Arizona Mayor Doesn't Want “Lacy-Drawered, Limp-Wristed” Gays in Military

Yuma Arizona's Mayor Al Krieger made offensive remarks at a Memorial Day event suggesting gay people are effeminate and weak and asserted that gay servicemembers can never do what tough veterans have done in the past.

The Mayor voiced his opposition to repealing the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy by saying:

“I cannot believe a bunch of lacey-drawered, limp-wristed people could do what those men have done in the past.”

“We need solid, strong men to fight those battles. Not pacifists.”

He even went on to compare his stand with that of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, saying that he was principled and speaking from the heart.



The Mayor can be reached for comment at Alan.Krieger@YumaAz.gov

Organization Spotlight: Arizona LGBT Political Coalition

The Arizona LGBT Political Coalition is a collaboration between several gay-rights groups who have united to further the rights of the LGBT community in Arizona.

Arizona's Wingspan LGBT Center Needs Your Help!

The economic hardships are hitting all sectors of the economy hard, and have been a particular cause of hardship for LGBT nonprofits such as queer community centers trying to stay afloat.

Wingspan has been serving Tucson's LGBT community since 1988 and with the economic downturn has come drastic cutbacks for the organization. The LGBT and straight supportive communities would sorely miss this center and it's vital services if the door's close on it, which is a very real possibility.

The group is desperately seeking volunteers to take the place of former paid staffers and also looking for any and all donations to help them continue to serve the community.

If you have a few extra dollars, donate to Wingspan or your local LGBT Community Center.

Crossposted via Bilerico Project.

Gay Couple Forced to Remove Rainbow Flag by Homeowners Association

A gay couple has been forced to remove their rainbow pride flag, even though it was approved by a previous management company. The new company doesn't want to "clutter" the neighborhood and only allows national holiday flags to be recognized, even though Easter decor which is not part of a national holiday is permitted.

"Steven and Zeniff Vanderran of Mesa, Arizona say homophobia and ongoing disputes with their homeowners association are behind an order to remove a gay pride flag from their Queen Creek home.

Cambria Ocotillo’s design guidelines only allow certain flags, including decorations for certain holidays, according to Jonathan Olcott, the association’s attorney. The association also allows military and U.S. flags.

The couple says it has been the subject of slurs and mockery since the dispute began. In a May 11 posting on a local blog, a writer said the decorations were offensive and “If they want to flaunt their preferences in sex partners like that, they need to move into a gay community” (Naz Today).

The gay couple is being unfairly mocked, and singled out while other non-nationally recognized celebrations are permitted.

To contact the Cambria Ocotillo Homeowners Association:

Important numbers and community contacts

Arizona Civil Partnerships Campaign

Arizona Civil Partnerships plans to set into motion a new proposition for the introduction of Civil Partnerships in the State of Arizona.

An Arizona Civil Partnership enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Couples who form an Arizona Civil Partnership have a new legal status, that of 'civil partner'.

Which would include access to:

* Tax benefits, including inheritance tax
* Ability to make medical decisions for their civil partner
* Employment benefits
* Most state and occupational pension benefits
* Hospital visitation rights of civil partners
* Income-related benefits, tax credits and child support
* Duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil
partner and any children of the partnership
* Ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil
partner's child
* Inheritance of a tenancy agreement
* Right to inherit if a civil partner dies without a will
* Access to fatal accidents compensation
* Protection from domestic violence
* Recognition for immigration and nationality purposes

You can help the campaign by emailing support@civilpartnershipsaz.com with your contact info, or going to the site to make a donation.

Arizona Prop 102 Supporting Bigots Exposed

Proponents of proposition 102 spent a whopping 8 million dollars to ban marriage between gay and lesbian couples in the state of Arizona. They exercised their right to use their money as they saw fit, and now we will exercise ours, by boycotting and exposing those who imposed bigotry on decent tax-paying American families.

The Tuscon Observer has created a comprehensive listing they obtained from the campaign finance reports showing who supported and opposed prop 102 financially.

Arizona - Vote NO On Prop 102!

Prop 102 seeks to amend Arizona's state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Spread these commercials wide and far and make sure that on Nov. 4th hate is not written into the constitution.



Want to show your support against Prop 102? Download a sign, palm card, or brochure and spread the word.

Send an email to your family, friends, co-workers and others urging them to join you in voting No on 102!

Make a contributiontoday and help us defeat Prop 102 on November 4.

Help Defeat Marriage Amendments in Florida and Arizona

A lot of attention has been focused on California and defeating the amendment to ban same-sex marriage there. We also must be focused on the two other states with amendments on the ballot this November, Florida, and Arizona.

Visit http://www.votenoprop102.com/ and help out by donating, volunteering, or speaking out against prop 102 in Arizona.

Also visit http://www.votenoon2.com/ to help defeat the amendment # 2 in Florida.

ACTION ALERT: Arizona Residents Contact Your Senator to Oppose Marriage Amendment - SCR 1042

SCR 1042, a bill that would place another amendment to constitutionally define marriage on the ballot, is pending in the Arizona Senate. The bill was voted down on a forced floor vote, but a motion to reconsider the bill was approved.

SCR 1042 is scheduled to be re-voted on again this Friday, when Republicans who previously were unavailable to vote will be on the floor to cast their support for this discriminatory legislation. They are two votes shy of making this happen.

Here are some talking points you can use to help write your letter. We encourage you to write a letter in your own words and call your senators.

* This issue has already been decided by Arizona voters when they became the first in the nation to defeat an anti-equality marriage amendment in 2006.
* Arizonans have said over and over again that this issue is not a priority. It's time for the Senate to take care of the business that matters to the people of Arizona, like the budget.
* This amendment is not necessary. State law already prohibits gays and lesbians from marrying in this state, and the Arizona courts have already upheld this law. Stop wasting time and taxpayer money on this issue.
* Stop this divisive and desperate action by a handful of legislators who are pandering to the like of Cathi Herrod and the Center for Arizona Policy, a subdivision of national extremist political groups.

Click Here to Contact Your Rep Through Equality Arizona's Website

Urgent Alert: Contact Reps Over Arizona Anti-Marriage Amendment

The Arizona House of Representatives are slated to vote Monday over a proposed bill that would place a ban on same-sex marriage amendment to the 2008 ballot for November.

Arizona residents CLICK HERE to find and contact your two representatives and tell them to vote against this hateful amendment and to support equality for LGBT residents.

Arizonans Speak Up Against Anti-Marriage Amendment

According to Pam's House Blend:

"The anti-marriage amendment is back. After it looked like the amendment had been derailed, it is back on the agenda for the Arizona House of Representatives. Things may move very quickly-the House could vote on the amendment at any time, possibly on today, April 22, and the Senate might immediately follow. If the legislature approves the amendment, it will be on this November's ballot, just two years after a similar effort was defeated."

Arizona residents click CLICK HERE to contact your representatives.

Please call them now at 602-926-4221 or 1-800-352-8404 to urge them to vote no on SCR 1042, as amended. Urge them to keep this divisive amendment off the ballot.