Some Arizona legislators are asking Congress to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Introduced by Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Chandler, a house concurrent memorial would ask Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to make same-sex marriage illegal in the United States.
Unlike a bill, which introduces potential state laws, a memorial is a way for state legislators to ask another governing body to examine an issue.
The memorial has passed the House Rules and Judiciary committees, but still must pass the entire House and Senate to go into effect.
The House will vote on the issue Monday.
"We want to protect a marriage between one man and one woman," Nichols said.
Representatives are also considering a resolution that would define marriage as "the union of one man and one woman" in the state.
Arizona wants to protect the foundation of marriage and make it impossible for judges to make their own decisions, Nichols said.
If same-sex marriage were legal, it would allow homosexuals to force their views on society, he said.
The state doesn't want children learning about same-sex marriage in school and thinking it's acceptable, he added.
Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Tolleson, voted against the memorial.
Gallardo said the memorial is an equal-rights issue.
The decision of same-sex marriage should be up to the individuals getting married, he said.
"[The memorial is] definitely morally wrong," he said. "Instead of focusing on health care or education we're fighting over a [memorial]."
Supporters of the memorial are in the process of collecting signatures for a ballot initiative in 2006, Gallardo said.
Rep. Ted Downing, D-Tucson, said the supporters of the memorial are only interested in judicial activism and not families
"If your priority is family values then you start with divorce," he said.
Divorce is more painful to families, and gay marriage is a small concern to families, he added.
Jared Sandella, president of ASU's College Republicans, said the club supports the memorial.
"We believe marriage is between a man and a woman," he said.
However, the club is not officially working to help get the memorial passed because this is just the beginning of a larger discussion.
ASU's Young Democrats oppose the memorial, said club president Cole Hickman.
"Regardless if [same-sex marriage] is right or wrong, it should not be included in the Constitution," he said. "No state should be telling another state what's right."
Reach the reporter at michael.famiglietti@asu.edu.
