A memorial asking the U.S. Congress to outlaw gay marriage passed the Arizona House of Representatives on Monday amid protests outside the Capitol.
The memorial still must pass the state Senate.
If passed there, the House concurrent memorial, introduced by Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Chandler, would officially ask Congress to place an amendment in the U.S. Constitution that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
About 30 protesters rallied outside the state Capitol before the vote and went into the House gallery to protest when the vote was cast.
Led by Rev. Brad Wishon, The Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church organized the protest to speak out against the memorial.
In a statement, Wishon said he wanted to show supporters of the measure the large amount of opposition.
Rev. Charlotte Strayhorne from the Casa De Cristo Evangelical Church said she was upset the representatives were not recognizing homosexuals as people.
"I'm pissed. We've had enough. Enough is enough," she said.
Strayhorne said she was disappointed the House was not taking the protest seriously.
ASU student Paula McCall, a first-year psychology graduate student, said she attended the protest because it is unfair that gay people cannot get the benefits of marriage.
"It's a civil rights issue," she said.
Emma Phipps, a senior in elementary education at Prescott College, said she protested because the memorial is immoral.
"I'm disappointed," she said. "It's obvious equality is not involved in people's moral values."
Rep. Ray Barnes, R-Cave Creek, said he voted for the memorial because he wants traditional marriage to be preserved.
"[Homosexuals] don't have to make it a public thing," he added.
Barnes said the memorial was not passed to stop same-sex relationships, just to stop them from becoming legally married. He said those involved in gay relationships should keep them private.
"When my wife and I close our bedroom door, we exercise our rights to love each other," he said.
But not all legislators agreed. Making same-sex marriage illegal is appalling, said Rep. Martha Garcia, D-Tolleson, who voted against the memorial.
"It takes me back to the days of segregation," she said. "It's an injustice."
Garcia said the issue is personal because one of her children is in a same-sex relationship. She loves all her children equally and does not want them to be denied the right of marriage, she said.
The vote mirrored party lines in the House, with most Republicans voting for the memorial and most Democrats against it.
Photographer Sarah Regnier contributed to this article. Reach the reporter at michael.famiglietti@asu.edu.
