Utah State Representative LaVar
Christensen on Wednesday abandoned a trio of bills criticized as
anti-gay, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The Republican said he pulled the bills
because the issues are too important to be rushed during an already
overloaded session.
“I sincerely respect the different
views and perspectives,” Christensen said in a statement. “I
would like to have time for that dialogue to continue so there is no
confusion, misunderstanding or unintended consequences in the bills
as they may ultimately be adopted.”
One of the dropped bills states that
married heterosexual families are the “fundamental unit of
society.”
The bill states: “Marriage and family
predate all governments and are supported by and consistent with the
Laws of Nature and Nature's God, the Creator and Supreme Judge of the
World, affirmed in the nation's founding Declaration of
Independence.”
Another measure aimed to make
“unlawful” transactions “void and unenforceable.”
Gay rights activists in the state
pointed out that together the bills could outlaw recognition of gay
families by canceling out contracts entered into by couples, such as
wills and medical directives.
Christensen had said his legislation
would strengthen Utah's protections of religious freedom and the
family.
Christensen authored Utah's 2004
voter-approved amendment that defines marriage as a heterosexual
union.