Arizona Official Claims Average Life Expectancy Of Gay Men Is 42

Ron Gould (image via YouTube/RonGould)

An elected official in Arizona is getting backlash for telling a local newspaper gay men have a life expectancy of 42 and pointed to sexual orientation as the reason.

Ron Gould, a former Arizona state senator and currently the Mohave County Supervisor, told the Kingman Daily Miner (subscription) that gay men have an average life expectancy of 42. When asked if he believes sexual orientation was the reason for that statement, he said, “That’s why they die.”

He went on to draw a false equivalence between being homosexual and drinking alcohol.

“We all have our sins, but we should try to suppress them,” said Gould, according to the Phoenix New Times. “Alcohol is harmful, too, but we don’t see groups promoting alcoholism.”

Gould also took a swipe at marriage equality in the interview. “It used to be ‘tolerate us,’” he told the newspaper. “Now, it’s ‘accept us.’”

Gould, who served in the Arizona state Senate from 2005 to 2013, was elected to the Mohave County Board of Supervisors in 2018.

#Mohave County #Official Says Being Gay #Kills. Another Blasts 'Signs in #Mexican' https://t.co/IxUa9XftR3 #Arizona #LGBT

— Stonewall Dems AZ (@StonewallDemsAZ) August 12, 2019

Gould didn’t indicate where he got such erroneous information about ‘gay life expectancy,’ but many believe it has to do with a debunked study by anti-LGBTQ activist and pseudo-researcher, Paul Cameron.

In his 1994 study, “The longevity of homosexuals,” Cameron scanned through local newspapers that served the LGBTQ communities for obituaries. At the height of the AIDS epidemic, he added up the ages of the deceased gay men and found an average age of 43.

Cameron was booted out of the American Psychological Association for his vastly flawed research. 

News Round-Up: February 8, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk 'Steve In LA' wants you to remember to consider adopting from a dog rescue next time you want to expand your furry family. OMG, I want all four! 

• The Arizona state government has raised over a million dollars for a notorious anti-LGBTI group, Alliance Defending Freedom, by selling specialty license plates.

• Things got way out of hand last night at popular West Hollywood gay bar, Micky's, when a patron being escorted out of the establishment turned and stabbed the security guard twice in the back.

• Tennessee state Sen. Joey Hensley, virulently anti-gay and professes "deeply held religious convictions," has introduced legislation in his state that would allow adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples. Hensley, who has divorced four times (sanctity of marriage my ass), was named in a divorce proceeding in 2017 for sleeping with another man's wife. #DeeplyHeldReligiousBeliefs

• One of the highest ranking officers in the California National Guard has announced the state won't discharge transgender soldiers from its ranks even as the Trump administration continues to move its ban on trans military service members.

• The president of Brazil has announced plans to remove all references to homosexuality, feminism, and violence against women from public school textbooks. President Jair Bolsonaro's campaign for the presidency proudly included anti-LGBTQ policies.

• Laverne Cox was giving you LIFE as she closed the 11 Honore fashion show finale during New York Fashion Week.

The event is a first for 11 Honore as it only featured plus size clothes from designers.

Wearing a gown by Zac Posen, the Orange is the New Black star twirled on the runway, serving up glamour, and clearly having the time of her life. Get it, diva!

View this post on Instagram

What an incredible honor to close @11honore's first fashion show with these incredible women who represent the size diversity of the women of America. Thank you for existing @11honore and for giving me this incredible honor. ...thank you @zacposen for the gown of LIFE!!! #TransIsBeautiful #SizeInclusivity #SizeDiversity ... Reposted from @harpersbazaarus - Now this is how you close a fashion show! @11honore set the bar high for the kickoff of #NYFW. @lavernecox - #regrann

A post shared by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on Feb 6, 2019 at 4:48pm PST

Anti-LGBT Arizona Artists "Prepared To Go To Jail" If They Lose State Supreme Court Appeal

Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski 

Having already lost twice in court, the owners of a wedding invitation design firm in Phoenix, Arizona, have appealed to the state Supreme Court to determine if a public accommodation ordinance that protects LGBTQ people from discrimination violates their First Amendment rights of free religion and free speech.

The co-owners of Brush & Nib Studio, Breanna Koski and Joanna Duka, said in an interview with conservative radio host Todd Starnes they are prepared to go to jail if the state’s high court rules against them.

“I mean that's that's a possibility that we're hoping we won't have to face,” Duka told Starnes. “We're hopeful that the Arizona Supreme Court will affirm some rights of artists that will never violate our beliefs and our conscience.”

They are being represented at the state Supreme Court by the virulently anti-LGBTQ law firm, Alliance Defending Freedom.

It's important to note that no gay couple has asked Brush & Nib Studio for wedding services, nor has anyone has filed a complaint against the artists with the city.

The duo decided to file their initial lawsuit, in May 2016, as a pre-emptive strike of sorts against Phoenix’s non-discrimination ordinance.

The Phoenix City Council added sexual orientation and gender identity to its existing ordinance in 2013.

After losing in the Maricopa County Superior Court, the artists went to the state Court of Appeals. And lost there, too.

Now, the Arizona Supreme Court has agreed to hear their appeal.

The city of Phoenix issued the following statement regarding the issue:

“Phoenix’s non-discrimination ordinance is about access to goods and services on equal terms. The ordinance does not tell businesses what to write, what to think, or what to believe. The city’s legal team made this point to the Arizona Supreme Court. Four judges have already agreed that businesses in Phoenix must be open to everyone.

"Those legal rulings protect all and confirm that everyone should be treated fairly and equally regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, or disability. The city of Phoenix will continue to observe these shared community values, allowing the non-discrimination ordinance to protect and respect the rights of all residents.”

(screen capture)

Some LGBTQ activists, like Joe Jervis of JoeMyGod, have wondered aloud if the company might have been created by Alliance Defending Freedom to surreptitiously present a challenge to the Phoenix ordinance.

When their initial lawsuit was filed in 2016, the company didn't appear to have a physical address. And the artists' social media accounts were only months old, making it credible that the company might have been created just to file the lawsuit.

The video below, titled "Getting to Know the Artists of Brush & Nib," was uploaded to YouTube just days before the lawsuit was filed, and the comments section is closed.

Additionally, the video is listed as "Unlisted."

Now, why have a "getting to know" video be "unlisted" on YouTube?

#ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmm…

In the video, the artists make a point to say their teaming up was a "God thing," "beautiful things just come from God," and how "special" they view their work on wedding invitations.

JoeMyGod also notes that the firm has an online store on Etsy despite the fact the website has a very clear anti-discrimination policy that protects LGBT people.

Arizona Governor Taps Martha McSally For McCain's Senate Seat

Rep. Martha McSally

As expected, Arizona's Republican Governor Doug Ducey has tapped anti-LGBTQ Rep. Martha McSally to fill the seat U.S. Senate seat John McCain held for decades.

McSally narrowly lost her bid for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake in the recent midterm elections against Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.

For the past several months since McCain's death, former Sen. Jon Kyl came out of retirement to temporarily serve. Kyl announced that he would leave the Senate at the end of 2018.

“With her experience and long record of service, Martha is uniquely qualified to step up and fight for Arizona’s interests in the U.S. Senate. I thank her for taking on this significant responsibility,” Ducey announced in a statement.

According to Arizona law, McSally will have to run for the seat in a 2020 special election. The seat will then be on the ballot again in 2022.

The Human Rights Campaign quickly issued a statement regarding the appointment of the longtime anti-LGBTQ legislator.

“In the 2018 midterm election, Arizonans rejected Martha McSally’s toxic agenda and elected pro-equality champion Kyrsten Sinema to represent our state in the U.S. Senate,” said HRC Arizona State Director Justin Unga. “From her votes to gut critical health care protections, to kowtowing to Trump’s shameful ban on transgender service members -- McSally has proven that she is more interested in political pandering than working to address the issues that matter to all Arizonans. We’re disappointed with this appointment.”

Rep. McSally has long opposed marriage equality and supported discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ policies and proposals while in Congress, including an amendment that would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people by taxpayer-funded organizations.

She has refused to speak out against the Trump-Pence administration's efforts to ban qualified transgender service members from the military and voted for an amendment to ban transition-related health care for service members and their families.

She has also voted to raise healthcare premiums and roll back protections for 2.8 million Arizonans with pre-existing conditions, including many LGBTQ people.

John McCain's Replacement, Jon Kyl, Announces Retirement As Of December 31

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona (image via Gage Skidmore/WikiMedia)

And speaking of Republicans in the U.S. Senate, according to The Arizona Republic Arizona, place-holder Sen. Jon Kyl has announced he will resign from the U.S. Senate on Dec. 31.

Kyl was tapped to come out of retirement after the passing of John McCain earlier this year.

This will give Gov. Doug Ducey the chance to handpick another replacement to the seat once occupied by McCain.

Odds are Ducey will appoint outgoing GOP Rep. Martha McSally, who lost to Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema last month for Arizona’s other U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. Jeff Flake.

Sinema will be sworn into office Jan. 3.

Appointing McSally now would give her a leg up on the next election cycle as the incumbent.

Democrat Kyrsten Sinema Wins Arizona Senate Seat

Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona

UPDATE: Republican Martha McSally has conceded the US Senate race to replace retiring Jeff Flake. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema will be the next Senator from Arizona.

She is the first female to represent the Grand Canyon state in the Senate as well as the first openly bisexual US Senator.

Congrats to @kyrstensinema. I wish her success. I’m grateful to all those who supported me in this journey. I’m inspired by Arizonans’ spirit and our state’s best days are ahead of us. pic.twitter.com/tw0uKgi3oO

— McSally For Senate (@MarthaMcSally) November 13, 2018

******************************************

The Cook Political Report is projecting that Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema will win her US Senate race in Arizona.

According to the latest counts, Sinema has expanded her lead over Republican Martha McSally to 1.5%.

McSally lead on election night with partial returns being counted, but the next day many ballots were still uncounted in Democratic leaning areas of the state.

Sinema will be the first female senator from Arizona, and the first Democratic senator since Sen. Dennis DeConcini left office in 1995.

She will also be the first openly bisexual US Senator.

NEW: Kyrsten Sinema's campaign releases statement on the state of the Arizona Senate race, calling her lead "insurmountable." #abc15 pic.twitter.com/ujtqx7ZQbi

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) November 12, 2018

Projection: Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D) has defeated Rep. Martha McSally (R) in #AZSEN. This thing has been over for a while.

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 12, 2018

Right before voting to repeal health care for 23 million Americans, McSally infamously said, "Let's get this f***ing thing done."

Welp, now she's done. https://t.co/0j6lzIVvmF

— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) November 12, 2018

Dear .@GOP, the nightmare continues doesn’t it? pic.twitter.com/hjdlyf0VOa

— BlueVotr (@BlueVotr) November 12, 2018

Dems appear on their way to picking up close to 40 House seats.

If Sinema wins and Nelson loses, the GOP Senate gain would be R+2 -- when there were 10 Dem incumbents running in states Trump won.

And national pop vote is approaching D+7pts -- similar to '94, '06 and '10

— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) November 12, 2018

The folks at ThinkProgress point out that Democratic House candidates are on track to win the national popular vote by as much as 7 points, yet Republicans gained seats in the Senate.

There are still two outstanding Senate races: one in Florida which is heading to a recount, and one in Mississippi which will hold a runoff later this month.

Donald Trump Calls For 'New Election' In Arizona As Democrat Lead Holds

Donald Trump

Donald Trump, clearly having been told Democrat Kyrsten Sinema has pulled ahead of Republican Martha McSally in the still-undetermined U.S. Senate race in Arizona, took to Twitter to rant about non-existent 'electoral corruption.'

Just out — in Arizona, SIGNATURES DON’T MATCH. Electoral corruption - Call for a new Election? We must protect our Democracy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2018

Tuesday night it appeared McSally would be the victor, but as early votes are now being counted along with absentee votes, Sinema has taken a lead of over 8,000.

An average of final polls going into the election showed Sinema with a slight lead.

"But it is interesting — it always seems to go the way of the Democrats," Trump said today. "Now, in Arizona, all of a sudden, out of the wilderness, they find a lot of votes. And she's — the other candidate — is just winning by a hair."

Try telling that to Al Gore.

Republicans in Arizona are trying to stop having the votes counted there saying, in part, that if signatures on someone's voting history don't match, the vote shouldn't count.

Of course, there are lots of reasons why signatures may not match: illness, age, being in hurry. My signature certainly doesn't match my voter registration card from when I signed up 14 years ago here in Nevada.

There were plenty of responses on Twitter, but here's the only one you really need to see.

Just out— in Washington DC, SIGNATURES DONT MATCH. Electoral corruption - Call for a new Election. We must protect our Democracy! pic.twitter.com/WQ6ymUmEA9

— Kim (@KimJamul) November 9, 2018

Former AZ Sen. Jon Kyl To Succeed John McCain

Jon Kyl will succeed the late Sen John McCain in the U.S. Senate

Arizona Central is reporting that former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl has been tapped by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to succeed the late Sen. John McCain.

Before retiring in 2013 from an 18-year-career in the Senate, Kyl became the second-highest-ranking Republican in the upper chamber.

McCain's widow, Cindy McCain tweeted her approval of the choice of Kyl calling him "a dear friend of mine and John's."

Jon Kyl is a dear friend of mine and John’s. It’s a great tribute to John that he is prepared to go back into public service to help the state of Arizona.

— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 4, 2018

Jon Kyl, our newest Senator, on Donald Trump: “I don’t like his style. I think it is boorish. I think he’s own worst enemy."https://t.co/OKwQpO8NJ3

— Sam Stein (@samstein) September 4, 2018

Arizona Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema Could Be First Bi U.S. Senator

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona

 Last night in Arizona's primary election for the upcoming fall mid-terms, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, Kyrsten Sinema is the first openly bisexual member of the House.

She is the first openly bisexual candidate to run for the Senate from Arizona, and should she win in November, would be Arizona's first female Senator.

But another woman stands in her way.

Rep. Martha McSally clinched the Republican nod in the race for GOP Sen.Jeff Flake’s seat, who announced early that he would not be running for re-election.

McSally was forced to tact far to the right to defeat her primary opponents, former state Sen. Kelli Ward and virulently anti-immigration former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who appeared to split the more extreme fringes of the GOP.

McSally was the first woman to pilot a fighter jet.

HRC released the following statement on Sinema's victory in the Arizona primary:

“HRC proudly supports pro-equality champion Rep. Kyrsten Sinema -- a strong, effective leader who puts solutions first and fights to ensure every Arizonan has a shot at the American Dream,” said HRC Arizona State Director Justin Unga. “The stakes in November could not be clearer. In the coming weeks, HRC will continue mobilizing more than 800,000 Equality Voters and tens of thousands of members and supporters in the state to turn out for Sinema.”

The Republicans currently have a slim one vote edge in the Senate. They can only afford to lose one seat in the Senate without losing control of the chamber.

As I've written before, this year marks a big uptick in the number of LGBTQ people running for public office at various federal, state and local levels.

CVS Pharmacist Fired For Refusing To Fill Trans Woman's Prescriptions

Hilde Hall (image via ACLU)

 Penning a personal essay for the ACLU, Hilde Hall shared a sad turn of events on what began as one of the happiest days of her life.

Hall, a transgender woman, left her doctor’s office this past April with her first prescriptions for hormone therapy as she was about to begin the journey to seeing her body reflect her gender identity.

Excited, Hall drove directly to the local CVS pharmacy in Fountain Hills, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.

After handing over the three prescriptions from her doctor, a hormone therapy specialist, she was informed the pharmacist refused to fill one necessary to affirm her gender identity.

Without any specified reason, according to Hall, the pharmacist “kept asking, loudly and in front of other CVS staff and customers, why I was given the prescriptions.”

Embarrassed, Hall says she became distressed and nearly began to cry right there in the store.

“I didn’t want to answer why I had been prescribed this hormone therapy combination by my doctor,” writes Hall. “I felt like the pharmacist was trying to out me as transgender in front of strangers. I just froze and worked on holding back the tears.”

To make matters even worse, when Hall asked for the written prescriptions from the pharmacist so she could leave, he refused to return the written script.

Hall was forced to call her doctor’s office to intervene. But, according to reports, the pharmacist wouldn’t return the prescriptions without being told EXACTLY why the medication had been ordered.

In her essay, Hall shares she left the CVS store ‘feeling mortified.’

Eventually, the prescriptions were transferred to a Walgreens pharmacy where the meds were filled ‘without question.’

Hall adds that, after the insulting episode, she moved all of her prescriptions from CVS to Walgreens “so that I never again have to see the pharmacist who discriminated against me.”

She contacted CVS’ corporate complaint line several times but didn’t no one addressed her concerns initially.

It was after filing a complaint with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy that CVS responded.

"CVS Health extends its sincere apologies to Ms. Hall for her experience at our pharmacy in Fountain Hills, Arizona last spring," said in a statement to The Hill.

According to CVS, the employee had been dismissed, and assured Hall that it had not responded due to "an unintentional oversight."

The company indicated the former employees attitude did not “reflect our values or our commitment to inclusion, nondiscrimination and the delivery of outstanding patient care,” CVS said.

It's important to note that this isn't a cautionary tale for just transgender people.

This easily could have been the case of a pharmacist refusing to fill a prescription for Truvada or "PrEP." Or refusing to refill a birth control script.

At Walgreens, pharmacists are allowed to step down from filling scripts they find don't align with their personal religious beliefs, but at least there is a company policy requiring another pharmacist step in to accommodate the customer's needs.

This CVS pharmacist wouldn't even return the written paper scripts. This was a guy taking out his own personal agenda against an innocent trans woman.

Arizona Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against Anti-Gay Print Shop

(images screen captured from Brush & Nib promotional video)

In the first court case since the ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court this week regarding an anti-gay baker in Colorado, the Arizona Court of Appeals has rejected the argument that businesses can discriminate against a customer based on their sexual orientation.

In 2013, the Phoenix City Council added sexual orientation and gender identity to an already existing non-discrimination ordinance making it illegal to discriminate in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations.

A small printing business in Phoenix, Brush & Nib Studio, which designs and prints wedding invitations, asked a judge to override the city's ordinance to allow them to legally discriminate against LGBTs.

It's important to note that NO gay couple had asked Brush & Nib for wedding services.

A three-judge panel today handed down an unanimous ruling citing several federal court rulings from across the nation which upheld laws similar to Arizona’s public accommodation laws.

In the ruling, Judge Lawrence Winthrop wrote, "In light of these cases and consistent with the United States Supreme Court's decisions, we recognize that allowing appellants based on sexual orientation would constitute grave and continuing harm.”

One of the court rulings referenced in today's decision is the one involving the Colorado baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a gay couple.

But the ruling from SCOTUS only concluded that the baker had not gotten a fair hearing before the Colorado Civil Rights Board. The high court never addressed the question of whether his religious beliefs allowed him to legally discriminate against same-sex couples.

Back in May 2016, blogger JoeMyGod noted that when the Phoenix lawsuit was filed the company didn't appear to have a physical address, and the artists' social media accounts were only months old, making it credible that the company might have been created just to file the lawsuit and challenge the city's ordinance.

The video below, titled "Getting to Know the Artists of Brush & Nib," was uploaded to YouTube just days before the lawsuit was filed, and the comments section is closed.

In the video, the two artists make a point to say their teaming up was a "God thing," "beautiful things just come from God," and how "special" they view their work on wedding invitations.

Interestingly, the video is listed as "Unlisted."

Now, why would a business have a "getting to know" video be "unlisted" on YouTube?

Isn't that weird?

Funny: Stephen Colbert Recaps The Wild & Wacky Arizona GOP Primary

Taking a look at the upcoming mid-term elections, Stephen Colbert offers his recap of the wild and wooly Republican primary happening down Arizona way.

"It's a classic Arizona match between "Chemtrail lady," "Revenge porn guy" and "Sheriff Convict" in what I'm calling, "Showdown at the 'This is not OK' Corral."

Watch below.

(tip by TheOUTfront)

Arizona Haters Lose Legal Challenge to LGBT Protections In Phoenix

A small business in Phoenix, Arizona, which designs and prints wedding invitations has lost in their attempt to override the city's ordinance that protects LGBTs from discrimination.

It's important to note that NO gay couple has asked Brush & Nib Studio for wedding services; nor has anyone has filed a complaint against the artists with the city.

Judge Karen Mullins rejected arguments that the ordinance interferes with free speech or free exercise of religion laws.

From the Arizona Republic:

Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski, owners of Brush & Nib Studio and self-described evangelical Christians, create invitations and other handmade artwork for weddings and events.

They filed a lawsuit against Phoenix in May 2016 challenging the part of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Their suit alleges the city’s ordinance would compel them to create invitations or artwork for same-sex couples, which would conflict with their religious belief that marriage is between one man and one woman and violate their freedoms of speech and religion.

In 2013, the Phoenix City Council added sexual orientation and gender identity to an already existing non-discrimination ordinance making it illegal to discriminate in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations.

JoeMyGod noted back in May 2016 when the lawsuit was filed that the company didn't appear to have a physical address, and the artists' social media accounts were only months old, making it credible that the company might have been created just to file the lawsuit.

The video below, titled "Getting to Know the Artists of Brush & Nib," was uploaded to YouTube just days before the lawsuit was filed, and the comments section is closed. Additionally, the video is listed as "Unlisted."

In the video, the two artists make a point to say their teaming up was a "God thing," "beautiful things just come from God," and how "special" they view their work on wedding invitations.

Now, why have a "getting to know" video be "unlisted" on YouTube?

#ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmm

Arizona Supreme Court: Married Same-Sex Couples Should Have Equal Parental Rights

Good news from The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) regarding McLaughlin v. McLaughlin where the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that a woman was the legal parent of the child she and her same-sex spouse conceived through assisted reproduction during their marriage.

Via press release:

As the Arizona Supreme Court recognized, the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in Obergefell v. Hodges and Pavan v. Smith require states to treat married same-sex parents and married different-sex parents equally under the law. The Arizona Supreme Court explained, “It would be inconsistent with Obergefell to conclude that same-sex couples can legally marry but states can then deny them the same benefits of marriage afforded opposite-sex couples.”

Suzan McLaughlin and Kimberly McLaughlin were a married lesbian couple who had a child in 2011 using an anonymous sperm donor. After separating in 2013, Kimberly stopped allowing Suzan to see their child, and Suzan filed a legal action to be recognized as a parent.

Both the Arizona Court of Appeals and the trial court held that Suzan should indeed be recognized as a legal parent to her child. NCLR and Arizona attorney Claudia Work represented Suzan.

Since the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, numerous cases have recognized that married same-sex parents and married different-sex parents must be treated equally under the law.

In June 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Pavan v. Smith, another National Center for Lesbian Rights case, that Obergefell required states to treat married same-sex parents and married different-sex parents equally.

Arizona law assumes the man in a marriage is the father of any child born within 10 months of a marriage. But current laws don’t offer any protective rights to a non-biological same-sex parent in a married relationship where artificial insemination is used.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Scott Bales noted that the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling states that same-sex couples are entitled to civil marriage “on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples.”

Hillary Clinton Leading By 5 Points In Arizona

A new poll by the Arizona Republic, Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Cronkite News, shows Democrat Hillary Clinton leading in the traditionally red state of Arizona by 5 points.

According to the survey, Clinton is currently at 43% support of the state’s likely voters as Republican Donald Trump trails at 38%.

Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein continue in single digits receiving 7% and 4%, respectively.

In case you're wondering why Hillary is doing so well in a state that should be Trump territory, take a look at this recent poll of Latino voters and keep in mind Arizona's large Hispanic population.

Arizona Republic Responds To Death Threats From Trump Supporters Over Clinton Endorsement

Mi-Ai Parrish

The president of the Arizona Republic,Mi-Ai Parrish, responds to the death threats - yes, you read that correctly - the paper and it's reporters received after endorsing a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time in the paper's history.

As someone who has spent a career in the business of words, it’s unusual to find myself speechless.

Yet, there I was, a little more than two weeks ago.

What is the correct response, really, to this?

YOU'RE DEAD. WATCH YOUR BACK.

WE WILL BURN YOU DOWN.

YOU SHOULD BE PUT IN FRONT OF A FIRING SQUAD AS A TRAITOR.

How did I come to be hearing these threats?

More than a year ago, The Republic’s editorial board began taking a stand against the actions and positioning of Donald Trump. In piece after piece, we made it clear that his principles weren’t conservative. They were bad for the party, bad for Arizona, dangerous for America.

But in its more than 125 years, The Republic had never endorsed a Democrat for president. So, over the many months of the campaign, we found ourselves with this question: Endorse no one, or endorse a Democrat for the first time in our history?

We made our choice soberly. We knew it would be unpopular with many people. We knew that, although we had clearly stated our objections to Trump, it would be a big deal for a conservative editorial board in a conservative state to break ranks from the party.

We chose patriotism over party. We endorsed the Democrat.

And then the reaction started pouring in. Threats against our business. Threats against our people.

So, what is the response?

What is the correct response to any of the vile threats against me? What is the correct response to the more disturbing actions and words directed against so many others?

I've thought about those responses a lot. Today, I offer you a few.

If you'd like to see the kind of political discourse Donald Trump has helped create, I really encourage you to read the entire op-ed.





I'll be looking for Donald Trump to denounce these threats.


#ThisIsTrumpNation

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Arizona Republic Backs Hillary Clinton - 1st Democratic Endorsement In 126 Year History

For the first time in it's 126 year history, the Arizona Republic - the largest newspaper in red state Arizona - has endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton for president.

In an election year filled with hyperbole, it really can't be underlined enough what stunning news this is.

Near the opening of the article, the editorial board states twice that a Democratic endorsement has never occurred before. They repeat the word, "never."

Along the way, the editors point to Clinton's calm voice and mature demeanor; her wide-ranging knowledge of foreign policy; her long history of standing for gender equality; and her support for comprehensive immigration reform.

Here's just a few excerpts:

The challenges the United States faces domestically and internationally demand a steady hand, a cool head and the ability to think carefully before acting.

Hillary Clinton understands this. Donald Trump does not.

Clinton has the temperament and experience to be president. Donald Trump does not.

Clinton knows how to compromise and to lead with intelligence, decorum and perspective. She has a record of public service as First Lady, senator and secretary of state.

She has withstood decades of scrutiny so intense it would wither most politicians. The vehemence of some of the anti-Clinton attacks strains credulity.

Trump hasn’t even let the American people scrutinize his tax returns, which could help the nation judge his claims of business acumen.

[snip]

She does not casually say things that embolden our adversaries and frighten our allies. Her approach to governance is mature, confident and rational.

That cannot be said of her opponent.

Clinton retains her composure under pressure. She’s tough. She doesn’t back down.

Trump responds to criticism with the petulance of verbal spit wads.

That’s beneath our national dignity.

When the president of the United States speaks, the world expects substance. Not a blistering tweet.

[snip]

In a nation with an increasingly diverse population, Trump offers a recipe for permanent civil discord.

In a global economy, he offers protectionism and a false promise to bring back jobs that no longer exist.

America needs to look ahead and build a new era of prosperity for the working class.

This is Hillary Clinton’s opportunity. She can reach out to those who feel left behind. She can make it clear that America sees them and will address their concerns.

She can move us beyond rancor and incivility.

The Arizona Republic endorses Hillary Clinton for president.

According to RealClearPolitics poll averages, Donald Trump only leads by 2.2% in Arizona.

I encourage you to read the full op-ed here.

Arizona Pastor Steven Anderson Doubles Down On 'Execute The Gays To Cure AIDS' Hate Speech

Arizona Baptist pastor Steven Anderson -- who called for the mass execution of gays in a recent sermon in order to have an "AIDS-free world by Christmas" -- doubled down on his virulently anti-gay stance in this interview with Arizona television anchor Mark Curtis.

"What you have to understand is that the Bible commands that certain people be put to death. Not by me, not by Christians -- it's obviously not my job or the job of any Christian to go out and kill anybody -- and I've never taught anything like that. But rather, that the government's job is to punish criminals and to execute those who committed capital crimes. And according to the Bible, homosexuality is a capital crime. And I didn't write the Bible."

The interview was due to the reaction from Anderson's November 30th sermon where he said this:

“It was right there in the Bible all along — and they’re out spending billions of dollars in research and testing. It’s curable — right there. Because if you executed the homos like God recommends, you wouldn’t have all this AIDS running rampant,” he added. “It wouldn’t be totally AIDS-free, but we’d be like 90-some percent AIDS-free by Christmas if we follow this.”

Note: Anderson's Faithful Word Baptist Church has been certified as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Arizona Will Not Appeal Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

BREAKING: #Arizona AG will not appeal today’s marriage victory. Freedom to marry stands in Arizona! #LoveUnitesUS #LGBT
— Lambda Legal (@LambdaLegal) October 17, 2014

In a letter to all county clerks, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne issued instructions to immediately grant marriage licenses to all same-sex couples who apply.

Happy dance time!!!

Arizona Same-Sex Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional

Based on the 9th Circuit Court's decision which struck down same-sex marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho, U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick has ruled Arizona’s similar ban is unconstitutional.

In his ruling, Sedwick refused to grant a stay of his opinion, meaning the decision goes into effect immediately.

Breaking: Arizona Same-Sex Marriage Ban Is Unconstitutional, Federal Judge Rules http://t.co/gaUWPnDK5Z

— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) October 17, 2014