Defining Marriage

Let the people of Arizona define marriage
Cathi Herrod
Arizona Daily Star
February 21, 2008

Arizonans could have an opportunity to decide the future of marriage in our state in November. Resolutions introduced in the Senate and House would refer to the voters a constitutional amendment defining marriage.

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

The majority of Arizonans agree that marriage should be between one man and one woman. Gov. Napolitano has stated on multiple occasions that she believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

This amendment allows voters to decide if the Arizona Constitution should reflect and protect that belief.

Marriage is a unifying issue — for Arizonans and for all Americans. A November 2007 poll found that 65 percent of Arizonans support a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Nationwide, an average of 70 percent of people agree that marriage should be between one man and one woman. This belief cuts across religions, cultural backgrounds and political associations.

Arizonans previously have not been given an opportunity to voice their opinion on a definition of marriage that does not involve debate over domestic-partnership benefits.

This amendment is not about disagreements about benefits or domestic partnerships. This amendment is about what the majority of Arizonans agree on — defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. A constitutional amendment is necessary to protect the rights of the people of Arizona to decide on marriage. The future of marriage in Arizona should not be a judge's decision, and it should not be a politician's decision. The people should decide.

We have seen what happened in Massachusetts in 2003, when the state Supreme Court imposed a redefinition of marriage that the people of the commonwealth never agreed to. We also see active legal challenges in California, Connecticut and Iowa, where courts are being asked to overrule state statutes that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The bottom line is that a state statute cannot control what a future court or legislature might do with marriage. Approving a constitutional amendment defining marriage eliminates that uncertainty. The people of Arizona have the right to decide the future of marriage in Arizona.

So let the people decide.