Arizona voters approve anti-gay marriage amendment

Simplicity seems to have made the difference for backers of an anti-gay marriage amendment to the Arizona Constitution.

Two years after they rejected a more complicated proposal, Arizona voters approved a stripped-down version Tuesday.

Proposition 102 passed by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent.

In 2006, voters made normally socially conservative Arizona the only state to reject a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot.

Supporters came back this year with a 20-word proposal: ``Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage.''

``Proposition 102's victory shows how timeless values like marriage between one man and one woman can unite Arizonans from all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds,'' said Cathi Herron, chair of the YesforMarriage.com coalition. ``Proposition 102's simplicity made it easy for Arizonans to focus on the real issue, which was marriage.''

The measure carried no immediate practical impact since same-sex marriage already is banned in this state under a 1996 law. Supporters said adding the ban to the constitution would prevent judges from one day overturning that law.

Losing the effort to defeat the proposed amendment was "bittersweet" said Sam Holdren with Equality Arizona, noting that presidential winner Barack Obama appears receptive to gay rights.

"Obama's win for us is huge," said Holdren. "It's such a great night for us to see this amazing president who will stand up for our rights.

"Barack Obama mentioned us in his acceptance speech. How amazing is that? It's about time that somebody on a national platform recognizes gay and lesbian people."

Holdren said he did not believe opponents of Prop. 102 got their message across.

"I think if people were informed, if they really knew what wouild happen, if they knew what this was about, if they understood our community, and if we had the opportunity and the resources to communicate our message, then we would have won."

He said Equality Arizona would continue moving forward with an aggressive legislative agenda.