Gay marriage supporters launch signature campaign

June 17, 2013

Gay marriage supporters launched a campaign Monday to change the state constitution’s definition of marriage. Equal Marriage Arizona is trying to collect more than 400,000 signatures to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot for next year.

The campaign is in anticipation of U.S. Supreme Court rulings on the federal Defense Of Marriage Act and California’s same-sex marriage ban. The Arizona amendment would define marriage as between two people rather than a man a woman, as it is currently written into the state constitution.

Equal Marriage Arizona chairman Warren Myers said this push for legalization of gay marriage is taking place across the country.

“We see 12 other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws, and we see how that’s working out for them,” Myers said. “I think it’s working well. And I think that gives people increased confidence to bring equal marriage to Arizona.”

Five years ago, Arizona voters approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make decisions on gay marriage by the end of this month.