Utah

Gay-Straight Alliances at 3 local high schools in St. George, Utah (pop. 73,000) can finally meet in this conservative, largely Mormon city, which means dozens of gay students and their supporters can legally support each other. Last year, only 9 HS in Utah had active Gay-Straight Alliances - now the number has reached 32. The new groups are part of a drastic rise this Fall in the number of clubs in Utah, reflecting new activism by gay and lesbian students.

Gay-Straight Alliances at 3 local high schools in St. George, Utah (pop. 73,000) can finally meet in this conservative, largely Mormon city, which means dozens of gay students and their supporters can legally support each other.

Last year, only 9 HS in Utah had active Gay-Straight Alliances - now the number has reached 32. The new groups are part of a drastic rise this Fall in the number of clubs in Utah, reflecting new activism by gay and lesbian students.

Leonard Ridley - from Springville, Utah - wants to introduce discussion among children about homosexuality at an early age, so he's placed signs that make positive statements about gays aimed at kids playing in Art City Elementary School’s playground (pictured). Ridley says the signs are meant to clear up misconceptions about gay people. “This is the way to combat prejudice. To open the issue up for discussion,” said Ridley.

After giving birth as a surrogate for her two gay friends, Utah's Rep. Christine Johnson is moving to South Carolina - to head South Carolina Equality. This month, she gave birth to the baby, a boy. Johnson reports the infant is healthy and at home with his dads, both close friends of hers. She plans to maintain an aunt-like relationship with the child, who is the biological son of Johnson and one of the two gay men.

The Fairness Campaign is opposing Kentucky Senate Bill 68 [sponsored by state Sen. Gary Tapp, R-Shelbyville] that would bar gay and lesbian couples from adopting children.

The AP reports that the measure would allow children to be placed only in adoptive or foster homes with people who "are not cohabiting outside of a marriage that is legally valid in Kentucky."

A spokeswoman for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. [pictured], said Monday, that Huntsman backs Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative, a legislative effort that would provide some rights to gay and transgender Utahns. Even more, the Republican governor favors civil unions.

The Salt Lake Tribune says Utah's conservative-moral crusaders - who are brandishing what they call "common sense" to rebuff the push from gay-rights advocates for "common ground" - may be making a common mistake.

Their fears that granting any rights to same-sex couples inevitably leads to legalization of gay marriage are overblown, legal experts say.