Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections released a poll in February that found 43 percent of Utahns supported civil unions and 28 percent backed legalizing gay marriage, while 29 percent opposed any recognition of same-sex relationships.

The political scientists found a big partisan gap, though, with 3 percent of Democrats opposing any recognition of gay couples, compared with 42 percent of Republicans and 18 percent of independents.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll from May found that 53 percent of Americans support gay marriage and 39 percent oppose efforts to legalize it.