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HRC Announces Historic Slate of Pro-Equality Endorsements in Arizona State Legislature

October 1, 2018 Ianthe Metzger Human Rights Campaign, Social & Civil Issues

HRC announced its endorsement of a record 39 pro-equality candidates in the Arizona State Legislature.

“While anti-equality politicians from the State House to the White House are hell-bent on dragging Arizona backwards, HRC’s endorsed candidates are fighting to ensure every Arizonan has a fair shot,” said HRC Arizona State Director Justin Unga. “Being LGBTQ should never be an impediment to success, and a pro-equality majority in our State Capitol means LGBTQ Arizonans can finally stop battling policies that harm us and start working toward reforms that help us. That’s why HRC is working harder than ever to turn out the vote for Arizona candidates who will champion equality.”

In the Arizona State Senate, HRC has endorsed Jo Craycraft for Senate District 1; Andrea Dalessandro for re-election to Senate District 2; Sally Ann Gonzales for re-election to Senate District 3; Lisa Otondo for re-election to Senate District 4; Wade Carlisle for Senate District 6; Jamescita Peshlakai for re-election to Senate District 7; Victoria Steele for Senate District 9; Steve Weichert for Senate District 17; Sean Bowie for re-election to Senate District 18; Lupe Contreras for re-election to Senate District 19; Douglas Ervin for Senate District 20; Daria Lohman for Senate District 23; Lela Alston for Senate District 24; Juan Mendez for re-election to Senate District 26; Rebecca Rios for Senate District 27; Martin Quezada for re-election Senate District 29; and Tony Navarrete for Senate District 30.

In the Arizona State House, HRC has endorsed Rosanna Gabaldon and Daniel Hernandez for re-election to House District 2; Andres Cano and Alma Hernandez for House District 3; Charlene Fernandez and Geraldine Peten for re-election to House District 4; Randall Friese and Pamela Powers Hannley for re-election to House District 9; Hollace Lyon for House District 11; Mitzi Epstein for re-election to House District 18; Jennifer Jermaine for House District 18; Diego Espinoza for re-election to House District 19; Hazel Chandler and Chris Gilfillan for House District 20; Athena Salman and Isela Blanc for re-election to House District 26; Reginald Bolding for re-election to House District 27; Kelli Butler for re-election to House District 28; Aaron Lieberman for House District 28; Cesar Chavez and Richard Andrade for re-election to House District 29; and Robert Meza for House District 30.

Arizona is one of 30 states in the country that lacks explicit state-level protections for all LGBTQ people. Both chambers have so far failed to show the leadership needed to pass non-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Last year, four lawmakers — Rep. Daniel Hernandez, (D-Tucson), Rep. César Chávez (D-Phoenix), Rep. Otoniel “Tony” Navarrete (D-Phoenix), and Sen. Robert Meza (D-Phoenix) — created the state’s first-ever LGBTQ caucus at the State Capitol, vowing to harness the collective power of the LGBTQ community and work to move equality forward.

In Arizona, HRC has identified more than 800,000 voters as likely “Equality Voters,” meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Arizona in the 2018 cycle, and has staff and resources on the ground in the state as part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s agent or committee.

Thousands of HRC Members Submit Public Comments With One Message—Trans Veterans Deserve Care

September 16, 2018 HRC staff Human Rights Campaign, Social & Civil Issues

More than 2,000 LGBTQ people and allies from across the nation joined HRC in responding to a request for public comments regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ current discriminatory policy prohibiting the VA from providing gender affirming surgeries to veterans.

Access to comprehensive transition related care is essential to promoting the health and well being of transgender people. The American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have issued public statements over the past decade that consistently conclude transition related care is both medically necessary and the appropriate treatment for gender dysphoria.

Despite these conclusive findings, the Trump-Pence administration continues to blatantly challenge surgery as a medically-validated option to treat gender dysphoria, undermining the health of transgender veterans. HRC members and supporters have made it clear that the current prohibition conflicts directly with the best practices for transgender care and is blatantly discriminatory.

1/ Hello, this is @HRC Press Secretary Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer). As a transgender woman and veteran, I’m doing an #HRCTwitterTakeover to urge people to take action and tell @DeptVetAffairs that trans vets deserve medically necessary care. https://t.co/eMM3t5sj59 pic.twitter.com/34lf6IWAc4

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

2/ The vast majority of Americans are in total agreement: ensuring service members and their families receive care and respect.

Yet the Trump-Pence administration continues going after trans troops and now veterans. This is simply unacceptable. — @cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

3/Few things unite the country as much as the effort to provide compassionate & competent care for veterans. As a trans vet, I’m heartbroken that for as much reverence I received, my status as a trans person seems to painfully supersede that service.-@cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

4/ For decades, the @DeptVetAffairs excluded coverage of medically necessary surgical procedures for transgender troops suffering from stress and anxiety of trying to align their gender identity with their presentation. — @cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

5/ This exclusion flies in the face of every major medical authority. @DeptVetAffairs acknowledged research showing that severe medical consequences can arise if transition-related surgeries and procedures are not provided. — @cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover https://t.co/3xdj9BaRrR

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

6/ Under Trump-Pence, the VA has maintained the exclusion policy. It’s not the first time they attacked trans people serving. After @realDonaldTrump tweeted a ban on trans troops, a bipartisan choir spoke out against the unconstitutional policy. – @cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover pic.twitter.com/UKfhOP4cWe

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

7/ Now, we are called to protect trans veterans, but the window is quickly closing on our ability to oppose this discriminatory and dangerous rule. Public comments are due �� . Take some time to submit one. – @cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover https://t.co/eMM3t5sj59

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

8/ This administration is using the same discredited excuses that they have invoked to justify their ban on open service to now target medically necessary health care for trans vets. Tell @realDonaldTrump & @mike_pence that trans vets deserve care. – @cmclymer #HRCTwitterTakeover

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

9/9 Take action with @HRC NOW. Tell the @DeptVetAffairs that ALL veterans deserve medically necessary care, regardless of who they are, from a grateful nation they so honorably served. Read more about this in my latest piece for @TheAdvocateMag. https://t.co/1i1Auj3qvF

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 6, 2018

Health care decisions should be left to patients and health care providers. They should be based solely on the current standards of care and not on political convenience or partisan ideology.

HRC stands with transgender veterans and demands that the VA put our veterans — and their health — first.