What can happen if we invalidate domestic partnerships

This editorial about what could happen if the so-called "Protect Marriage" ballot initiative passes is really chilling. It was written by someone in California, but the initiative here in Arizona would have the same effect: no domestic partnership rights. Period. Nothing that "approximates marriage" will be recognized by the state or local governments, and that means hospitals cannot grant next of kin status to any domestic partners who don't have thousands of dollars worth of legal papers to back them up.

If this initiative qualifies and passes, this is how it will go down for tens of thousands of couples who failed, forgot or couldn't afford the considerable expense to draft medical decision-making documents. (At the time of Rick's stroke, there was not yet a law giving domestic partners an automatic right to make medical decisions for one another. We spent thousands of dollars to have legal documents drawn up spelling out our wishes about that and other decisions.) It's nonsensical and heartless. The real-world consequences might well be tragic, not to mention wrenchingly unfair....

The proposed initiative declares that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in our state — an issue clearly worthy of its own up-or-down vote. But its sponsors don't want you to have one. They have had success around the country hiding repeal of domestic partnership rights within a "protect marriage" campaign. Many people who voted no on marriage most likely did not intend to say no to medical, visitation and other partnership rights too.

People could die if this passes. People will suffer irreparable harm. Remind me again, how is this something Jesus would do?