.- A variety of grassroots organizations, churches, and individuals are working on state constitutional amendments for 2008 that affirm that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.
The issue could be on the 2008 ballot in Florida, California, Arizona, and Indiana. Iowa and Pennsylvania could vote on similar amendments in following elections.
Nathan Dunn, vice president of the Florida Family Policy Council, explained the reasons for pushing for a constitutional amendment versus a state law. “Despite the fact that we have a law on the books saying marriage is between a man and a woman," he said, "that law could be vulnerable to any activist judge coming along with his own agenda wanting to change that very vital institution.”
The Arizona proposal follows a marriage amendment initiative that failed in 2006, with 49 percent of the vote. Mona Passignano, state issues analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the first amendment was too complex and that simpler language would win more support.
“The polling numbers coming out of Arizona are very good on the simpler language,” she said.
Twenty-seven U.S. states have added marriage amendments to their respective constitutions.
