Arizona Puts Gay Marriage Ban on Ballot, Again

Arizona voters will decide again in November whether to change the state's constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

A 16-4 vote by the state senate on Friday night sends the gay marriage ban to the ballot. It had previously been approved by the house.

Arizona voters rejected a similar state constitutional amendment in 2006. That measure would have also stopped the state from recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples.

Arizona law already prohibits same-sex marriages. Supporters say this proposal would protect the sanctity of families by preventing judges from overturning the 1996 state law.

Sen. Paula Aboud of Tucson, who is gay, accused the amendment's supporters of being "afraid of me and my relationship." (AP)

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Name: Mark
Date posted: 7/1/2008 12:05:00 PM
Hometown: Tampa

Comment:
This is disappointing to hear, since AZ voters have already rejected this once. But I'm sure it's because of what happened next door in California. The Religious Wrong will fan hysteria that what happened in CA might spill over into AZ. It's also disappointing because my partner and I have been pursuing jobs in AZ, in hopes of getting the hell out of homophobic Florida! Out of the frying pan and into the fire?
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Name: Xavier Chapa
Date posted: 7/1/2008 4:46:00 AM
Hometown: Hamburg, Germany

Comment:
Dwayne: Of course it doesn't threaten anyone's relationship. Unless, of course they are admitting to have gay tendencies. It's a cover up from the religious right to propagate fear because we all know that you can make lots of money when you rally people on a fear topic. Look at Nazi Germany, The Red Scare, 9/11. It's sick and twisted and that's why Obama's position to leave marriage equality up to the states is a poor policy!
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Name: Dwayne
Date posted: 6/30/2008 10:07:00 PM
Hometown: Tucson, AZ

Comment:
As a gay man, who registered in our city's domestic partnership back in Dec of 2003, I still haven't seen any kind of proof that my relationship will harm straight people's marriages. Yet, we are continually forced to address that fear. Why? Can anyone tell me? Let's all rally and vote on this one more time!!!!

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