Rep. Kyrsten Sinema

In the past, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, has been liberal thorn in the side of the Republicans, especially social conservatives, at the state Capitol – an annoying irritation but someone that GOP leaders could work around when she tried to stand in the way of their agenda.

On Wednesday, Sinema showed she has gained enough political influence and knowledge of the legislative process that she’s become a real obstacle to Republicans and a player they will have to take more seriously in the future.

Sinema appears to have thwarted plans by Republicans to have another public vote this year on a state constitutional amendment to forever ban state-sanctioned gay marriages.

After a similar amendment was defeated by Arizona voters in 2006, both opponents and supporters agreed the problem was that initiative dealt not only with marriage licenses, but also threatened the legal rights and employee benefits of at least some unmarried, heterosexual couples.

So social conservatives decided to simplify the issue this year with a new amendment that just says marriage licenses can only be issued to a couple involving one man and one woman. This was supposed to make for a clear choice between rejecting gay marriages or endorsing them.

But by just one House vote, Sinema was able Wednesday to change the House version of the proposed amendment to offer some legal protections for two unmarried people “in an emotionally committed relationship” who also share domestic or financial responsibilities.

Sinema still prevailed after Republican leadership tried a couple of parliamentary tricks to remove her change. House Speaker Pro Tem Bob Robson, R-Chandler, even held open a roll call vote for several minutes, in case one of the five absent House members would come to the floor to reverse the outcome. But to no avail.

From the perspective of gay rights advocates, Sinema’s move was brilliant. Democrats know they won’t repeal the current ban on gay marriage already in state law. But Sinema’s proposal takes steps in that direction by offering the first-ever constitutional protections to nontraditional couples.

Moderate and liberal Republicans could support the rights of unmarried couples while also saying they were supporting the overall ban on gay marriages. Reps. Michele Reagan, R-Scottsdale, and Pete Hershberger, R-Tucson, were among those who crossed over to help the Democrats on this one.

And the gay marriage bill was the last measure on the House calendar Wednesday. So any lawmakers who would prefer to not be pinned down on the issue could leave the Capitol entirely.

Of course, a new set of constitutional rights for gay couples is exactly what social conservatives don’t want to happen. So unless they can find enough House members to switch their support away from Sinema’s proposal, no constitutional amendment on gay marriage will be on the November general election ballot.

Posted in: Arizona Legislature |

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