PHOENIX - The state Senate gave initial approval to a House memorial bill in support of a federal law banning gay marriage.

The bill was approved by a vote of 15-10, with five not voting. It would take a Senate majority of at least 16 votes to gain final approval.

Before voting on the bill just before 6 p.m., senators sparred over the morality of gay marriage and the effects of singling out one group in the Constitution in an emotional two-hour debate.

Sen. Slade Meade, R-Phoenix, raised concerns that banning gay marriage sets a precedent for letting the federal government attack individual rights.

"This constitutional amendment worries me because I am not sure all citizens are going to be treated equally," Meade said. "The U.S. Constitution is a document that has always gone to protect rights, not deny them. ... It worries me that we are sending a postcard asking this document of liberty to start restricting liberties for some people because of their choices."

Meade suggested an amendment that would let churches determine whether they recognize gay marriages, but it was rejected.

Sen. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa, was one of the most vocal supporters of the bill.

"We should be trying to strengthen and elevate marriage rather than dilute it and inject confusion into what a marriage is," Anderson said. "I believe it's the proper role of marriage when the traditional role is under attack because the consequences to society are significant."

Anderson cited a newspaper article that had statistics about the rise in sexually transmitted diseases among homosexual men. The article alleged that gay men were likely to look for anonymous lovers on the Internet. Anderson used the article as evidence that gay marriage was socially and medically destructive.

"We as government have a role and responsibility to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy environments for children, and I think we do ourselves a disservice to encourage lifestyles that do not do that," Anderson said.

Anderson also said allowing gay marriage could lead to schools teaching homosexuality.

"Children are going to be confused. They are going to have to ask themselves a question perhaps on a test: 'Are you gay? Are you straight or what?'" Anderson said.

Anderson also suggested that people aren't born gay and that failure to ban gay marriage could lead to legalizing polygamy.

"The message that we are sending is to reinforce the efforts of those who don't want four people in Massachusetts to undermine the most beneficial institution in our society," Anderson said.

Republican Sen. Robert Blendu of Litchfield Park also supported the bill and expressed his scathing opinion of gay marriage, saying the "country was at stake" over the issue.

"A small, radical group of people have forced this issue (gay marriage) upon us," Blendu said. "This is something that has to change in our society if we are to remain an orderly society."

Openly gay Sen. Ken Cheuvront, D-Phoenix, said he was personally offended by the comments being made by his colleagues.

"I was going to sit back and not speak until this was over, but when there is an assault on me as a person, I cannot just sit back and just let go," Cheuvront said. "To suggest that my lifestyle is any worse or any more unhealthy than anybody else in this room, I find offensive."

Cheuvront said although some people may not be comfortable with gay marriage, it doesn't necessitate a constitutional amendment.

"What we are talking about here is not gay marriage. It is about changing the Constitution to prohibit me and my partner from having a stable relationship," Cheuvront said. "I just want to say that this is something personal, and it does hurt."

While the vote keeps the memorial alive, it does not have the votes to send the bill to the governor's desk for approval. If the bill does pass the Senate in a subsequent vote, Gov. Janet Napolitano has vowed to veto it.