Marriage equality update

Arizona

Tucson expands same-sex couples law

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Tucson city councilors have voted to give same-sex couples broader legal recognition in signing contracts. The Arizona Daily Star reports (http://bit.ly/11AEfoV) that councilors voted 6-0 this week to allow sex-same couples to file contracts regarding inheritance rights, power of attorney, living wills and the ability to resolve disputes if couples breaks up. The change adds more teeth to the city's domestic-partner ordinance passed in 2003. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild says the enhanced ordinance will give same-sex couples some of the same rights that married, heterosexual couples enjoy. City Attorney Mike Rankin says as long as the city doesn't offer rights reserved for married couples, the measure should not violate state law.

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Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com

Gay marriage group hopes to change AZ constitution

CRISTINA SILVA, Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Gay marriage proponents launched a campaign Monday to change the Arizona constitution's definition of marriage a mere five years after voters approved a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages and as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to weigh in this month on the national debate on marriageequality.

The newly formed Equal Marriage Arizona campaign hopes to collect roughly 400,000 signatures to get its constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2014. It would define marriage as between two persons rather than a man and a woman. The measure states that religious organizations wouldn't be required to officiate agay marriage.

The petition drive comes as the Supreme Court is expected to release its ruling this month on gay marriage. Many observers believe the court will rule that individual states must decide whether gay marriage should be legal, and Equal Marriage Arizona wants to position voters to change the state's course on marriage equality. "The attitudes of this state, of the people of this state, have changed a lot," said Warren Meyer, a Phoenix business owner leading the initiative effort. "We believe that Arizonans are ready for equal marriage."

It's unclear whether Arizona's many conservative voters will make that leap. The 2008 gay marriage ban passed with 56 percent of the vote. More recently, Bisbee became the first Arizona city to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples in April. Several other cities, including Tempe, have since said they are considering similar civil union ordinances.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by late June in two cases involving same-sex marriage. One is a challenge to California's voter-approved Proposition 8 that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The other seeks to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act that denies government benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

Equal Marriage Arizona's organizers submitted paperwork to launch their campaign Monday with the Arizona Secretary of State's office. They said they will wait for the Supreme Court's decision before launching their signature drive. The campaign expects to receive local and national donations to fund the ballot effort, which will include paid signature gathers. Organizers said they will appeal to religious voters by making the case that gay marriage ensures individual liberty. "It's about equality," said organizer Erin Ogletree Simpson, chair of the Arizona Log Cabin Republican. "The one way to ensure equality is to have the same kind of legally recognized rights, responsibilities, obligations." In May, Minnesota became the 12th state, plus the District of Columbia, to approve same-sex unions. The others are: Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington.

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Florida

Fla. group seeks to build support for gay marriage

BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A group that supports same-sex marriage in Florida said Wednesday that it isn't confident an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling will nullify the state's gay marriage ban and is starting a public opinion campaign while waiting for the court to decide. The idea is to build public support for gay marriage in Florida and eventually overturn the state's ban regardless of the Supreme Court's rulings on a similar ban in California and separately the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

"We think it's going to be a wake-up call for a lot of people who are thinking that the Supreme Court is going to rule and the next day they can finally get married," said Equality Florida executive Nadine Smith. If the Supreme Court ruling isn't sweeping enough to nullify Florida's ban, the group will have a challenge stripping the same-sex marriage ban from the state constitution. Florida voters approved the amendment 61.9 percent to 38.1 percent. It would take 60 percent of the state's voters to repeal the amendment.

And to even get on the ballot it would require either action by the Legislature — which won't happen while both chambers are nearly two-thirds Republican — or a petition drive that would require the signatures of 683,149 registered voters. Smith said she believes a majority of Floridians now support same-sex marriage. "All of us know people who have gone from a place of staunch opposition to actual support and we're seeing more and more of that," Smith said.

Still, the 60 percent threshold is a concern. The group plans to use rallies, T-shirts, bumper stickers and celebrities and elected officials who do support same-sex marriage to garner support for the idea. They're calling the effort "Get Engaged." Among those who have been converted is former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who signed the petition to put the gay-marriage ban on the ballot and who said he later voted for the ban. Now a Democrat and considering another run for governor, Crist says he supports same-sex marriage. Republican Gov. Rick Scott is staying out of the argument, however. Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz noted that voters put the ban in the constitution before he was governor and that he is focused on other issues.

The man who led the petition drive to put the gay marriage ban on the ballot said he doesn't think the Equality Florida effort will succeed. "I'm not aware that they have any significant money or resources," said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council. "I don't see this as a serious legal threat. The people of Florida have spoken."

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Follow Brendan Farrington on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bsfarrington

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Illinois

Equality Illinois gears up for 2014 election fight

CHICAGO (AP) — Advocacy group Equality Illinois says it's getting ready to launch a $500,000 effort to promote gay marriage ahead of the 2014 election. The civil rights group says half the money will go toward voter education efforts, while the remainder will be used by the group's political action committee to fight opponents.

Equality Illinois says an organization opposed to gay marriage has pledged $250,000 to oppose lawmakers — particularly Republicans — who supported an effort to let same-sex couples wed in the state. Lawmakers in the House adjourned last month without a vote on a measure that would have made Illinois the 13th state to allow gay marriage. The bill's sponsor said he didn't have enough votes to pass the legislation, which had already been approved in the state Senate.

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Wisconsin

Wis. Supreme Court takes domestic partner case

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided to hear a challenge to the state's domestic partner registry. The registry grants same-sex couples a host of legal rights.

Members of the conservative group Wisconsin Family Action filed a lawsuit in 2010 alleging the registry violates a 2006 state constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage or anything substantially similar.

The 4th District Court of Appeals in December upheld the registry, listing a number of rights married couples enjoy that same-sex couples don't even if they join the registry.

The Supreme Court's spokesman issued a statement Friday saying the court would take the case. The statement didn't include any explanation why. It's unclear when the court might hear arguments or render a decision.

All articles are Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.