Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Opponents of Arizona's Marriage Amendment Focus On Mormon Suport For Measure

In November, Arizona voters will decide whether to approve Proposition 102, a state constitutional amendment providing: "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state." Today's Arizona Star reports that Arizona Together, the main group opposing the measure, is creating a strategy to label the proposal an attempt by the Mormon church to improve its image and appear "mainstream" after a series of polygamy scandals involving groups not formally affiliated with the LDS church. Apparently much of the money backing the amendment has come from Mormon donors. Backers of the proposal charge that Arizona Together's strategy reflects religious bigotry and is a scare tactic.