An unofficial web poll conducted by
Salt Lake City's Fox 13 News found nearly three quarters of
respondents support a ruling knocking down the state's ban on gay
marriage.
Gay couples raced to county clerk
offices on Friday after U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby handed
down his decision.
In his 52-page ruling, Shelby declared
Amendment 3, the state's 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment
which limits marriage to heterosexual unions, in violation of the
14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
State officials announced that they
would appeal and filed four requests for a stay in the ruling, three
of which have been rejected. The 10th Circuit Court of
Appeals in Denver is currently reviewing the state's latest request
for a stay.
(Related: Hundreds
of gay couples marry in Utah; 6 counties refuse to abide marriage
ruling.)
When
Fox 13 News asked online readers, “Do you agree with the ruling
overturning Utah's ban on same-sex marriage?” 20,433 out of 27,572
respondents, 74 percent, answered: “Yes, same-sex marriages should
be allowed in Utah.”