POLITICS
Stories by LOOKOUT on what's happening at the legislature
Fact-checking last week's hearing in the House
The House Judicial Committee met to discuss a bill that upends the way we talk about gender in the state. It went off the rails into a slew of wrong statements and falsities.
Equality Arizona is back, but under a leader who allegedly doomed it.
After quietly losing all its staff last year, Equality Arizona—one of the state’s longest running LGBTQ+ advocacy orgs—faced closure. But a familiar face brought it back, and not everyone is OK with it.
How trans kids and their families shut down an anti-trans bill
In an attempt to humanize the community to Republicans, families of trans students met with lawmakers. It helped influence the outcome of one bill.
An executive order last year aimed to curb conversion therapy, but a handful of counselors still practice it.
LOOKOUT identified local counselors and therapists in the state who practice new forms of conversion therapy despite an executive order that aimed to limit counselor’s resources.
A bill to help LGBTQ+ students access local scholarships died in the House
The bill was never heard in committee, and a last-ditch effort to get it added onto another bill was killed by a fellow LGBTQ+ legislator.
How SCOTUS decisions are used to fund a discriminatory nonprofit in Arizona
The court's rollback of LGBTQ+ rights are proving successful for certain businesses that receive taxpayer funds.
In Cottonwood, a conservative church drives local anti-LGBTQ+ politics
Emails between River Bible Church’s lead pastor and council members show the religious group's influence and partisanship.
Attorney General’s Office Takes Up Case on ASU Attack, Vows to Protect LGBTQ+ Community
The office met with community leaders on how it could protect LGBTQ+ people in the coming legislative session.
In West Mesa, a legislator reaches across the aisle, while challenging gender norms
Rep. Lorena Austin is the nation’s first nonbinary Chicane legislator, which comes with complex politics in a historically conservative area—but it’s also rewarding.
Tucson LGBTQ+ advisory group goes silent
Problems getting members in the same room means commissions haven’t been meeting and queer people have been left without a voice in city government.
What will it take for Arizona’s gay bars to stop overdoses?
LOOKOUT dives into why Arizona’s gay bars aren’t taking overdoses seriously, and who’s doing something about it.
A drag performer filed discrimination charges against Cottonwood City Council
The drag performer Miss Nature runs a charity drag show in rural Arizona. But their liquor license was taken away after far-right activists got involved.