Murphy Woodhouse/KJZZ

Dozens of supporters of the marriage equality reform measure showed up to the hearing where it was first introduced in August 2019. The sign in the center reads, "Love is love."

A measure in the Sonoran congress to allow same-sex couples to marry in the state has hit another roadblock.

The initiative fell one vote shy of the seven needed to move from committee on to the full congress. Its sponsor, Deputy Yumiko Palomarez, said it could be brought back within the next several weeks.

“We have the votes in committee,” she said.

However, one member of her party Morena — Deputy Héctor Raúl Castelo — did not vote either way during the virtual meeting. Palomarez said she’s confident that the measure would pass if brought back, and that it also has enough support for approval from the full body.

Prior to the vote, several legislators expressed concern about the prospect of same-sex couples adopting children. Palomarez says the measure does not mention adoption, nor does Sonoran law require couples to be married to adopt.