Just days after the Tucson City Council voted this week to allow same-sex civil unions, a group calling itself Marriage Equality Arizona filed paperwork with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office to start gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to redefine marriage as “a union of two persons.”
According to yesterday’s Arizona Republic, “the initiative also includes a clause stating that religious organizations or individuals cannot be required to officiate a marriage if they have religious objections.”
Could we be close to seeing the end of (one aspect of) Arizona as Crazyland or is this a harbinger of a zombie apocalypse just around the corner? Time will tell.
The Supreme Court will issue an opinion in a lawsuit alleging California’s Proposition 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Theories abound as to how the high court will rule and how broadly. But one theory is that the court will let states decide the issue.
If that happens, a new political group, Equal Marriage Arizona, will jump into action.
The group filed paperwork Monday with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office to begin gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to redefine marriage as “a union of two persons.” The initiative also includes a clause stating that religious organizations or individuals cannot be required to officiate a marriage if they have religious objections.
The group’s co-chairs, Phoenix Libertarian businessman Warren Meyer and retired Tucson attorney Erin Ogletree Simpson, chairwoman of the Log Cabin Republicans of Arizona, said they will begin collecting the required 259,213 signatures as soon as the Supreme Court rules. They have until July 3, 2014.
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2013.
“It’s Time: Marriage Equality Arizona”
It’s actually WAY overdue, But who keeps track of those things anyways?
(Hint: Couples who are in same-sex relationships.)
Marriage for everyone. Holy crap people c’mon, let’s not hate.
It will never get past the voters of this great state thankfully!
RacistPride would be a more appropriate handle for you than AZPride. You’re one of the reasons that Arizona isn’t a great state.
Okay, I didn’t think the above comment through before I posted it. BigotPride would be a more appropriate handle. Asshat works well also.
Asshat is perfect.
I’m glad you approve Mari! I almost thought my comments would be removed. DC
‘Marriage of two persons,’ does that mean two corporations can get married?
I would really like to see all the divorce attorneys in this city rise up and get marriage equality passed! Thats double the work peoples!
There is no good reason to deny that we must keep evolving until an adult, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, monogamy or polyamory, race, or religion is free to marry any and all consenting adults. The limited same-gender freedom to marry is a great and historic step, but is NOT full marriage equality, because equality “just for some” is not equality. Let’s stand up for EVERY ADULT’S right to marry the person(s) they love. Get on the right side of history!
Polls show that the majority of Arizonans believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Its only a matter of time before Arizona becomes the great equal state I know it can be!
Happy Birthday Michael young, if your birthday i 8/14 /51 or 52.