Red State, Rainbow Flag: What It's Like To Be Gay In Utah

[DonViejo]

BRIAN SKOLOFF, MICHELLE PRICE, PAUL FOY – DECEMBER 30, 2013, 7:45 AM EST

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has long been known as a bastion of red-state conservatism with deep roots in the Mormon faith. It's the kind of place that has historically been unwelcoming to gay marriage.

The state is the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which championed California's gay marriage ban that was eventually tossed out in court. The church looms over almost every aspect of life in Utah, where an estimated two-thirds of residents are Mormon.

But, like the rest of America, how gays are received depends on where they live. Some gay couples describe feeling hostility in conservative, heavily Mormon cities such as Provo. The suburban areas that surround Salt Lake City are a mish-mash of family-friendly communities across the political spectrum.

And Salt Lake City is more open to gays than many people outside the state realize.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/gay_utah

[awoke_in_2003]

1. The fact that Utah, of all states,

now has marriage equality is a sign, to me, that things are picking up steam.