Gay rights issues were among those which sharply divided Gov. Butch Otter and challenger A.J. Balukoff at a gubernatorial debate Thursday in Idaho Falls.

Otter said he's upholding his oath to defend the state's Constitution by continuing the court battle to keep gay marriage banned in Idaho.

Balukoff said the ban is discriminatory and violates the U.S. Constitution.

Betsy Russell wrote in her Eye on Boise blog that Balukoff said if elected, he would take the lead on adding the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the Idaho Human Rights Act.

Activists have been working in recent years to get the Legislature to add the additional language to the act, a move which would add protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

To date, lawmakers have refused to hold a hearing to consider whether to "Add the Words."

Russell reported that during the debate, Otter said he believes the Legislature should hold a hearing.

"He (Otter) added, 'I would say probably next year, most likely next year you will see a hearing for adding the words,'" Russell wrote.

Meanwhile, the Idaho Republican Party responded to the court battle over gay marriage with a statement Thursday supporting efforts by Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden to keep same-sex marriage off the books in the state.

The statement says the party platform "calls upon government officials and legislators to protect the traditional family and use all means possible to prevent expansion of the definition of marriage beyond that of a bond between one man and one woman."