To Steve May, the current debate over same-sex marriage is akin to previous struggles for civil rights ranging from women to people of color.

"It's a struggle to make America the great nation that we want to become," he said.

May, of Phoenix, Ariz., is a former Republican state lawmaker, a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a former member of the military. Plus he's gay.

May will speak this Saturday at Equality Utah PAC's annual fund-raising banquet, at a time when an amendment to define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman will be on Utah's November ballot.

Equality Utah PAC exists to get the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and their allies involved in the political process, said executive director Michael Mitchell.

"This is a very peculiar year," he said. "We are being attacked in a very, very personal and horrible way. Of course we're going to be talking about the amendment."

Tickets for the dinner are $100. For information call 355-3479.