This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2004, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I was flummoxed to see that The Tribune published Jackie Anderson's parochial and silly letter to the editor ("Prick of the ballot," Forum, Nov. 15) addressing Amendment 3.

By framing the ban on gay marriage as a Mormon and Utah issue only, Jackie reveals her ignorance of the current events and trends in the United States. She clearly does not know that referendums banning gay marriage and civil unions passed overwhelmingly in 11 states on Nov. 2 (and previously in Missouri and Louisiana). Bans on gay marriage not only passed with 85 percent in red state Mississippi, but also passed with large pluralities in the blue states Oregon and Michigan.

Bill Clinton urged John Kerry to support a gay marriage amendment (Kerry refused), because Clinton knew it would dramatically impact the presidential election, and it did. Americans, not just Utahns and Mormons, do not want gay marriage.

Mike Paulos

American Fork