We missed you over the holidays, GLSENeers!
We're back and will continue to send our weekly updates to keep you informed and able to participate in the 2024 Arizona Legislative Session which opened on January 8th. We're once again working with our advocacy partners to track both supportive and harmful bills that affect our community. You can keep an eye on these updates in real time in our bill tracker.
In our weekly updates, we'll also news any recent school board advocacy efforts. And, keep an eye out for for calls to action in your community as needs arise.
Don't forget to encourage friends, family members, classmates, teachers, coworkers, and anyone else in your community to sign up and start receiving these and other updates from GLSEN Arizona!
Read on in this edition for:
Two bills that need your action following this week in the legislature.
A recap on ways to prepare/participate in this year's legislative session.
Local school board policy news.
A link to our advocacy working group bill tracker.
Local and National news that caught our attention this past week.
YOUR VOTE is an important way you are able to participate in our democracy!
Tue Mar 19, 2024 is the Arizona Presidential Preference Primary
Tuesday February 20th is the DEADLINE for Voter Registration in Arizona!
To register to vote in Arizona, you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States of America
- Be a resident of Arizona and the county listed on your registration
- Be 18 years of age on or before the day of the next regular General Election
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE
SUPPORT HB2625: The Statewide Non-Discrimination Act
We are so proud to be part of the working group proposing and supporting the Statewide Non-Discrimination Act. Click here to see advocates speaking at the Capitol this past week.
The Statewide Nondiscrimination Act would expand Arizona law protections for people from discrimination based on race, religion, sex, disability, in employment, housing, and public accommodations to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This bill would make Arizona the 24th state to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination.
Register your support for HB2625 through Arizona's RTS, and/or
Write to or call your local representative!
OPPOSE SB1166: The "Pronoun Bill"
This bill would make it illegal for teachers and other school employees to respect the pronouns of a trans or non-binary student without written parental permission. Additionally, for students who do have parental consent, it prevents schools from requiring employees to use their correct pronouns.
We are deeply opposed to this bill and we hope you are too. Share your opposition by registering your opinion in the RTS, and/or
Write to or call your local representative!
What is the RTS?
The Request To Speak program (RTS) is designed to allow the public to register an opinion on bills listed on agendas and to request to speak on a bill in a committee. See guidance and get additional support from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV).
Our 2024 Arizona Legislative Session Bill Tracker which kept up to date by our advocacy partner working group.
SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE
MUHSD CONSIDERS ADOPTING BOOK CENSORSHIP POLICY
Last week we called for your support in Cottonwood as the Mingus Union High School District is considering introducing policy that could see the censorship of books in the school library. Thank you for showing up! Cottonwood and nearby community members packed the room and the board heard hours of heart-felt testimony from community members opposing censorship and book bans. If MUHSD board members approve this policy, it would likely go into effect by the end of the school year.
Click here for more. We'll be sure to keep you updated.
IN THE NEWS
The US Supreme Court has declined to review a federal court ruling in favor of a transgender student and his family challenging a discriminatory restroom policy at an Indiana public school district. Read more.