Marriage Amendment Back on the Table in Arizona

In 2006, Arizona voters made history, becoming the first state to defeat an anti-gay amendment to their state constitution.  This happened in large part due to the successful media and public education efforts of a coalition of LGBT and progressive groups, who successfully used advertising and media campaigns to educate voters about the necessity of domestic partnership legal protections for families of all kinds in the state.
 
This year, the leadership in both the Arizona House of Representatives and Senate have introduced a scaled back version of that same proposed amendment.  This time, the amendment is solely focused on gay and lesbian partners - the updated amendment defines marriage in the constitution in a way that excludes gay and lesbian couples.
 
As the election approaches, GLAAD will be keeping an eye on media coverage of this continued debate, and working to support groups within Arizona to ensure that media coverage of this electoral conversation focuses on the direct impact such a measure will have on loving, committed couples.  We’ll be working to get the stories of Arizona residents into the media to get conversations going about the real life effects the proposal could have on members of the LGBT community in the state. 

Paul Karr is the Director of Media Field Strategy