Mesa’s non-discrimination ordinance is headed to a final vote this Monday, March 1st. You’ve heard from us a few times in the past weeks as this effort has progressed, and it is through your initiative that we have gotten to this point. This non-discrimination ordinance is the result of years of community organizing and a healthy collaboration with the Mayor and City Council. It is a crucial step on the road to equality, and will have immediate benefits to the city and its people.
With just a few days left to the vote, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the non-discrimination ordinance and what you can do to make it a reality. It’s going to take all of us, so before you dive in, please forward this to all your friends, family, loved ones, and allies in Mesa.
Where Things Stand with The NDO
Mesa’s proposed non-discrimination ordinance will broadly prohibit discrimination in public accommodation, employment, and housing, including on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.
At 5:45 PM Monday, March 1st, Mesa City Council will meet to discuss, receive public comment, and take action on this ordinance. You can watch the meeting online at mesa11.com/live.
Sign up to Speak or to Give Comment
Using Mesa’s online public comment card, you can sign up to speak in Monday’s city council meeting or submit a comment you want to have read aloud to show your support of the non-discrimination ordinance. Having a strong, vocal presence in this meeting will be vital. We’ve prepared a PDF guide to make this as simple as possible! You’ll be able to call in from your home and watch the meeting online. Use the sample letter below to help guide your comments.
Contact The City Council Directly
Contact the Mayor and City Councilmembers directly to voice your support.
Mayor John Giles | mayor@mesaaz.gov
Councilman Mark Freeman | District1@mesaaz.gov
Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury | District2@mesaaz.gov
Councilman Francisco Heredia | District3@mesaaz.gov
Councilwoman Jen Duff | District4mesaaz.gov
Councilman David Luna | District5@mesaaz.gov
Councilman Kevin Thompson | District6@mesaaz.gov
Want to confirm which district you’re in? Use this map from the City of Mesa.
A Sample Message to Guide Your Comments
Honorable Mayor and Council,
I’m writing in strong support of the proposed non-discrimination ordinance that would protect all in Mesa from discrimination, including LGBTQ people. Ensuring a Mesa that celebrates, respects and protects all people is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also good for the business of Mesa.
Simply put, protecting people from discrimination is about treating others as we want to be treated. This ordinance is about equal treatment, not special treatment. The principles of non-discrimination are rooted in core American values of fairness, equality, and opportunity. All hard-working people, including those who are LGBTQ, want to do their jobs and provide for their families. Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired, evicted from their homes, or kicked out of a store just for being who they are.
Unfortunately, without this ordinance, families and individuals can be denied housing or refused service at a business simply for being gay or transgender in Mesa. That's not only wrong, but it's also bad for the economic sustainability of Arizona. We can't afford to have barriers in place when it comes to attracting and retaining the top talent and business we need to succeed. Our regional competitors already have these protections in place, giving them a distinct advantage in recruitment and attraction.
In fact, 94% of Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity. If we wish to continue to attract and retain these companies, now is the time for Mesa to have a non-discrimination ordinance to match. It is not enough for these companies to have employment protections – they want their employees protected both in and out of the workplace.
It’s reassuring to know that non-discrimination ordinances aren’t a partisan issue. A 2018 poll by OH Predictive Insights showed that likely voters favored non-discrimination protections in employment, housing and public services at over 70%, and self-identified likely conservative voters favored those protections at over 50%.
Most importantly, all of us care about safety and privacy. Contrary to false arguments by the opposition, nothing about this ordinance changes the fact that it is illegal to enter a restroom or facility to harm or harass people or invade their privacy. Any predator who tries to enter a women’s facility would be subject to arrest and prosecution just as they are today. It’s important to know that over 300 cities across the U.S. have already implemented these types of ordinances with no increase in public safety incidents.