Yesterday's Wins and The Week Ahead
Conversion therapy, sex education, and Mesa's non-discrimination ordinance
The Arizona LGBTQ community is powerful!
A “strike everything” amendment in SB1325 that aimed to reintroduce an already defeated pro-conversion-therapy bill was scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations committee this morning. Thanks to hundreds of calls and emails from LGBTQ community members and allies, and the collective efforts of Arizona’s LGBTQ organizations and leaders, this bill was held in committee. This radical right-wing effort to protect so-called conversion therapy before the safety and well-being of Arizona’s kids has been stopped in its tracks!
Last night, the Mesa City Council voted to advance the proposed non-discrimination ordinance to a public hearing and vote on March 1st, 2021. Dozens of LGBTQ and allied Mesa residents spoke and gave public comment about the critical importance of a non-discrimination ordinance for the City of Mesa.
Your advocacy is still needed in the days to come!
SB1456 prevents young people from learning about their bodies in an age-appropriate way from professionals, not the internet. Because SB1456 bans sex education before the 5th grade, many students experiencing a spectrum of life experiences are left out of the process.
Additionally, SB1456 creates unnecessary hurdles to getting students HIV prevention education. This bill would create a double opt-in process: first, parents would need to opt their student into sex education; then, second, to opt their student into HIV prevention education.
This bill endangers the health and lives of LGBTQ students, and would harm all students by depriving them of an equal opportunity to learn age appropriate, medically accurate, sex education. Every student in Arizona should learn how to stay safe, healthy and HIV negative.
Contact your State Senator today to ask them to vote against SB1456 and senseless restrictions on education
Preparing for the Vote in Mesa
On March 1st, 2021 the City of Mesa will hear public comment and vote on an ordinance to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and housing. 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. Join Equality Arizona and One Community in supporting equality for all in Mesa.
Please sign up to give comment via the blue card with your support for this ordinance. We’ve prepared a guide to make this as simple as possible! Having this kind of vocal support for the non-discrimination ordinance will be key to its success. You’ll be able to call in from your home and watch the meeting online. Use the sample letter from our previous action alert to help guide your comments.
You can also 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