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A protester at the capitol protest on Jan. 22, 2023. Photo exclusive for LOOKOUT by Moses Martínez.
How a gay couple in Queen Creek sparked an intense debate (and assaults) on flags in one of Phoenix’s most sprawling suburbs:
A gay couple in Queen Creek decided to put up an LGBQT+ pride flag outside their home. Now, they’re getting death threats, harassed by neighbors, and targeted by conservative media.
In his bill SB1034, Kavanagh offered legislation that would strike down a current law that forbids homeowners’ associations from banning specific flags—such as the Gadsden, Arizona Indian Nations, or U.S. flag—to an extension for all flags, unless they are “obscene, defamatory or likely to incite violence.”
In response, one of Arizona’s most popular morning radio show hosts spent two full episodes railing against the couple, calling them “bad gays” and used homophobic language to deride LGBTQ+ people.
Read our entire coverage of evangelical conservatives in the legislature pushing anti-LGBTQ+ bills:
Sen. Anthony Kern, who is part of the state’s far-right “Freedom Caucus” that courts to evangelical voters.
The state’s far-right “Freedom Caucus” has introduced 11 bills targeting trans kids and drag shows. Among the most prolific sponsors of those bills is Sen. John Kavanagh from Fountain Hills, who has for more than a decade tried to eliminate rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.
Among the bills proposed by Kavanagh is giving religious preference to teachers and staff in schools who have a deeply held belief that trans people shouldn’t exist.
Our coverage on the drag and trans march in downtown Phoenix:
In response to the state’s push of anti-LGBTQ+ bills by Senate and House Republicans, protesters from a whole range of queer identities showed up outside the state Capitol. We were there to capture people’s voices:
Included in the protest was a trans teenager from Chandler, Arizona who said that the media—and by extension legislators and parents—weren’t listening to kids effected by the bills. Read our exclusive Q&A:
LOOKOUT is diving into safety inside of Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ community. To start off on our reporting, read our piece on how the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed have caused fear inside the city’s community:
LOOKOUT's 'Eyes on the State' is brought to you by an exclusive partnership with Equality AZ. Check here every week to see what's being proposed by lawmakers, who are the state power brokers, and context for current and upcoming bills.
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