The Arizona House voted 33-25 Monday in favor of a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. If the Senate approves the amendment, it will appear on the November ballot.
Cathi Herrod, president of The Center for Arizona Policy, said she anticipates a close vote in the Senate.
“Opponents to the marriage amendment in Arizona have done every desperate political maneuver they can think of to block this, to block the Arizona voters from being able to have a say on a definition of marriage,” she said.
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about doing what’s right, and it’s about keeping the family unit being headed by husband and wife.”
Brian Raum, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said the future of marriage should be decided by Arizonans, not by politicians or the courts.
Public opinion polls show 65 percent of Arizonans support traditional marriage.
“The people of Arizona agree that marriage is between one man and one woman," Raum said, "and it’s important to establish that in the Constitution so that future attacks would not be possible in the courts.
“Marriage is important to every person in this country. It’s the backbone of our society. It’s what creates strong families.”
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Twenty-seven states have voted to amend their constitutions to protect traditional marriage.
