Utah gubernatorial candidate Peter
Cooke has rejected his party platform's stance on gay marriage.
Over the weekend, the Democratic Party
Platform Committee approved a platform which includes for the first
time a gay marriage plank. Democrats will gather on September 3 in
Charlotte to vote on the platform.
Cooke, a member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), said that he supported
“Utah values” and that his opposition to marriage equality stems
from his faith. The Mormon Church actively supported passage of
Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban, and has been accused of
supporting groups which oppose the legalization of gay nuptials.
“To me gay marriage is part of my
religious belief and I support that and I respect other religious
beliefs and I support and love those who are in the gay community,”
Cooke told The
Salt Lake Tribune. “I think what needs to be done in Utah
is for us to all live together, be compassionate. That's what the
Democratic Party is showing.”
Cooke told the paper that he opposes
civil unions and a woman's right to an abortion, but backed allowing
gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children.