Gay State of the State: Arizona

You can't judge a state by its Senator. Unfortunately for Arizona, you also can't judge a state by a Senator's wife and daughter.

John McCain pulled the rug out from under his courageous family members last week, who famously broke ranks and posed for the NOH8 campaign, when he took time to remind everyone that, as the elected official in the family, his perspective is the only one that really matters. And he remains in full support of denying gay Arizonans (and Americans, really) the right to marry, or have domestic partnerships, or have protection from discrimination, or adopt. He thinks Don't Ask, Don't Tell is just peachy. Well, at least we know where you stand on the issues, John. Thanks.

McCain's other half is Senator Jon Kyl (R), who fits the stereotype of anti-gay legislator. Constitutional ban on gay marriage, no sexual orientation in hate crime law, blah blah blah. The awesome news is that, according to The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute, Arizona has 12 out gay elected officials, including two state senators and a few members of the house. Unfortunately, none of them are in the position to do much about the lame state of affairs.

When former Governor Janet Napolitano took a job offer in Washington, she left the state government in the praying hands of Jan Brewer, who took no time redefining "dependent" to exclude same-sex domestic partners. That ruling leaves gay families with essentially no protection -- no health coverage, and no second parent adoptions. In Phoenix and Tucson, however, for the low, low price of $50, a gay couple can register for a Domestic Partner Certificate, which grants that couple one right, and one right alone: hospital visitation. And who says money can't buy love?

So far, not so good.  But what about the citizens? There were 25 categorized hate crimes based upon sexual orientation in the state last year. Phoenix can claim 10 of those. According to the FBI hate crimes report, gay bashing was the least of Arizona's problems -- 80 hate crimes based upon gender, 46 based on ethnicity. Sure, one hate crime is one too many, but on an average day in the life kind of way, Arizona doesn't seem too bad.

Arizona voters shared a shining moment back in 2006, when they became the first state constituency to vote down a referendum to ban gay marriage. Then they went ahead and banned gay marriage anyway two years later, adding Arizona to the growing list of states with a ban on the books. In a go-big-or-go-home kind of way, the Arizona statute rants on and on about not recognizing any marriage, or any legal status similar to a marriage or intending to confer the same rights as a marriage, or some kooky out of state marriage unless it's between a man and a woman and Arizona likes it. Otherwise, no go.

Gay Arizonans are thriving in the state, despite the less than inclusive environment established by the state government.  There is an impressive listing of events around the state listed on gayarizona.com -- from pride events (Arizona pride is held in October because it's even too hot for hot pants in June) to seminars on how to confront homophobia. If only the Archbishop of Phoenix would attend ... he thinks the secret to a happy marriage is a shared hatred of gays.

Rincon High School in Tucson also made headlines last year, not only for its nondiscrimination policy, but also because a female student who identifies as male was nominated as Homecoming Prince. It seems that Arizona has all the markers of a state working toward inclusion: Gay Straight Alliances, LGBT centers, PFLAG chapters, an Imperial Court.

If only they had elected Mrs. McCain ...

Photo credit: seantoyer