Same-sex partners decry man-woman marriage bill

If the controversial SB24 — a bill that would not recognize same-sex marriages in Utah — is voted into law, Tony Butterfield and his partner, Paul Redd-Butterfield would pick up and leave the state they've spent their lives in.

"We'll stay here until our family is threatened. I don't want to raise our children away from our family, but we're parents first and foremost and we're not going to sit around and let our family be ripped apart," Tony Butterfield said at a press conference Tuesday.

The House Judiciary committee is scheduled to hear the bill Thursday.

The couple, who've been together for 12 years, became parents 19 months ago when they gained the parental birthrights to twin boys.

"We're not asking for any religion to recognize our union as a marriage, nor do we want the rights and recognitions greater than what is currently given to our fellow Utahns," Butterfield said. Both men said they were raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Also attending were the twins, relatives, friends and lawmakers who also oppose the legislation. Some Democrats have blasted the bill, which declares marriage only be between a man and a woman, as a waste of taxpayer dollars because of the likelihood it will be challenged in court.

"SB24 seeks to control relationships that no government has the right or authority to control," said Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, and who is lesbian. "The job of the government is to ensure justice for all, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are not second-class citizens."

Equality Utah executive director Michael Mitchell said the bill would "destroy" scores of families across the state who are in similar situations.

"SB24 affects real people and real families. This isn't about legislating morality," he said.

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