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Mixed Reaction in Arizona to Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Supporters of same-sex marriage rights in Arizona are cheering the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared gay marriage bans nationwide unconstitutional.

 

But opponents of the rights of gays and lesbians to marry called Friday's decision "historically tragic."

The Center for Arizona Policy issued a statement saying that by allowing same-sex marriage, the court is saying that "children don't deserve the best opportunity to be raised by their mom and dad."

The social-conservative group backed a 1996 state law and a 2008 voter-approved state constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage. A federal judge blocked those Arizona laws from being enforced last October.

Democratic state Rep. Victoria Steele says she's elated with the decision. She says it moves the nation closer to "achieving true equality."

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