And The Boycotts of Arizona Continue…
Like I said before, Jan Brewer and Russell Pearce probably see GLBT boycotts of Arizona as a positive unintended consequence of their immigration efforts.
The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute chose Las Vegas over Phoenix for their 2011 conference. They even cited “the current political and legal climate in Arizona,” as the reason they could not “accept your hospitality.”
Please… like Nevada is a beacon of equality and fairness. Why is Arizona the scapegoat and being made to suffer for something the people of Arizona had no voice in? And where was the thanks from the GLBT community when Arizona became the FIRST state in the nation to vote down a state marriage amendment in 2006? (Read about Prop 107 here.)
To the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute: You had a golden opportunity to stand up against bigotry and you blew it. Thanks for abandoning Arizona when we need your help.
I live in the UK but I have a friend, who lives in Arizona, who has told me that it can be quite oppressive there if you are openly gay.
I think it would have been a good idea for the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute to have held the conference in Phoenix as it would have sent out a positive signal to gay people living in Arizona.
I disagree with your friend. Arizona (and Phoenix) has a very healthy and vibrant gay community. Phoenix Pride celebrated its 30th year this year (along with Miami Beach) and the Phoenix Pride event is one of the largest civic events in the state, we have the Rainbows Festival in the fall, Arizona was the first state to defeat a marriage amendment (but it did show up 2 years later and passed the second time around), there are openly gay elected officials. I live in Tempe and we had an openly gay mayor from 1994-2004. Just like anywhere there are pockets of Phoenix that are not gay friendly, but I’ve never felt fearful or threatened.
Phoenix is not without its problems but it is not the hell hole that its often made out to be. Phoenix is full of creative and courageous people both gay and straight.