Anti-gay marriage amendment on verge of defeat in Arizona


Arizona seems on the verge of becoming the first state to reject an anti-gay-marriage constitutional amendment by popular vote. According to CNN, with 99% of the precincts reported, the voters were rejecting Arizona Proposition 107 by a margin of 51%.

Arizona Together, the state-wide group that fought for the defeat of Proposition 107, did so with hardly any mention of the word "gay". They focussed almost exclusively on the effect the amendment would have on straight couples who choose not to legally marry. Check out the video at the No on Prop 107 page.

The No on 107 campaign in Southern Arizona also stressed the breadth of Prop. 107, noting that it would ban all domestic partnerships, take away health care from children, take away benefits from senior citizens, take away legal protections against domestic violence, etc.


TEXT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Be it enacted by the People of Arizona:

1. Article: XXX. Constitution of Arizona is proposed to be added as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

ARTICLE XXX. MARRIAGE
TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT MARRIAGE IN THIS STATE, ONLY A UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN SHALL BE VALID OR RECOGNIZED AS A MARRIAGE BY THIS STATE OR ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND NO LEGAL STATUS FOR UNMARRIED PERSONS SHALL BE CREATED OR RECOGNIZED BY THIS STATE OR ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF MARRIAGE.

2. The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article XXI, Constitution of Arizona.


Posted: Wednesday - November 08, 2006 at 10:04 AM          

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