Yesterday, two discriminatory anti-trans bills advanced through the House Judiciary committee. After they are cleared by the rules committee, both SB 1138 and SB 1165 will be headed to debate in the committee of the whole and then to a vote on the floor. All across the country, similar bills are advancing through state legislatures (or being forced into practice by overzealous attorneys general and governors). The situation can feel dire, but we’re not alone in this fight, and there are still avenues for decency and equality to win out.
Town Hall: anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
5 pm Wednesday, March 16 | register
On Wednesday, March 16, Equality Arizona will convene a panel of experts from across the nation to discuss the trends they’re seeing in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and to share the work they’re doing to build equality for LGBTQ+ people in communities throughout the United States.
Our Panel
Vivian Topping
As Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement, Vivian Topping works with state-based LGBTQ organizations to craft smart, effective legislative and electoral campaigns that build political power and allow supporters to take action in their communities. Most recently Vivian was the Field Director for the historic, winning Yes on 3 campaign in Massachusetts, Vivian previously led electoral and legislative advocacy programs in Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, and Illinois.
Their work in Massachusetts was a groundbreaking success, building the leadership of transgender people, having more than 100,000 conversations with voters, and ultimately winning the first statewide referendum on transgender rights in the nation.
Vivian, whose pronouns are she/her or they/them, hails from Michigan and currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Hannah Willard
Hannah Willard is a campaign strategist specializing in legislative advocacy, crafting persuasive messages, and building winning coalitions. As Vice President of Government Affairs for Freedom for All Americans, Hannah partners with state-based LGBTQ advocacy organizations and allies across the country to advance state and federal nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBTQ people and their families. Hannah's work brings together people from all walks of life who support freedom and fairness for LGBTQ people, including conservatives, business leaders, and people of faith. She most recently led Freedom for All Americans' work in Virginia as a member of the Virginia Values Coalition, successfully securing passage of the first LGBTQ nondiscrimination law in a Southern state.
Prior to joining the team at Freedom For All Americans, Hannah was Senior Policy Director for Equality Florida, the state's largest advocacy organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's LGBTQ community. Hannah was Equality Florida's full-time lobbyist in the Florida Capitol, helping the state maintain its 20-year record of defeating or neutralizing every single anti-LGBTQ filed in Florida. She also managed the launch of Equality Florida’s Honor Them With Action campaign in the wake of the Pulse massacre in Orlando. Hannah previously led Equality Florida’s marriage campaign in partnership with Freedom to Marry during Florida’s victory and through the Supreme Court ruling.
Hannah graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida with degrees in Economics and Women’s Studies. She currently lives in Orlando, Florida.
Casey Pick
Casey Pick (she/her) is the Senior Fellow for Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. She works to advance state and federal policies that support LGBTQ youth in crisis, educating policymakers and the public about LGBTQ youth/mental health issues, especially the need to end the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. She also writes and coordinates amicus briefs, collaborates with state and local advocates, and testifies in support of legislation to protect LGBTQ youth.
Casey’s work has been featured in The Advocate, US News & World Report, The New York Times, NPR, and MSNBC. Casey holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College and a juris doctorate from the UCLA School of Law, and in 2019 was named one of the National LGBTQ Bar Association’s “40 Best LGBTQ Lawyers Under 40.” She can be found on Twitter at @CaseyJPick.
Volunteer Phone Bank
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Saturday, March 26 | register
Looking for a great way to take action? On Saturday, March 26, join our volunteer phone bank to push back on anti-trans bills like SB 1138 and SB 1165.
Equality Arizona Chapter Meeting
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Saturday, March 26 | register
Earlier that afternoon, we’ll hold a political education chapter meeting. This will be a great opportunity to connect to the work of Equality Arizona and to build your own knowledge of policy and politics in Arizona and the United States.
At Equality Arizona, we’re dedicated to the well-being of Arizona’s LGBTQ+ communities, and from fighting anti-LGBTQ+ bills to championing statewide non-discrimination protections, we’re hard at work to build a better future for all of us. That effort needs you. Visit our website today for our full calendar of events and to take our LGBTQ+ community needs survey.
