Prop 102: Marriage amendment to state constitution

Proposition 102 is once again on the November ballot aiming at making a change to the constitution of Arizona.

In 2006, the proposition was rejected by Arizona voters and now the proposition has been siphoned down and is only 20 words long.

If approved by voters, it will set in the constitution in stone that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.

Yuman John Abarca, supporter of the one-man/one-woman marriage, says the proposition speaks for itself and the reason he supports it is because he considers marriage a timeless truce that is between one man and one woman.

"It's basically 20 simple words that really speak for themselves. It does one thing only and it places that definition of one man and one woman in the constitution and preserves that," Abarca said.

But with the current statute in place that already contains the one-man/one-woman definition, he says he feels that the statute can be challenged by politicians or judges.

Michael Baughman of Yuma voted against the proposition back in 2006 and says he will do so again. Baughman argues that there is no reason to make that constitutional amendment because Arizona already has a statute in place that recognizes a marriage between a man and woman.

"That's an unnecessary thing to do to try to put that into the constitution," Baughman said. "They're a very small group of people that just can't let go so they want to get into the constitution to make this a big deal."

But Abarca says they do need that constitutional guarantee. A judge or a politician could still challenge the statute, deem it as unconstitutional like it once happened in California last year, and simply redefine marriage for all of Arizonans, he said.

"By placing it in the constitution, what it does is prevents politicians and judges from being the ones that will make that ultimate decision," Abarca said. "It leaves the decision to the people, to the voters, where it really needs (to be)."

Baughman argues that supporters of the one-man/one-woman proposition should instead redirect their focus and funding onto issues of importance such as health care, immigration, energy policy or the economy.

"Like I said, Arizonans already made their views known on this issue of marriage," Baughman said.

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Stephanie Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@yumasun.com or 539-6847.