Voters approve proposal to ban gay marriage

Another loss.

Voters approve proposal to ban gay marriage

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Nov. 5, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
The second time around proved the charm, as Arizona voters approved a constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage.

Proposition 102 proposed a 20-word amendment to the state Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. It's an attempt to do what backers couldn't do in 2006: ensure that Arizona's existing law banning same-sex marriages will not be overturned by a judge.

"Prop. 102's victory shows that a simple and timeless value like marriage unites people of all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds," said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, which lobbied heavily to get lawmakers to refer the matter to the ballot.
In 2006, Arizona voters rejected a same-sex marriage amendment, making it the only state ever to turn down such a ban. However, that measure included a provision that would have barred state and local governments from offering domestic-partner benefits to their employees, and many felt that doomed the measure two years ago.


The marriage amendment returned to the political arena this year after a contentious debate in the state Senate that mirrored the passions the marriage issue creates in society.

Its immediate effect is no change: Same-sex marriage already is against the law in Arizona and the ban has been upheld by the courts.

But proponents, many of them coming from Arizona's churches, argued that the constitutional amendment is needed to guard against a potential legal turnabout.

A similar ban passed in Florida and appeared to be winning in California.