State Ballot Measures to Restrict Marriage (voted or pending) 2006
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Alabama
On June 6, Alabamians voted to have the state constitution include an amendment for marriage to be only between a man and a woman. Working in support of equal marriage:
- Equality Alabama:
This organization was formed to advance full equality and civil rights for all the people of Alabama through education and action. The organization developed from the merger of several equal rights groups, supported by a group of private citizens, who had become concerned with the anti-gay rhetoric from Alabama's increasingly conservative politicians. Equality Alabama is open to any group or individual seeking full equality for every person in Alabama.
The Protect Arizona Marriage Amendment would amend the state Constitution to preserve marriage as only consisting of the union of one man and one woman, and would prohibit creating or recognizing any legal status for unmarried persons that is similar to that of marriage. The following groups are among those working to support equal marriage:
- The Arizona Human Rights Fund and Foundation: This organization works to support LGBT equality by influencing public policy through political advocacy and legislative lobbying and by providing educational programs and information through workshops, trainings, town halls and partnerships with ally organizations.
- Arizona Together, or "No Prop 107," is a grassroots organization working to oppose the passage of the Amendment on the ballot.
- The Arizona Republic has issued an editorial (September 28, 2006) supporting a "no" vote on Prop 107, saying that it invades private rights.
Proposed Initiative 83 would amend the Colorado Constitution to specify that only a union of one man and one woman would be recognized as a marriage.
Proposed Initiative 109, concerning the legal status of marriage, would add a new section to the state constitution to read: "Neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may create or recognize a legal status similar to that of marriage…" Such action would also preclude civil unions from being established in the state.
Several groups are active in advocacy work to support equal marriage in Colorado. They include:
- Equal Rights Colorado, a volunteer based, member-driven political organization whose mission is to promote equal rights for Colorado's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities and their families through non-partisan state legislative advocacy.
- Civil Rights Now, a state-wide, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting community involvement in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender family rights movement through education, coalition building and mobilization.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment HJR 2 would amend the Idaho Constitution to protect marriage as only between a man and a woman, and would prohibit recognition by the State of Idaho, or any of its political subdivisions, of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or any other relationship that attempts to approximate marriage. This legislation was denounced in the Idaho Spokesman-Review as "unneeded and mean-spirited," in a recent editorial.
Groups working to advocate for equal marriage in Idaho include:
The South Carolina Marriage Amendment would decree that the institution of marriage in South Carolina consists only of the union between one man and one woman. No other domestic union would be considered valid or legal.
This state's proposed Constitutional Amendment C would define marriage as being between a man and a woman. The proposed legislation also states, "The uniting of two or more persons in civil union, domestic partnership, or other quasi-marital relationship shall not be recognized in South Dakota."
The Tennessee Marriage Projection Amendment would amend the state constitution to read, "The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman is contrary to the public policy of this state and shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state."
- The Tennessee Equality Project was founded in 2004 by members of the GLBT community in Nashville to organize a group of committed citizens who believe in protecting the rights of GLBT persons in Tennessee.
Ballot Question 1 would amend the state constitution to declare that "only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions." The proposed language further reads, "This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."
- Equality Virginia is a statewide, non-partisan lobbying, education and support network for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight allied (GLBT) communities in Virginia.
The Wisconsin Marriage Amendment would change the state constitution to declare, "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."
Working to against the proposed amendment and for equality are:
- Fairwisconsin.com, an action group formed to remind "fair-minded Wisconsinites in every part of the state about the dangers of this amendment."
- Block Out Wisconsin, a grass roots group working to facilitate person-to-person contact throughout the state about marriage equality and the ban on civil unions and marriage. The backbone of the effort is an "Adopt-A-Block" program that encourages people to take responsibility for educating the general voting public, sensitize the media, promote a politically active and effective organizational membership, and better inform our policy makers on issues of concern to our members.
- Action Wisconsin is a statewide organization dedicated to advancing and protecting the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through education, advocacy, grassroots organizing, coalition-building and electoral involvement.
For further information on state ballot initiatives:
Freedom to Marry, for All People
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