From: AHRF@aol.com Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 02:23:03 -0400 Subject: (AZ) SAME GENDER MARRIAGE BAN PASSES HOUSE URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ARIZONA HUMAN RIGHTS FUND SAME GENDER MARRIAGE BAN PASSES ARIZONA HOUSE Arizona Representative Tom Smith has reintroduced legislation that would ban same-sex unions performed in other states from being legally recognized in Arizona. This legislation was introduced in the form of a strike everything amendment to Senate Bill (SB) 1038. The amendment passed the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 10 YES, 3 NO, and 1 ABSENT on April 10. SB 1038 (NOW: Same sex marriages) passed the Arizona House by a vote of 50 YES, 5 NO, and 5 NOT VOTING on April 12. SB 1038 now heads to the Senate. BACKGROUND: A recent Hawaii Supreme Court ruling makes it more likely that same sex marriages will be legalized in Hawaii sometime in late 1997 or even into 1998. The full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution would require states to recognize such partnerships throughout the country. In anticipation of the ruling radical right legislators in 27 states are attempting to pass bans on same gender marriages. Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and South Dakota have already passed bans. Bans on same gender marriage has failed or been withdrawn in 12 states. TALKING POINTS 1. This legislation is unneeded. Hawaii has not legalized same gender marriages. A final decision in the Hawaii case in over a year away. Arizona law currently does not allow same gender marriages. 2. The bill is unconstitutional. It violates the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution which requires states to recognize the official acts (like marriage) of other states. 3. This law will most likely end up in court at taxpayer expense. 4. This bill will invalidate existing marriages in Arizona. Arizona currently recognizes marriages between first cousins performed in other states. Passage of this bill would void the marriages of many Arizona couples, each of whom could then sue the state. ACTION REQUIRED: 1. Call President of the Senate John Greene at (602) 542-4233 and ask him to hold SB 1038. 2. Call and/or e-mail the members of the Arizona Senate (especially your own) and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 1038. Name Dist. Party Email Phone Gus Arzberger 8 D garzberg@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4321 Stan Barnes 21 R sbarnes@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5288 Keith A. Bee 9 R Kbee@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5683 Janice Kay Brewer 19 R jbrewer@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4136 Brenda Burns 17 R In process... 602-542-3160 Jim Buster 5 R In process... 602-542-4139 Robert Chastain 7 D rchastai@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5685 Larry Chesley 30 R lchesley@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5325 Chris Cummiskey 25 D ccummisk@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4916 Ann Day 12 R aday@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4326 Randall Gnant 28 R rgnant@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4138 Peter Goudinoff 11 D pgoudino@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5262 John Greene 24 R In process... 602-542-4233 Bill Hardt 4 D In process... 602-542-4129 Mary Hartley 20 D mhartley@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4485 James Henderson 3 D jhenders@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4323 John Huppenthal 6 R jhuppent@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4178 John Kaites 16 R jkaites@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5911 Sandra D. Kennedy 23 D In process... 602-542-7830 Patricia Noland 13 R In process... 602-542-5911 Tom Patterson 26 R In process... 602-542-5955 Lito" Pena 22 D mpena@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4171 David Petersen 29 R dpeterse@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4481 Gary Richardson 27 R grichard@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4124 Ruth Solomon 14 D rsolomon@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5993 Victor Soltero 10 R vsoltero@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5342 Marc Spitzer 18 R mspitzer@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4480 Carol Springer 1 R cspringe@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5584 Austin Turner 15 R wturner@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4173 John Wettaw 2 R jwettaw@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4486 Web pages and e-mail links to members of the Senate can be found at: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/members/senate.htm If you are outside of Maricopa County you may call 1-800-352-8404 and they will connect you with the appropriate Senate office. If you need to know which legislative district you live in check the back of your voter card, or call the Senate Information Desk at (602) 542-3559 2. Call Governor Fife Symington at (602) 542-4331 and ask him to veto SB1038 if it passes. (Note: Governor Symington is currently pushing for the passage of this bill) 3. Follow up with letters. Letters can be addressed to: President John Greene Arizona State Senate 1700 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 The Honorable [member name] Arizona State Senate 1700 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 Governor Fife Symington 1700 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 or letters can be faxed to (602) 542-3429 NOTE: All calls and letters should be non-confrontational and polite. The Arizona Legislative Information Service (ALIS) can be found at: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ Through ALIS you can access text of bills, floor and committee votes, members bios, etc. Status of Senate Bill 1038 "NOW: Same sex marriages" can be found at: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/42leg/2r/bills/sb1038o.htm Here is a copy of the proposed law: Additions are in CAPITAL letters Forty-second Legislature Second Regular Session JUD PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO S.B. 1038 (Reference to Senate engrossed bill) Strike everything after the enacting clause, insert: "Section 1. Section 25-101, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 25-101. Void and prohibited marriages A. Marriage between parents and children, including grandparents and grandchildren of every degree, between brothers and sisters of the one-half as well as whole blood, and between uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews and between first cousins, is prohibited and void. B. Notwithstanding subsection A, first cousins may marry if both are sixty-five years of age or older or if one or both first cousins are under sixty-five years of age, upon approval of any superior court judge in the state if proof has been presented to the judge that one of the cousins is unable to reproduce. C. MARRIAGE BETWEEN PERSONS OF THE SAME SEX IS PROHIBITED Sec. 2. Section 25-112, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 25-112. Marriages contracted in another state; validity and effect A. Marriages valid by the laws of the place where contracted are valid in this state, EXCEPT MARRIAGES THAT ARE VOID OR PROHIBITED BY SECTION 25-101. B. Marriages solemnized in another state or country by parties intending at the time to reside in this state shall have the same legal consequences and effect as if solemnized in this state, EXCEPT MARRIAGES THAT ARE VOID OR PROHIBITED BY SECTION 25-101. C. Parties residing in this state may not evade the laws of this state relating to marriage by going to another state or country for solemnization of the marriage" Amend title to conform TOM SMITH cla 4/8/96 3:58 pm -------------------------------------------------------------- ARIZONA HUMAN RIGHTS FUND P.O. Box 25044 Phoenix, AZ 85002 voice mail: (602) 530-1660 fax: (602) 275-7384 e-mail: ahrf@aol.com NOTE: To be added or removed from our e-mail Action Alert list please e-mail us.