Several lawmakers and community leaders on Thursday said the state needs a law to protect Arizonans from being fired, denied housing or refused service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Lawmakers failed to get a similar law passed last year, but supporters have returned to introduce a bill that would add state-wide protections rather than relying on a patchwork of protection in certain ZIP codes.
Only five cities in Arizona – Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, Sedona, Winslow – have fully inclusive sexual orientation and gender-identity ordinances that address housing, employment and public accommodations, according to lgbtqmap.org.
Flagstaff protects its LGBTQ community with employment and public accommodations.
