This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Washington • Utah and seven other states where same-sex couples can marry are among 15 states urging the Supreme Court to uphold gay marriage bans and leave the matter to voters and lawmakers.
These states are telling the justices in a brief filed Thursday that the court would do "incalculable damage to our civic life" if it decides that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry nationwide.
The states say they should be free to decide the issue for themselves.
The eight states where gay and lesbian couples can marry after courts struck down bans on gay marriage are:
• Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and West Virginia.
Seven other states where same-sex marriage remains illegal also joined the brief. They are:
• Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas.