Monday, May 12th, 2008...5:00 am
McClure Switches
I this e-mail was forwarded to me this weekend. If you plan on making a call, make sure to do it this morning.
Hi Everyone,
Last night, I attended the annual Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats banquet, held in conjunction with the conference of the National Stonewall Democrats. It was great to see many friends and elected officials who are our staunchest allies.
Among the speakers was Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who reported that prior to the dinner she heard some bad news.
Rep Marian McClure (R-30) has decided to switch her vote to “yes” on the pending anti-marriage amendment in the House. This means that the bill will likely pass on Monday.
In a nutshell, McClure is afraid that if she doesn’t vote yes, she will not receive the support from conservatives she needs to win her planned run for the Corporation Commission.
Our supporters in the AZ legislature recommend that we all call McClure’s office at (602) 926-3312 and ask her to vote “what she knows is right in her heart.”
While McClure does not support full marriage equality, she knows that this amendment is harmful and divisive and does not want to support it. She also doesn’t want to be the focus of right-wing attacks as the person who stopped it from passing in the house.
Please take a minute to call McClure at (602) 926-3312. Afterwards, please send an email to your contact list asking your friends to do the same. I’d like for this email to be the start of a viral campaign that will produce hundreds of calls to McClure’s office before she arrives on Monday morning.
If you have contacts at other LGBT and allied organizations in Arizona, please ask them to also forward your message and call to action to their members and contact lists.
In a respectful and honorable tone, we need to show McClure that we can be just as active as our conservative opponents.
Thank you,
Jason Cianciotto
Executive Director
Wingspan
10 Comments
May 12th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Thanks, Ted!
May 12th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
The House just passed this thing like a painful kidney stone.
The vote was 33-22 with two not voting.
McClure blathered about how the only assault on marriage came from husbands cheating on wives, and wives on husbands - but then she voted in support of this assault on individual civil rights.
Kyrsten Sinema made a valiant effort to kill it by raising an objection 0n grounds it was insulting. It is, of course, to anyone who is sentient, but since the Rs control rules, they ran over her.
All the Democrats, with the exception of Jack Brown, voted no, with several empassioned speeches. Mark Desimone from Phoenix, and Barbara McGuire, from Pinal Co., did not vote.
Pete Hershberger voted no too, but all the other Rs voted yes.
Now it goes back to the Senate. I wonder what Bee will do?
May 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
You should have posted this last night
May 12th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Damn…this is a real bummer.
I want to say something. Beyond the fact that this bill and its authors truly disgust me (because they are purposely hurting people for political gain), this will have an impact on our economy.
Let me give one example, the American Political Science Association, with thousands of members is currently debating whether to hold its conferences in states that have these types of measures in their constitutions. This is a BIG conference and is only one small example of what other organizations are doing now and will continue to do in response to this type of bigotry..if it passes. They are currently considering whether to cancel a contract with the City of New Orleans because of a statewide constitutional change after the Goodridge decision in Mass.
Others knew of these types of economic problems when the amendment came up last time. This is only one reason why folks like Pete Likins, Mayor Walkup, and tons of business leaders opposed it. The amendment sends a really really bigoted message to any in the LGBT community who might consider moving here or living here. It also sends the same message to more and more straights who find these amendments and the politics behind them…repulsive.
May 12th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Do most of you know that this issue is generational? Most under the age of 40 have no problem with same sex marriage, but those who are older do.
The reason I say this is not to pick on our cooler, older citizens, but to note what a Constitutional amendment means. While same sex marriage is against the law now by statute, constitutional amendments are much harder to undo. This will essentially ties the hands of future generations who do not support this kind of bigotry.
The amendments have also been read, via intent, by courts in states like Michigan to deny basic rights to same sex couple for benefits that are extended willingly by the state…at universities, in cities, etc. Finally, it puts a major damper on the ability to get the compromised position of civil unions (which a majority of Americans DO support).
Sigh…I am so ashamed that I came here sometimes.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
First, it’s time to quote that great philosopher Yogi Berra: It ain’t over ’till it’s over.
Second, we defeated this turkey at the polls in 2006, and if necessary we can take it on in 2008.
Third, generalizations may hold some truth, but they inevitably lead to distortion.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen the south side of my 40th birthday, Kral, and I sure as hell will oppose this with every fiber of my being.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I was very sad to see this thing pass today and will happily join everyone who has already posted in actively opposing this and any other measure that is such an insult to basic human rights.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Another typical day in the Arizona State House. Hope the State Senate is smarter. Make sure you contact your Senator (mine is Paula Aboud who has already been fighting this for months) and any friends you have with Senators that could be swayed to vote no. This is a civil rights issue folks, and this legislation is not necessary as marriage is already legally defined as only between a man and a woman in this state (which I don’t happen to agree with).
May 13th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I am firmly convinced that most Americans were born with a sanity gene missing, and a bunch of the insane types make Arizona their home.
The R’s have to upset their base to ensure they go out to vote this time around since their party is pathetically on the fritz. Upset the crazy’s and right away things look better for people Like McClure who is vying for a state-wide seat.
Selfish woman that she is, sold the rights of gay tax payers up the river so SHE could benefit. What a nasty way to do business in this state.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Nicely said Bridget. This is without a doubt an example of trying to attract their base to the polls. Which, in my opinion, makes it even MORE disgusting. I can disagree with someone who thinks it should be law for moral reasons, but when good people are hurt for political gain, it is sick.
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