From: AHRF@aol.com Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 20:49:43 -0400 Subject: (AZ) SB1038 MARRIAGE BAN PASSES ARIZONA SENATE URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT URGENT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ARIZONA HUMAN RIGHTS FUND SAME GENDER MARRIAGE BAN PASSES ARIZONA SENATE 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 passed the Arizona Senate by a vote of 21 YES, 9 NO on Thursday, April 18. The bill now goes to Governor Fife Symington (R) who can sign it or veto it. Governor Symington has stated that he considers this an important piece of legislation. In addition, Governor Symington used this issue in the 1994 Governor election against hid Democratic opponent who supported same gender marriages. 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, Georgia, Idaho, and South Dakota have already passed bans. Bans on same gender marriage has failed or been withdrawn in 14 states.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: Note: Calls and letters from outside of Arizona are welcome and encouraged. 1. Call Governor Fife Symington at 602-542-4331 or 1-800-253-0883 and ask him to veto SB1038. 2. Follow up with a personal letters. Letters can be addressed to: Governor Fife Symington 1700 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 or fax them to (602) 542-7601 3. Thank the members of the Arizona State Legislature who voted against SB1038: SB1038 Senate "NO" Votes - 9 total Name Dist. Party Email Phone Chris Cummiskey 25 D ccummisk@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4916 Randall Gnant 28 R rgnant@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4138 Peter Goudinoff 11 D pgoudino@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5262 Mary Hartley 20 D mhartley@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4485 James Henderson 3 D jhenders@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4323 Patricia Noland 13 R In process... 602-542-5911 Victor Soltero 10 R vsoltero@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5342 Carol Springer 1 R cspringe@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5584 Austin Turner 15 R wturner@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-4173 Letters can be sent to: The Honorable [Member Name] Arizona State Senate 1700 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 or faxed to (602) 542-3429 SB1038 House "NO" Votes - 5 total Name Dist. Party Email Phone Ken Cheuvront 25 D kcheuvron@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5895 Jorge Luis Garcia 11 D jgarcia@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-3395 Joe Eddie Lopez 22 D jlopez@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5830 Ruben F. Ortega 8 D rortega@azleg.state.az.us 602-542-5761 Elaine Richardson 11 D In process... 602-542-4893 Letters can be sent to: The Honorable [Member Name] Arizona House of Representatives 1700 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007 or faxed to (602) 542-4208 --------------------------- Web pages and e-mail links to members of the Senate can be found at: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/members/senate.htm http://www.azleg.state.az.us/members/house.htm If you are outside of Maricopa County you may call 1-800-352-8404 and they will connect you with the appropriate legislative office. 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 Text of SB1038 "Same Sex Marriages" can be found at: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/42leg/2r/bills/sb1038h.htm ----------------------------- 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.