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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Campaign Launched for Arizona Marriage Equality

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013   

PHOENIX - It's only an educational campaign for now, but supporters of marriage equality say their effort launched Tuesday may lead to a 2016 ballot measure to legalize same-sex marriage.

The campaign is called "Why Marriage Matters Arizona."

Nelda Majors and her partner, Karen Bailey, said they have been in a committed relationship for more than 55 years. Majors said she worries about inheritance rights, custody of Karen's two great-great nieces should Karen pass away, and medical access issues.

"If either one of us is a patient in an intensive care unit of a hospital, we want the legal right to visit, to be there, and to make the necessary decisions," she said. "This is a civil rights issue."

In 2008, Arizona voters amended the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman, by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin. Same-sex marriage was already illegal under state law.

Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods said the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution should apply to everyone, and that marriage is an area in which government does not belong.

"This is a, basically, a contractual relationship between two people," he said. "These two women who you heard from want to contract with each other. They should have that right - and the government should butt out."

Woods, a Republican, said members of his party are coming around to supporting marriage equality.

"I think Republicans are getting on board," he said. "They're a little slow, as they are in many areas, but they're getting there. They're waking up. They're learning from their own kids. They're learning from the teenagers and college students, and the millennials, and people who wonder why in the world is this still an issue."

Organizers of the campaign hope that, by sharing the stories of openly gay and lesbian couples and their families, they can build support for the freedom to marry.

More information is online at whymarriagemattersaz.org.


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