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Proponents of Proposition 107, the so-called protect marriage amendment, would have you believe that they only want to ban gay marriage. But the consequences of this amendment go much further. As a doctor who has worked in this community for 22 years, I believe that the initiative will ultimately undermine our health and our values. Please let me explain how.

Employees of the city of Tucson, Pima County, and the Sunnyside, Amphitheater and Tucson Unified school districts will lose their domestic partner health insurance and family leave benefits.

Families that lose their health benefits would no longer be able to see their family doctor and would end up in emergency rooms. Some would wait until their condition is so severe that it would be much more difficult and costly to treat them.

Domestic violence protections for unmarried couples of any sexual orientation could be ruled unconstitutional. This has happened in Ohio and Utah, where similar amendments have passed.

Domestic partners and their families could be denied the right to make the most personal of decisions about their loved ones — decisions regarding the provision or refusal of medical care, organ donation and funeral arrangements. They could be denied the right to visit their sick or dying loved ones in the hospital, currently guaranteed by Tucson's Domestic Partner Registry.

Not all children have a married mother and father to provide for them. Domestic partnerships ensure that children have access to health insurance.

Many seniors live in "domestic partnerships" as a way to maintain their Social Security and pension benefits, which they would lose if they were to remarry.

Local control will suffer. This initiative will rob cities and counties of their ability to govern themselves.

Private employees whose health insurance is a domestic partner benefit could be jeopardized, especially companies that do business with the government.

Public opinion supports equity and fairness. A 2005 statewide survey found that 61 percent of Arizonans oppose taking away domestic partner benefits such as health insurance and 63 percent believe that it makes no sense to change the Arizona constitution when gay marriage is already illegal in Arizona.

The Pima County Pediatric Society, the Arizona Public Health Association and the Arizona Psychological Association have passed resolutions against the proposed amendment. Similarly, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all have publicly stated their support of legal recognition of all families.

As a doctor, I have taken care of patients who have waited too long to seek care. I have seen women put their broken bodies and lives back together after domestic violence. I have sat with terminally ill patients and their families as they made difficult medical decisions.

As a doctor, I have sworn to "do no harm," and as a human being, I believe in the values of kindness, compassion and care: for our families, our neighbors, our entire community.

Let's protect the health of Arizonans and stand up for our values. Please reject Proposition 107 in November.