"We've never pushed for or asked for full marriage equality or civil unions," McCoy said. "We've been very careful to say we have a pretty good idea of what people will entertain."

Just what impact the governor's support of an unpopular position among his fellow Republicans may have on his other legislative initiatives, including liquor reform, remains to be seen.

"We're all big boys and girls," Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, said. "If there's legislation out there, whether the governor put it forward or other representatives or senators, it'll be voted up or down based on its merits."

Senate Republicans were clearly unhappy with the governor's pronouncement he supported civil unions. "It's gay marriage-lite, and I'm opposed to that," said Senate assistant majority whip Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights. "We're not going to go there."

In 2005, Bell carried legislation sought by Huntsman to allow for benefits to be extended to non-married couples. "There is a wide difference between what that bill sought and civil unions," Bell said. "I'm against that even though I've been very aggressive in trying to help gay and lesbian couples get rights."

Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka, who has warned the Common Ground initiative could lead to gay marriage, said Huntsman has turned against his own party and misled voters who re-elected him to a second term last November.

"It's very dishonest," Ruzicka said. "All I can say to the governor is, 'Shame on you' … Legislators this time are going to have trouble trusting him in the future when he betrayed them like this."

The group behind the Common Ground initiative, Equality Utah, called the governor's support welcome but not surprising. "Gov. Huntsman has been so supportive and he just truly, I think, gets it," said Mike Thompson, Equality Utah's executive director.

Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights group, praised Huntsman's support as "hopeful and inspiring news."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement saying that while the church "has not taken a specific position on the Common Ground initiative, we have tried to clearly define the principles regarding the importance of marriage and its attending issues."

The LDS Church statement said that information can be found at newsroom.lds.org.

Contributing: Aaron Falk. E-mail: lisa@desnews.com