families, states deny their children stability and other benefits such as health insurance, said Joseph Hagan, past chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. Hagan was an author of his association's statement advocating same-sex parent adoption.

"We really didn't in the academy talk about marriage. . . . We talked about the needs of the kids to have a family," he said.

"I've researched the data. If there is data suggesting poor, or even a poorer outcome compared to the 'ideal' for these children, we couldn't find it."

Johnson and Hutchinson say their political activity is usually limited to voting. But they've finally decided to take a public stand for their civil rights. They get comfort from knowing past struggles, such as women working for the right to vote, took years but were in the end successful.

On a recent door-to-door walk in Magna, Lorie told one resident: "If it passes, nothing changes for you. If it doesn't, nothing changes for you."

Their efforts are part of the Don't Amend Alliance, a well-organized and well-funded campaign working to defeat the amendment. The campaign's argument that the amendment "goes too far" echoes the concerns of Johnson and Hutchinson and others, many of whom are not same-sex couples.

Jen Seals and Matt Andrus live together, are raising a son together, consider themselves married but don't have a marriage license.

"It's horrifying, actually, to think what life might be like if it passes," Seals said. "I think it will make it harder."

The Utah AARP has cautioned voters about the amendment on its Web site, saying it could impact unmarried elderly couples. And in an extraordinary move, GOP Attorney General Mark Shurtleff joined with his two opponents, Democrat Greg Skordas and Libertarian Andrew McCullough, in cautioning the amendment could prevent a class of citizens from petitioning lawmakers for basic legal protections.

All the conflicting opinions of the proposed amendment's impact suggest the issue will move from the ballot box to the courtroom after election day.

Meanwhile, Johnson, Hutchinson and White are hoping the amendment will fail, although public opinion polls indicate otherwise. They want the opportunity to petition lawmakers for some of the same legal protections marriage affords.

"As long as life is perfect, everything is OK," said Johnson, who worries that there's no legal way to guarantee that Hutchinson would remain Olivia's "mom" if something happens to her.

"We just don't have that kind of long-term stability guaranteed," she said.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com