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Kelli Ward on Civil Rights |
"Stonewall Democrats of Arizona is first an LGBTQI organization. It is our goal and intent to help level the playing field, to promote equality--marriage, health, employment and more--for the LGBTQI community. Further, SDA will support equality across the board. Immigration reform, intelligent weapons safety, education, business and welfare, women's rights, the environment, student and senior rights--these are things SDA may also touch on. Our goal is to keep elected Democratic officials in office and get more of our candidates elected, to stand against those in office (and sometimes without) who are against equality and civil rights, to fight harmful Arizona legislation and those who author it, put it forward and support it."
Analysis by CNN (2/21/14): Arizona's Legislature has passed a controversial bill that would allow business owners, as long as they assert their religious beliefs, to deny service to gay and lesbian customers. [Opponents] said it would sanction discrimination and open the state to the risk of damaging litigation.
Veto message: I understand that long-held norms about marriage and family are being challenged as never before; society is undergoing many dramatic changes. However, I sincerely believe that SB 1062 has the potential to create more problems than it purports to solve. Religious liberty is a core American and Arizona value; so is non-discrimination.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 17-13-0 on Feb/19/14; State Sen. Kelli Ward voted YES; Passed House 33-27-0 on Feb/20/14; Vetoed on Feb/26/14