Arizona voters will get another chance to define marriage in November, thanks to a 16-4 state Senate vote Friday. Two years ago, a more complex marriage-protection amendment failed at the polls by 2 percentage points.
This year's amendment states that "only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."
Peter Gentala, general counsel for The Center for Arizona Policy Action, called the victory “tremendous news” for Arizona residents and their children.
“We know that when a child doesn’t have mom or dad in their lives, it puts them at risk,” he said. “In Arizona … the voters are going to have a chance to decide to reaffirm a law that’s fundamentally about the protection of children and about passing on strength and stability to the next generation.”
Brian Raum, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said California, which legalized same-sex “marriage” in May, proves that a state law is not enough to protect marriage.
“All one needs to do is look at California to see why Arizona needs to have a constitutional amendment on marriage,” he said. “This referendum gives Arizonans the opportunity to decide the future of marriage in Arizona.”
Polls show 65 percent of Arizonans support traditional marriage.
“We definitely think Arizonans are going to vote to reaffirm marriage,” Gentala said. “They understand that their vote is going to decide whether marriage will be protected in the future, and they don’t approve of politicians or judges deliberately depriving children of a mom or dad.”
