Discrimination? Toward whom?
A new ordinance being rushed through by Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is being broadly characterized as a non-discrimination law that provides protections for homosexual Phoenix residents. Yet the city’s lengthy Municipal Code already provides protections to residents based on race, gender, national origin and religion.
Faith-based organizations such as Center for Arizona Policy and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix see this fast-tracked issue through a much different lens. On Monday, the Diocese issued this statement clarifying its opposition. “As written, the proposed ordinance could be interpreted as forcing people to actively endorse, support and promote actions and behaviors that violate their own personal, deeply held religious beliefs,” the Diocese states. “We call upon the Phoenix City Council to acknowledge and protect the conscience rights of all people to live and act according to their faith and values.”
Using the pretext of “prohibiting discrimination” against people on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, this poorly crafted proposed ordinance holds devastating legal and ethical consequences for Phoenix residents.
More commonly known as the “Bathroom Bill,” the proposed city regulation presents serious problems for every church, pastor, parent, and small business owner within the city of Phoenix.
Faith leaders have questioned whether the ordinance fully exempts religious organizations, as city staff and supporters claim. They also have raised significant concerns that it would allow transgender men to share bathrooms with young girls and women.
Phoenix District 6 City Councilman Sal DiCiccio opposes the measure, saying “Mayor Stanton needs to push back on this radical proposal he’s got, this is his proposal, he wants to get it through and he is trying to cram it through.”
CitizenLink, associated with Focus on the Family, provides in-depth information on this issue.
Mayor Stanton and his wife Nicole were recently featured in Echo Magazine — a homosexual publication — based on the special relationship they have fostered with that community, even marching in Phoenix’ Gay Pride parade. The pair was honored as the magazine’s 2012 Man and Woman of the Year — the first “straight” pair so warmly acknowledged.
The council is scheduled to meet today at 2:30 pm at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 West Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. (map) The public is invited to participate.

In a flashy display of its own pro-homosexual bias, the daily newspaper heralds the passage of this unnecessary and problematic ordinance with the following Page One headline: Phoenix OKs ban on gay bias.
The clearly one-sided report describes the vote “to broadly outlaw discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents,” peppered with numerous quotes from the homosexual lobbies and descriptions of their advocates in attendance. The crowd estimated at 500, included those who disagreed with this expansive measure. Called “opponents” throughout the article, they received little coverage, although the latter portion of the report acknowledged that boos and expletives were hurled at Councilman Sal DiCiccio by the supposedly dispirited contingent.
Although there was no tangible evidence of bias presented, the vote of the supposedly non-partisan city council went mainly along party lines in a 5 – 3 vote. Republican councilmen Sal DiCiccio, Bill Gates and Jim Waring voted against the measure. RINO Thelda Williams joined Democrat Council members Michael Johnson, Daniel Valenzuela, and openly homosexual Tom Simplot, who united with Mayor Greg Stanton in support. Michael Nowakowski, who has previously expressed his backing of the measure was not in attendance.
Promotion of homosexual issues have stepped front and center with the Arizona Republic since January 2008, when flagrant homosexual Randy Lovely took over as chief editor and VP of News at the daily newspaper. Under his guidance, in August 2010, the newspaper editorially endorsed same sex “marriage.”