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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJune 19th, 2013
Should the Supreme Court of the United States fail to make a broad ruling on marriage equality (and few think they will) a group in Arizona is getting ready to put the issue back on the 2014 ballot. (AZ Central)
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.
The initiative has the support of former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s nominee in 2012 and the leaders claim that they have commitments for funding. They are currently looking for a Democratic co-chair.
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Mark
June 19th, 2013
Given turnout disparities in younger voters between midterm and presidential years, it would seem very foolish to put this on the ballot in 2014, as opposed to 2016.
Ben in Oakland
June 19th, 2013
Just what I was thinking. It,s not got much of a chance to begin with in the Mississippi of the west. We don’t need a loss.
Stefan
June 20th, 2013
One factor which was shown in our 2012 victories is that our side now has the enthusiasm advantage. It’s not impossible to think it wouldn’t carry over into 2014. If we know we can do it in 2014 we should go for it.
Mark
June 20th, 2013
But, of course, the 2012 electorate was a presidential electorate. There’s little, if any, reason to believe that under-30 voters will vote in the same percentages in a midterm election as in a presidential election. Given that the plus-65 crowd that forms a disproportionate element of the midterm electorate hasn’t suddenly become pro-marriage, this could be a bad idea. Perhaps that’s why the most prominent backer this group seems to have is a politician who isn’t even from Arizona.
Mark F.
June 21st, 2013
Well, after looking at Nate Silver’s projections, I would optimistically call it a 50/50 tossup. I say our side gets 50.2% of the vote. It’s not totally crazy to put it on. However, we need to work hard to get all initiatives passed next year, especially this one. We can win it.
Mark F.
June 21st, 2013
AZ is not really the MS of the West. It’s more liberal than many Western states, and the libertarian streak here might be helpful.
jerry
June 23rd, 2013
I don’t agree with that line about religious individuals not being required to perform marriage ceremonies if it offends their beliefs. I would not include people with religious beliefs who are responsible for civil marriages to be allowed to insert their religious clap trap into a civil ceremony.
Churches can do what ever they like on the matter.
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