A coalition that opposes same-sex marriage will mount an initiative campaign to put a state constitutional amendment on Arizona’s 2006 ballot instead of seeking legislative action as previously planned, leaders announced Jan. 13.

“Marriage — the foundation of our society — is too important to politicize,” Center for Arizona Policy President Len Munsil said in a statement.

Some Republicans had been drafting a legislative resolution to put a same-sex marriage ban before voters, and the legislation would have enough support to pass, Mr. Munsil said.

However, recent media reports “marginalized” the issue as a political football that would be used by both Republicans and Democrats, he said.

“For that reason, we are announcing today that our coalition intends to gather signatures to place a comprehensive, constitutional marriage amendment on the 2006 ballot. We are taking this issue directly to the people,” he added.

Supporters previously said the proposed constitutional amendment would have defined marriage as being a union between a man and a woman and would have prohibited the state and local governments from providing unmarried couples with the same benefits as married couples.

Mr. Munsil said coalition members would write the proposed language for the initiative in coming months and announce the formation of a committee to gather the necessary signatures to put it on the ballot.

The Secretary of State’s Office said 183,917 valid signatures of registered voters would be needed on petitions to place a proposed amendment on the ballot.

Legislative supporters of a constitutional ban said previously they would resort to an initiative if efforts to put the ban on the 2006 ballot through a referendum failed at the Legislature.

Rep. Warde Nichols, R-21, who had been planning to sponsor the planned referendum, also said Jan. 13 it would have had enough votes to pass the Legislature.

However, “We don’t want this turned into a political football in the Legislature,” he said.

Mr. Nichols did not respond when asked if he would oppose a resolution (HCR2027) already introduced by five other Republican lawmakers to only amend the Arizona Constitution with a definition of marriage as one man and one woman and no additional prohibition on benefits or services for unmarried couples.

That measure’s chief sponsor, Rep. Marian McClure, R-30, was not immediately available for comment at press time Jan. 13 on whether she would continue to push it.

Governor Napolitano, who has said she plans to run for re-election in 2006, recently suggested that backers of a constitutional ban consider having a special election this year instead of waiting for the 2006 ballot.

Ms. Napolitano has said repeatedly she opposes same-sex marriage but believes a constitutional ban is unnecessary because courts have upheld the ban already in state law.

However, she acknowledged Jan. 5 that defining marriage in the Arizona Constitution as between a man and a woman would help prevent a judge from overturning the ban in state law.

Eleven states approved constitutional bans Nov. 2. —