"The bedrock of society is the family, and it is traditional marriage that undergirds the family," Hatch said. "But recent court decisions have proven that some courts are usurping the role of legislatures by creating their own definitions of marriage."

Apparently in response to the LDS Church's statement, Hatch's office received more than 1,000 letters on the amendment over the weekend and about 300 calls from Utahns Tuesday, said Peter Carr, Hatch's spokesman.

"Virtually everyone has been in favor of the amendment," Carr said.

Utah's other Republican senator, Bob Bennett, supports allowing the debate on the federal marriage amendment to go forward, said his spokeswoman, MaryJane Collipriest. Bennett's office didn't report an unusually high number of calls on the topic.

To be added to the Constitution, the amendment would need approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate and of three-fourths of the nation's state legislatures.

The Utah Pride Parade will start at 10 a.m. Sunday at 300 South and State. The Pride Festival at Washington and Library squares will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the festival is $5 or $3 for seniors. For more information, visit www.utahpride.

org.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com