Tag: Arizona

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Arizona State’s Edward “Chip” Sarafin comes out as only active gay college football player

Edward “Chip” Sarafin of Arizona State University comes out

Arizona State University offensive lineman Edward “Chip” Sarafin has earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and is currently working on his master’s degree.

He is also involved with community outreach through the Pat Tillman Foundation, an organization invested in veterans and their spouses, and named after the late ASU and Arizona Cardinals player Pat Tillman.

Oh – and the 6’6″ 320 pound football player also happens to be gay.

Arizona State coach Todd Graham issued this statement (from OutSports):

“We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual’s commitment to the Sun Devil Way. Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master’s student. His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every student-athlete. Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff.”

Sarafin slowly started to come out to his Sun Devils teammates last spring, saying, “it was really personal for me and it benefited my peace of mind greatly.” His public announcement makes him the first openly gay football player on an active collegiate roster.

Another exceptional out football player made note and tweeted this to the college senior:

(source)

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Arizona: Lawyers argue banning same-sex marriage doesn’t come from malice

The state of Arizona has engaged the services of lawyers from the antigay organization, the Alliance Defending Freedom, to defend the marriage ban in two lawsuits.

The organization has led unsuccessful defenses in other marriage cases in Oklahoma and Virginia, so why not hire the team that loses?

And what is their fabulous argument against gays and lesbians having equal right? That never winning hand – “it’s all about procreation.”

From the Arizona Republic:

The ADF lawyers say the marriage bans reinforce the strength of marriages for straight couples, and their children. The lawyers’ arguments claim the state “regulates marriage for the primary purpose of protecting relationships that would produce children, and let those children grow up with a biological mother and father,” The Republic reports.

“That’s been the understood definition of marriage,” Caleb Dalton of the ADF said to The Repubilc. “The recent laws that the plaintiffs have challenged didn’t change anything. They merely reaffirmed that definition.”

This is the exact approach that has failed in over 20 legal arguments.  But hey, if at first you don’t succeed.  Keep using the same broken argument.

You’ll note that the legal team does’t also argue against seniors who marry or infertile couples who can’t bear children.

Just the gays.

But, no animus intended. None at all.

Right?

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Three states see new lawsuits seeking marriage equality – Arizona, Florida and Indiana

Lots of legal action happening today in the world of marriage equality.

Via press release, Freedom To Marry announces a trio of federal lawsuits concerning marriage protections for same-sex couples filed in three different states today.

The cases – filed in Arizona, Florida, and Indiana – join more than 50 other lawsuits where same-sex couples are seeking the freedom to marry or respect for their marriages performed in other states.

Marriage equality litigation is currently pending in 28 different states, and in seven of these states, appeals are now before federal appellate courts.

Filed today:

ARIZONA

Lambda Legal filed this federal lawsuit – Majors v. Roche – in Arizona on behalf of seven same-sex couples – and the surviving spouses of two other same-sex couples – seeking the freedom to marry or respect for legal marriage licenses received in other states.

The plaintiffs include married same-sex couples, couples who want to marry in Arizona, and individuals whose same-sex spouses have passed away without Arizona ever respecting their status as a married couple. The lead plaintiffs are Nelda Majors and Karen Bailey (pictured), who are both in their 70s and have been together for more than 55 years.

FLORIDA

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed this federal lawsuit – Grimsley and Albu v. Scott – on behalf of SAVE, an LGBT organization in Miami and eight married same-sex couples seeking respect for their marriages legally performed in other states.

The lead plaintiffs are Sloan Grimsley and Joyce Albu, who work as a firefighter and a consultant assisting parents of children with developmental disorders, respectively. The women have been together for nine years, married in New York in 2011, and are raising a 2-year-old child together.

INDIANA

Lambda Legal filed this federal lawsuit – Baskin v. Bogan -on behalf of three same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry in Indiana.

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Arizona state Senator Steve Gallardo comes out: “I’m Gay, I’m a Latino, and I’m a State Senator”

Arizona state Senator Steve Gallardo

Arizona state Senator Steve Gallardo, a 44 year old Democrat and the Senate minority whip, is currently running for Arizona Congressional District 7 seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Ed Pastor.

A week and a half after speaking out against SB-1062, Gallardo decided it was time to officially share who he fully is with the press.

“I’m gay, I’m a Latino, and I’m a senator. And it’s okay.” Gallardo told them. The Phoenix New Times reports Gallardo’s voice was “quivering with emotion.”

Gallardo called arguing against SB-1062 a “game changer” for his career and his life, while speaking with reporters today.

“After I stood up on the floor and argued against 1062, as I’ve done on many bills before, I sat down and said, ‘Wow. This bill affects me. It affects me directly.'”

“Seeing the people out there, protesting. I thought it’s time,” he says. “It’s time to let people know about me. And to send people a message. I’m more interested in letting people who struggle with this know that it’s okay.”

Gallardo also said he “couldn’t care less” if coming out affects his political aspirations. “This is about standing up and doing the right thing.”

You can follow Sen. Steve Gallardo on Facebook and Twitter.

(source)

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Dan Savage has advice for anti-gay bakers and florists

“Here’s a suggestion for all the hatey, butt-sore, anti-gay bakers in Arizona: start an organization—The Arizona Association of Homophobic Bakers—and publicly identify yourselves as homophobic bakers. Put up a website with a list of bakeries that don’t want to do business with LGBT people. Put signs in your windows that clearly state that gay and lesbian customers are not welcome and will be turned away.

“As Anderson Cooper pointed out earlier this week, gays and lesbians are not covered by existing anti-discrimination law in Arizona. So it’s perfectly legal right now for bakers—and florists and caterers and photographers—to discriminate against LGBT customers. Discriminating against LGBT people was legal in Arizona before Jan Brewer vetoed the turn-away-the-gays bill, and it remains legal after her veto. So homophobic bakers who identify themselves as haters and bigots run no legal risk. They can’t be sued by the individual gay people they discriminate against and the authorities can’t fine ’em or shut ’em down.

“Don’t want gay customers? Great. Let us know who you are. Put up a list online, hang signs in your windows, and we will take our business elsewhere.”

– Dan Savage writing for The Stranger

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George Will: Gays are “sore winners” for wanting marriage equality AND no discrimination

On FOX News Sunday, George Will joined Chris Wallace to talk about Arizona’s recent anti-gay bill and Gov. Brewer’s subsequent veto.

While pointing out that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 said that businesses had to serve everyone equally, Will added:

“…This too must be said: It’s a funny kind of sore winner in the gay rights movement that would say, ‘A photographer doesn’t want to photograph my wedding — I’ve got lots of other photographers I could go to, but I’m going to use the hammer of government to force them to do this.’… It’s not neighborly and it’s not nice. The gay rights movement is winning. They should be, as I say, not sore winners.”

To be honest, I’m not completely sure what he means by this. On a surface level, it would seem Will thinks “you’re winning the right to marriage equality, don’t push it any further. Stop asking for non-discrimination too.  It’s ‘not neighborly.'”

(via Towleroad)

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City of Tempe, Arizona, passes LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance on vote of 7-0

Within hours of Governor Brewer’s veto of the anti-gay “License to Discriminate” bill, the city of Tempe, Arizona has passed an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance, the Arizona Republic reports:

The council’s 7-0 vote was “another action that shows we don’t discriminate in our community,” Mitchell said Thursday. “We’re moving in the right direction in terms of equality.”

The city ordinance bans discrimination in housing, employment and accommodations at restaurants and hotels, but includes exceptions for religious organizations and social clubs.

Businesses or individuals that discriminate in Tempe on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability and U.S. military veteran status face a civil sanction with a fine up to $2,500.

In addition to Tempe, three other Arizona cities – Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff – have passed ordinances that ban LGBT discrimination. However, outside of those four cities it is still legal to fire someone for being gay or deny them public accommodations.

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Sen. John McCain applauds AZ Governor’s veto of “License to Discriminate” bill

Arizona Sen. John McCain today applauded the Governor of Arizona for her veto of the “License to Discriminate” bill SB-1062 (via press release):

“I appreciate the decision made by Governor Brewer to veto this legislation. I hope that we can now move on from this controversy and assure the American people that everyone is welcome to live, work and enjoy our beautiful State of Arizona.”

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Arizona Gov. Brewer vetoes “License to Discriminate” bill

After days of speculation, and a very public backlash to the legislation, Governor Jan Brewer vetoed Arizona’s SB-1062 bill dubbed the “License to Discriminate.”

In the past week, almost 100 corporations that do business in Arizona had publicly urged the governor to kill the legislation. In addition, both US Senators from the Grand Canyon state was well as GOP state Senators who had originally voted FOR the bill came out publicly against it.

Sports Illustrated reported earlier today that in light of no decision from the governor, the NFL was looking into options to move the Super Bowl out of Arizona and possibly to runner-up city Tampa Bay.

Major League Baseball had also issued a statement today pushing for veto.

In a short public statement, Gov. Brewer said that the measure was “broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences.” Which was true, but probably more “unintended” in terms of the fact that the bill showed it’s supporters to be the bigots they are.

What was missing from the governor’s statement was saying she was vetoing the bill because it’s basically immoral and discriminatory.

LGBT advocacy groups were quick to respond:

Human Rights Campaign

With today’s veto, Governor Brewer spared her state from institutional discrimination and economic catastrophe. Make no mistake, there is no better way to doom jobs in a state than by signing license-to-discriminate bills,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin. “The bipartisan outpouring of opposition to this bill is all the proof you need that this country isn’t turning backwards. Governor Brewer did the right thing in stopping this assault on businesses and the LGBT community and we call on her and the legislature–and governors and legislators in other states–to resist any attempt to give license to discrimination.”

ACLU Of Arizona

“Discrimination has no place in Arizona, or anywhere else,” said Alessandra Soler, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona. “We’re grateful that the governor has stopped this disgraceful law from taking effect, and that Arizona will remain open for business to everyone.”

GLAAD

“Discrimination is not an American value, plain and simple,” said GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis. “Governor Brewer today demonstrated that basic respect for LGBT people extends across party lines, and anti-LGBT bias isn’t just bad politics, it’s bad for business. As other states consider similar laws that aim only to make LGBT people’s lives more difficult, legislators would do well to remember that anti-LGBT laws just won’t be tolerated.”

The Task Force

“We thank Governor Brewer for her decision to veto this outrageous measure — a law that if enacted would be bad for Arizona people and the Arizona economy. In doing so, she has stopped a bill that both cynically uses religion as a smokescreen to justify discrimination and insults people of faith who feel that discrimination is morally wrong. This decision sends a clear message that extremism is totally unacceptable to people of all political persuasions.”

GetEQUAL

“Governor Jan Brewer stood on the right of history today by vetoing SB 1062. It is clear that this bill would have hurt business, caused unnecessary controversy, and — most importantly — increased the suffering of LGBTQ people in Arizona. We are relieved that she has shown leadership and vetoed a bill that is bad for business and bad for the people of Arizona”

Truth Wins Out

“Gov. Jan Brewer avoided going down in history as ‘Jan Crow’ by wisely vetoing this wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “If this bill had become law, it would have been a disaster for Arizona’s reputation and severely tarnished the governor’s legacy”

Lambda Legal

“Arizona’s recent history has taught corporate and civic leaders that discrimination is terrible for business. This religion bill would have reversed the state’s hard-won economic progress by declaring “open season” on LGBT people. Everyone in Arizona deserves respect and inclusion, including same-sex couples and their families, and people of all faiths and backgrounds. Governor Brewer did the right thing with today’s veto.”