ENDA (Workplace
Discrimination)
The cities of Tucson, Tempe,
Flagstaff, Phoenix and Mesa
include Sexual Orientation (S.O.)
in their nondiscrimination
policies. The City of
Phoenix also requires
companies who do business
with the city to include S.O.
in their policies. Arizona
State Executive Branch
workers are protected based
on Sexual Orientation.
Gender Identity and
Expression is only protected
in Tempe and Tucson.
Domestic Partner Benefits
Pima County and the cities
of Phoenix, Scottsdale,
Tempe and Tucson offer
Domestic Partner Benefits to
their employees.
Domestic Partner Registry
The City of Tucson allows
same sex couples to register
as partners. Benefits are
minimal and include family
discounts at city venues
such as the pool, and
visitation rights in
hospitals and nursing homes
within the city limits.
Hate Crimes
State law covers hate crimes
based on sexual orientation
but not gender identity.
Homosexuality in Schools
State law specifically
prohibits talking about
homosexuality in schools.
Employees are protected in
certain school districts
only, such as Phoenix Union
or Tucson Unified.
Arizona State University
Discrimination is prohibited
based on gender identity and
sexual orientation.
Marriage (DOMA)
Arizona law states:
“Marriage between persons of
the same sex is void and
prohibited.” An attempt to
put a constitutional
amendment on the Arizona
ballot was unsuccessful, as
was the attempt to “send a
postcard to Congress”
supporting the Federal
Marriage Amendment (FMA).
Domestic Violence
Same-sex victims are
protected in the same way as
any other victim, and have
the same rights.
Foster Parenting
Individuals are allowed to
be foster parents and Sexual
Orientation is not asked.
Couples may be foster
parents only if married.
Same-Sex Adoption
Individuals or married
couples may adopt. Sexual
Orientation is generally not
asked, so individuals living
with a partner of the same
sex may still adopt.
Second Parent Adoption
Arizona statute only allows
adoption by the spouse of
the legal parent; therefore
a same sex partner may not
adopt the child of the legal
parent.
Insurance Discrimination
Not specifically prohibited
in AZ, but generally there
is no discrimination.
Couples who want to OWN
policies on their partners,
however, do have difficulty
getting coverage.
Used with permission of
Arizona Human Rights Fund
Desert Showcase
