Urgent Call to Protect Marriage in Arizona

Although the media may be reporting that the Arizona marriage amendment is off the ballot for this November, the truth is the battle is far from over. To ensure that the marriage referendum bills in the house and senate get a fair vote, citizens need to take action and urge the Arizona House and Senate leadership to act boldly to see that the referendum passes without amendments.

Last Thursday in the Arizona legislature opponents of the marriage amendment successfully added an amendment to include domestic partners. Their intent was to hijack the right of Arizona citizens from voting on the measure to define marriage in the Arizona Constitution as the union of one man and one woman.

A vote in favor of the domestic partners amendment was a vote against the marriage referendum. The only reason the amendment passed was because two legislators who support the original marriage amendment language left the House floor and did not vote, while a third pro-marriage vote was sick.

The original Marriage Referendum language is "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state." Until marriage is defined in Arizona's state Constitution as the union of one man and one woman, a state court or even the state legislature could act to redefine marriage.

Take Action:

1. Contact Senator President Tim Bee at 602/926-5683 or tbee@azleg.gov and House Speaker Jim Weiers 602/926-4173 or jweiers@azleg.gov and let them know that it is time for them to show leadership on this matter and let the people vote to define marriage as one man and one woman this November. Both leaders support the original bills. Now they need to act boldly to see that they pass.

2. Contact your state legislators and urge them to pass Marriage Amendment Referendum Bills HCR 2065 (House version) and SCR 1038 (Senate version) without amendments so citizens can vote on a straightforward marriage amendment this November. Arizona citizens can find contact information on their state legislators by clicking here and typing in their zip code as directed.

To see how your legislators voted on removing the domestic partner language, click here.