PHOENIX — The Arizona House of Representatives Tuesday voted 33 to 25 (with two absent), to pass a resolution that, if adopted by the Senate, would bring another constitutional amendment to define marriage before voters in November, according to reports. If adopted, gay rights activists fear the amendment would spark lawsuits from anti-domestic partnership activists challenging domestic benefits for unmarried couples, a threat that has played out in states that have enacted similar marriage amendments. “With their yes votes … today, 33 members of the Arizona House of Representatives said they want more litigation that threatens to take away domestic benefits from unmarried couples,” said Barbara McCullough-Jones, director of Equality Arizona. “Thirty-three members want to force Arizona voters to vote again on an issue that has already been decided — by the legislature, by the courts and by the voters.” Members of the anti-gay Center for Arizona Policy were joyous about the outcome. On the Policy web site, conservative activists thanked their supporters for the outcome and said, “Pray for our legislative efforts to be successful.”
