Gov against gay marriage ban on ballot

Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday she does not believe Arizona needs a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, but she said it's fair to let voters decide the issue in November.

The governor was asked about the ballot proposal at her weekly media briefing.

``I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and I don't think this constitutional amendment is necessary, so personally I'm going to oppose it," Napolitano said.

She said, ``We already have a statute that applies to marriage. The courts have already said the statute is constitutional."

But, she said, ``It's been referred to the ballot. Voters of Arizona will have a chance to decide this, and that's fair, too."

Republicans in the state Legislature managed to send the measure to the ballot in the final hours of the session last Friday. An earlier effort had failed.