Aside from a few rainbow flags, there was little to distinguish Saturday's gay rights demonstrators from any other group of civic-minded Americans.
Kathleen Chaplin drove from Draper to support her friends and neighbors who, the 47-year-old says, are entitled to "the same rights as anyone."
Lured from a Capitol Hill apartment, 20-somethings Devin Hirschi and Tiffany Gourley joined the fray, because says Gourley, "Everyone deserves to find love, no matter where they find it."
Mary McKenzie's motivation: outrage over California's passage of Proposition 8. This was her third time demonstrating, her 10-year-old son in tow.
"I don't understand why everyone isn't outraged about people's civil rights being taken away by popular vote, no matter their sexual preference, or how they feel about homosexuality," said the 35-year-old Clinton woman. "I'm not religious, but I would defend your right to practice your religion."
About 300 people braved driving rain to take part in Saturday's march on the Utah Capitol, a peaceful event marking possibly the most expansive legislative push for gay rights in state history.
Marchers made the soggy trek from Washington Square to the Capitol, chanting and carrying signs harkening the Civil Rights movement. When they reached their destination, speakers blasted the U2 song, "In the Name of Love."
The event was timed to coincide with Monday's start of the 2009 legislative session in which lawmakers will take up a bundle of bills collectively known as the Common Ground Initiative.
These five bills would make it illegal to fire an employee or evict a tenant for being gay or transgender, provide wider rights for inheritance and health insurance and give same-sex partners the ability to sue in cases of wrongful death, among other things.
"The era of discrimination, fear, hatred and prejudice is coming to an end, said openly gay Unitarian Church Reverend Sean Dennison, addressing the crowd. "I would like to see Utah take the surprising step and lead the way."
Backed by a coalition of 30 gay activist and human rights groups, the bills have been carefully crafted to avoid the loaded topic of gay marriage and to fit with statements issued by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the aftermath of Proposition 8 banning gay same-sex unions. Though steadfastly opposed to same-sex unions, the LDS Church has clarified it does not object to granting certain rights to same-sex couples.
Recent polls show a majority of Utahns favor increased legal protections for same-sex couples.
And ranking Republicans have said they'll seriously consider the bills.
"It's hard to get too excited. At least we're getting some consideration," said 50-year-old Brent Carter of West Jordan.
For Carter, Saturday's march was personal. He would like to be able to make medical decisions for his partner of eight years. And he's hoping to get on his partner's health insurance plan.
"It would save us a lot of money," he said.
Others were more hopeful.
Said Landa Mavety of Draper who postponed a Saturday of housecleaning to support her 23-year-old lesbian daughter: "There's a long road ahead, but this is a beginning."
