The Voice - Student Newspaper

Prop 102: the battle over marriage

What is marriage?

That question is at the center of a heated debate, with voters deciding in the upcoming Nov. 4 general election.

On the ballot is Proposition 102, sometimes called the Marriage Protection Act, which will amend the Arizona Constitution by adding a phrase of 20 words.

"Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."

Current Arizona state law already prohibits same-sex marriage, but supporters of the amendment contend that Prop 102 is necessary to avoid court rulings that would allow same-sex marriage, just like previous rulings in California and Massachusetts.

"By passing this Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, we take away the power of activist judges to over-rule our law, and to dictate to us what a marriage means," said Cecil Ash, District 18 candidate for State Representative, Mesa, in a statement supporting the amendment.

Opponents of Proposition 102 believe the amendment is nothing more than anti-gay discrimination and religious fanaticism wrapped in a disguise of societal protection.

"I think it is a nonsensical amendment fueled not by logic but by emotions and fears of what gays would 'do' to the institution of marriage.

It is erasing the separation between church and state and in many contexts, including the equal protection clauses of both federal and state constitutions, could even be considered illegal," said Chantal Duquette, secretary of Compass Club, the gay and lesbian organization at Glendale Community College (GCC).

The goals of the Compass Club "are to promote equality among students of all orientations and gender identities, and to provide a safe place to discuss GLBT issues and personal concerns."

Duquette also questioned the motives of supporters of Prop 102, hoping to spark empathy from them.

"How would it make them feel to be denied an almost right that everyone else has and have no choice in the matter?

Being gay is not a choice, science can support that, and thus Proposition 102 is absolute inequality, on the same level as racial segregation."

Joe Cobb, Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. representative, District 4, Glendale, said in a statement against the amendment that "religious ideas MUST NOT become constitutional details, particularly when they infringe on personal liberties and the personal lives of private individuals."

This is not the first time that a formal ban on same-sex marriage has been on the ballot.

In 2006, Arizona voters rejected Proposition 107, which also sought to ban same-sex marriages, although the wording of that proposition included attempts to void the recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships.

The new version is sponsored in the State Senate by a Republican coalition, including Senate President Tim Bee, R-Tucson.

In the State House an identical bill is sponsored by 31 members, including House Speaker Jim Weiers, a Republican from District 10. The proposition is also backed by the Center for Arizona Policy, a social conservative group.

Another major supporter of Prop 102 is YES for Marriage, www.yesformarriage.com, a group that is partially funded by Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Greater PHX and Focus on the Family. The two groups are conservative Christian organizations.

Focus on the Family is a national and very politically active group, whose head and founder, Dr. James Dobson, notoriously proclaimed in 2005 that Spongebob Squarepants, that kid-favorite cartoon character, was promoting a "pro-homosexual" agenda after appearing in a video titled "We Are Family." The video featured over 100 kid show characters promoting the acceptance of diversity, noticeably absent were the homosexual references.

Leading the fight against the proposal is the group No on Prop 102. The organization is co-chaired by Jim Burroway and Becky Corran.

Honorary co-chairs for the group are Beth Walkup, first lady of Tucson, and Dr. Peter Likins, president emeritus of University of Arizona.In a statement on the group's website, www.votenoprop102.com, Walkup said "this divisive and hurtful measure was already rejected by voters in 2006.

Why is the legislature wasting time and money on this when there are so many other pressing issues facing us?"

Also supporting the organization is a coalition of religious officials including Rev. M. Douglas Bobbitt and Sister Anita Valdez, both of Tucson.

"This amendment is morally, religiously and financially divisive, and would be destructive to many Arizona families," said Rev. Bobbitt.

There are few issues that bring such passion out of voters; abortion, gun control, affirmative action, same-sex marriage. Issues so sensitive rarely have simple solutions.

Perhaps that is why this one keeps coming up on the ballot.

Fortunately, this is America, where everyone gets a voice, even if it is just for one Election Day. Make your voice heard, get out and vote.