Mayor Hiremath Asserts "Neutrality" On Request To Support Equality For Same Sex Couples

Denise Rose, a 14-month Oro Valley resident, urged Mayor Hiremath to endorse a resolution of the US Conference of Mayors on marriage equality for same sex couples.  Rose spoke during the call to the audience portion of the December 4 council meeting.   According to town communications director, Misti Nowak, "...the Mayor had a follow-up meeting with Rose, and he has expressed that he will not be making a decision on this one way or the other."

Rose asserted that 16 states and the District of Columbia allow same sex marriage; and that 400 Mayors across the country have endorsed this resolution. There are 1,341 mayors of U.S. cities with populations over 30,000. (Source)

Factoid: Gay marriages made up 17% of all marriages in Washington State this past year, the first year that gay marriages were legal.  62% of these were between two women. (Source)

There is a web site, "Freedom To Marry", that urges individuals to take action to promote gay marriage locally.  Rose's efforts may or may not be part of this effort.  This site has a "take action" page on Arizona. According to the site:

"In November 2008 ... anti-gay [marriage] forces in Arizona pushed through an anti-marriage constitutional amendment that excluded same-sex couples from marriage. Several jurisdictions, including Bisbee and Tucson, have passed protections for domestic partners."   The site continues: "In Arizona, a majority of voters support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, with 55% saying they support marriage, and just 35% saying they oppose marriage (Behavior Research Center, September 2013). A separate poll found that 79% of Hispanic respondents approve of marriage for all couples."

Rose requested Hiremath's endorsement on the basis that his endorsement would be good for economic development in Oro Valley.  "Use your stature and leadership skills to engage others... on the issue and... to make Oro Valley a more fair and inclusive community for gay and lesbian families to live."

Rose asserted that communities that support diversity bring creative individuals to the community; and more business as a result. "They are places where creativity and ideas thrive. They are places where today's entrepreneurs are most likely to choose to build the businesses of tomorrow."
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