How Lawmakers Responded to Our Reporting on Queer Residents Fleeing

By Zachary Bradshaw

From competing in Speech and Debate at an East Valley high school to becoming Arizona’s newest congressional representative, Yassamin Ansari has much to look forward to. At 32, she is one of the youngest representatives in Washington and only the second Iranian-American to be elected to represent a U.S. district in Congress.

However, Ansari’s campaign last November faced criticism, with some claiming she was too centrist to represent District 3, which includes most of metropolitan Phoenix and parts of the West Valley. Despite this, during her time as vice mayor of Phoenix under Mayor Kate Gallego, Ansari championed cultural initiatives. She advocated for a “15-minute city” design to accommodate Phoenix’s growth and organized the city’s first Nowruz festival celebrating the Persian New Year, as well as the annual Pride in the Park festival.

LOOKOUT reporter Zachary Bradshaw managed to carve out 15 minutes from the congresswoman’s schedule just after Trump’s inauguration to discuss the future of Arizona’s queer population. Many are either bracing for their rights to be taken away or have already seen some of those rights jeopardized by President Donald Trump’s executive orders and cabinet appointments.

Zachary Bradshaw (LOOKOUT): Congratulations on your win! We only have a few minutes with you so let’s jump into questions: With this new campaign and the new year, there’s a lot of uncertainty for Arizona’s queer communities. I’m wondering: what might you do to ensure the LGBTQ+ population is safe if federal rules and laws take away some of their rights?

YA: Well, thanks so much for the question. I couldn’t agree with you more that so many communities will be impacted by this administration and their harmful policies. The truth is, with a Republican trifecta in Congress, it will be quite difficult. The good news is that Republicans have a very small majority in the House, so I intend to work relentlessly with colleagues across the aisle who may be more sympathetic on this issue to ensure their most extreme policies don’t reach President Trump’s desk. I will also do everything I can to speak out against this extremism, vocally support the LGBTQ community, and work with local organizations in the district to make sure they have the resources and support they need.

There have already been a couple of instances of very harmful, anti-LGBTQ legislation coming through Congress that I’ve stood against, alongside the entire Democratic caucus. I also think there are opportunities to work with state and local leaders to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected. Finally, we need to work with and support state attorneys general, such as ours, Kris Mayes, who will challenge extreme and unconstitutional policies in court.

ZB:You mentioned the anti-LGBTQ bills that have been introduced. In 2024, 11 of them were introduced in Arizona. None ended up passing due to not clearing the legislature or being vetoed by Governor Hobbs. But, of course, this is a new political cycle with some new and markedly anti-LGBTQ politicians elected in November. Do you think there will be an uptick in anti-LGBTQ bills being introduced or passed in Arizona?

YA: At the state level, there is a Republican majority in both the House and Senate. But the good news is we have a governor who is a strong ally to the LGBTQ community, and I have complete faith she will continue to veto that legislation. Whether more bills will be introduced is very possible. State legislators tend to follow the lead of the federal government, and given the very Republican—and unfortunately very extreme—majority in Congress, I anticipate we’ll continue to see harmful legislation at the federal level, which could influence similar actions at the state level.

ZB: President Trump has already announced his intention for the government to recognize only male and female sexes. According to the Williams Institute, roughly 1.5% of Arizona’s youth population—those under the age of 18—identify as transgender. From your standpoint, what does Trump’s recent announcement mean for those youth in Arizona?

YA: First of all, I think it’s outrageous that this is what he’s focused on. Trump claims to care about the economy and working people, yet none of the dozens of executive orders he’s signed have anything to do with lowering the cost of living for everyday Americans. The fact that one of those orders targets gender is absolutely outrageous.

It’s heartbreaking for the community. I want folks to know they wholeheartedly have an ally on their side in Congress. There are thousands, if not millions, of Arizonans who support them as well. We will work hand in hand with local nonprofits like One-n-Ten and HRC, which fight daily for the community, and with allies at the federal level. This will undoubtedly become a public health crisis—we are perpetuating hatred and stigma that young people should not have to face anymore.

ZB: Absolutely. You mentioned HRC, which endorsed you during your campaign. Do you expect other elected officials endorsed by HRC to also advocate for the LGBTQ community? How might that play out over the next two years?

YA: Yes, I think there are many allies in Arizona and in Congress. Here in Washington, DC, I’ve joined the Congressional Equality Caucus to promote and defend LGBTQIA rights. A vast majority of Democrats are part of this caucus.

The caucus played a big role in voting against the so-called "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act," which is really just a hateful bill barring transgender women and girls from participating in sports. It’s been great to see the level of support here at the federal level, and people are ready to fight on this issue.

ZB: President Trump and his cabinet have recently been firing people who aren’t loyal to him or go against his beliefs. As an elected official, do you fear being attacked for your stance on LGBTQ rights?

YA: I do. This administration, along with Trump’s close allies, has been very vengeful. You have figures like Elon Musk threatening to fund primary campaigns against both Republicans and Democrats with unlimited resources. Others, like Tom Homan—the former border czar—have threatened to jail local elected officials who oppose certain immigration policies.

I very much believe Trump and his allies when they make these threats. It’s a scary time, but we cannot let that deter us. Democrats need to push back as hard as possible to ensure Americans are aware of what’s happening and to challenge these harmful policies. Personally, I gain solace and strength from my colleagues—especially those who’ve been here longer than I have—by learning from them and strategizing on how to protect ourselves and our communities.

By Celina Jiménez

State Sen. Analise Ortiz is a TikTok star, a firebrand progressive, and an up-and-coming name in progressive politics across the nation. Ortiz’s career spans from being a former reporter to a communications assistant with Arizona’s ACLU chapter, to state representative, and now senator for her home in Maryvale, a suburb of West Phoenix.

Ortiz has gained notoriety for her bluntness on progressive issues, whether calling out Democrats for moving too far to the right or making national headlines alongside LGBTQ+ caucus colleague Oscar De Los Santos as they chanted “shame” on the House floor after last year’s abortion ruling. However, she has also faced criticism from progressive groups for working in bipartisan ways—such as collaborating with Freedom Caucus member Rep. Alex Kolodin on a criminal justice reform bill—with some claiming she betrayed her constituents.

In a state like Arizona, where Democrats often struggle to advance their passion projects without working with political opponents, Ortiz stands out as a figure to watch. LOOKOUT’s Public Safety Fellow Celina Jimenez sat down with Ortiz just before the new year, ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration and a flurry of executive orders, to discuss what is at stake for the future of Arizona’s queer communities and how people can get involved.

Celina Jiménez: Some people have expressed that they feel like they can't rely on state leaders to protect them. They’re feeling like their only choice is to flee the state, especially right now. As a state leader, how does this make you feel?

Analise Ortiz (AO): It's horrible. I feel ashamed that we are in this position where people in the LGBTQ community are feeling as though they are not safe here. The direct hostility towards the LGBTQ community that is coming from the Trump administration – and also members of the state legislature – is just absolutely unacceptable.

And people are afraid that with the incoming administration, the cost of these hateful policies could lead to someone not being able to file their exemption anymore, or someone losing a career they've worked hard for, or not being able to find a place to live because of discrimination. So it hurts my heart to hear that folks are moving out of the state because of fears that they are not safe, and it makes me want to be more committed and double down on my support as a member of the LGBTQ+ caucus and as a legislator to continue pushing for a statewide non-discrimination order. 

LO: Since we can't pass that non-discrimination bill statewide right now, what do you feel like that tells our LGBTQ population about how much we, as a state, value them and their ability to live freely? 

AO: It's incredibly frustrating that we cannot pass a statewide non-discrimination ordinance because Republicans, who are the majority in the legislature, continue to block legislation year after year. I do have hope that there are cities and towns that have passed non-discrimination ordinances within their own city limits, and I think that really signals that there are safe places within the state of Arizona that value our LGBTQ community.

We also have a strong ally in Governor Hobbs, who has vetoed every single anti-LGBT piece of legislation that has come to her desk. As for my constituents in LD 24, I'm going to continue to be a vocal voice within our LGBTQ + community, because everyone should feel welcome. And they always will be welcome within my office and at the state capitol as long as I am there. 

LO: Is this sentiment something that you were already familiar with? Is this something that your constituents and your colleagues have been talking to you about? 

AO: I hadn’t heard people say that they actually had plans to leave the state, but I will say that throughout this last campaign, it was very common that as I was knocking on doors, I would meet LGBTQ+ constituents who told me that this was their top concern. There are so many members of my community in Maryvale and Glendale who had told me that when Roe v. Wade was overturned, their first thought was that the Supreme Court is going to come after Obergefell v Hodges next. They expect marriage to go next. And that really made people start to reconsider.

They started asking themselves, do I need to get married to my partner now? Do I need to put some safety plans in place? And it shouldn't be the reality that we are living in. But yes, I will say that that fear was very palpable prior to November 5th. 

LO: What do you feel like it will do to Arizona's culture if these groups of people do go forward with their plans to flee for more progressive states?

AO: Every time this anti-LGBTQ legislature is part of the conversation, we tell Republicans again and again that this is business. It is bad for the economy. We are going to lose valuable members of our community, or maybe people that are thinking about moving here will no longer move here. 

And not just individuals – this also impacts businesses. If there are businesses that really value the LGBTQ+ community that are considering moving to Arizona, they might reconsider if they see that we do not have the policies in place to make sure their employees can live safe, free, authentic lives within our state. So this is an economic development issue, it is a business issue, and it is a culture issue. We want to have thriving neighborhoods. We want to have the art and culture that is part of the rich diversity that our LGBTQ+ community brings to this state. And if we are to continue to see these terrible, hostile bills, that's going to dwindle away and create more isolation within the LGBTQ+ community. And that is not a future that I want for Arizona as a pansexual woman. 

LO: When you were going door-to-door speaking with some of your LGBTQ constituents, did you hear any of them refer to themselves as ‘refugees of our state,’ or is that idea something you’ve been made aware of at all? 

AO: That's not a term that I’ve heard, but I would really understand if somebody feels that they truly are a refugee because they can't live their full lives here. 

LO: We've spoken a little bit about what message that sends to people within our own communities and even nationwide – but what about to the world? What does it tell the world that these people are calling themselves refugees of our state? 

AO: It's a stain on the state of Arizona if even one single person doesn't feel safe here to live out their life as an LGBTQ+ person. We should not be in that position, and it's a reputation that I am committed to turning around.

And we need to do that through policy. That's why I'm looking forward to co-sponsoring the non-discrimination ordinance. I'm also sponsoring a bill related to creating the state's first LGBTQ+ license plate. And we're going to continue to have a trans youth day at the Capitol.

We're going to continue to celebrate the diversity and the richness of our community. And the Republicans in power cannot scare us away from doing that. 

LO: Are there any other personal plans you have in place in the event that federal rules and laws do take away more of our rights?

AO: I personally want to dig in deeper with my community so that no matter what happens at the federal level, we will have the safety net on the ground to take care of one another. That's a real thing that we need to prepare for, and I plan to just show up for my community and for my loved ones who are LGBTQ to make sure that they have what they need if things get to that point on the federal level. And I'm encouraged by organizations like the Human Rights Campaign that have long been doing that work to build community on a hyper-global level. I think those are the organizations that really have the resources to be able to help shepherd us through this moment.

By Geri Koeppel

Last year, Phoenix Democrat Rep. Patty Contreras sat in the Capitol and listened as one of her fellow representatives, Lupe Diaz of Benson, said the U.S. was “unrighteous” because of people like her, who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

That moment sticks in Contreras’ mind as an example of the “ignorance” she said consumes many people with the Republican Party in power at the Capitol.

But that hasn’t stopped Contreras from continuing to fight for the dignity of her community. Reporter Geri Koeppel spoke with Contreras about that moment, as well as the future of progressive legislation and how she and her wife are planning for a future in which same-sex marriage is taken away.

Geri Koeppel (LOOKOUT): Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, Patty. First off, do you have a sense of the type and number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that might come up again in the legislative session?

Rep. Patty Contreras: I’m not sure how many will come up, but unfortunately, we're seeing hundreds of them throughout the country—these anti-LGBTQ+ bills. I know Senator Kavanaugh has already dropped a couple of bills. And it’s unfortunate because we're just regular people, and here they want to make us into "others." Senator [John] Kavanagh [of Fountain Hills] seems to have such an issue with gay people, especially our trans population. That’s very unfortunate because they’re just trying to live their own lives. 

GK: On that note: As a lesbian, you have to work with these folks—lawmakers with fairly extreme viewpoints on the community—who openly intimidate and try to take away the rights of LGBTQ+ people who want to live in peace. Do you see any hope for building bridges with these fellow legislators like Kavanagh someday?

PC: It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think we can get through to some of these folks. I mean, I work with them, and they all seem like decent people. I hope they think I’m a decent person. But some of them are just so—I don’t know what word to use; I’ll say ignorant—so ignorant of the fact that we exist. We’ve existed for as long as humans have existed—lesbians, gay people, trans people, and more. I’m really offended that they think they need to make laws to dictate my life—how I live and who I love.

I’ll give an example of their ignorance. Last year, Easter coincided with Trans Day of Visibility, which is always on March 31st. One of the legislators, who is a pastor, got up the next day and practically delivered a sermon vilifying trans people and the fact that the President had made a statement about Trans Day of Visibility. Easter falls on a different day every year, but Trans Day of Visibility is always March 31st. It just happened to overlap that year. He acted like, “How dare they, on the holiest day of the year, bring up trans people.” I thought, “Oh my God, you are so ignorant.” It infuriated me and made me so mad that they can’t see beyond their ignorance.

GK: When you hear those things from somebody you have to work with and negotiate with, how does that make you feel?

PC: I feel like I’m not being heard. Unfortunately, he’s entrenched in his view as much as I am in mine. I think people should figure out how to live together and respect each other. His view is, “You’re gay, you’re bad,” and I think my view is much more respectful of people than his. It’s really hard for me to get beyond that. We need mutual respect—yes—but you need to respect me if you expect me to respect you.

GK: So, extrapolating that to your constituents and other LGBTQ+ people in the state, what message does it send to the state and the world when legislators have such extreme stances that they make people feel like refugees?

PC: I get people telling me they’re afraid to be out and be who they are. I’ve been out for over 40 years, but 40 years ago, it was a whole different time. I was basically closeted. I wouldn’t say, “I’m gay, I’m lesbian,” but I never hid it if people asked. Nowadays, with social media being so prominent, young people are hearing all these negative things about gay people, and it’s hurting them. 

Our LGBTQ+ caucus in the state Legislature is out there for them. We will protect them to the best of our ability. We fight on the floor and in committees for gays, lesbians, trans people—all of our community—because it’s so important that they understand there are people out there supporting them.

GK: How exactly can legislators like you and other like-minded people support them when you can’t get legislation passed and can’t often block the hate legislation?

PC: The hate legislation does go through, and that’s very unfortunate. I’ve seen testimony from young people laying their lives on the line, talking about how hard it is for them with bullying and non-acceptance. Yet, we have legislators who will still vote against these young people who are just trying to live their authentic lives. Unfortunately, as a Democratic minority, we can’t get the votes. But we can make our stand on the floor and in committees. Right now, we have Governor Hobbs to back us up and veto hateful bills. That veto is a powerful tool, and it’s so important we have Katie Hobbs there because, without her, such crazy bills could pass.

GK: How does it make you feel personally when people say they don’t feel safe here and their only choice is to leave the state?

PC: I get that. My wife is one of those people. She thinks everything is going to come down on us, that they’re going to round us up or take away our rights. Right now, we have a Democratic attorney general and governor who will protect our rights, but the future is uncertain. My wife and I are meeting with lawyers to make sure our wills and trusts are in order in case something happens. We need to have what we want documented and lawful.

I actually have a friend in Florida who’s changing his name to match his partner’s so they’ll be considered “brothers” legally if gay marriage is overturned. Arizona still has anti-gay laws on the books, and if the federal government dissolves legalized marriage, those laws could come back into effect. My wife and I were married in 2008 in California during a brief window when it was allowed. I’d hope we’d be grandfathered in, but there are no guarantees in this environment.

GK: How do you feel when lifelong residents of Arizona say they don’t feel they have a future here?

PC: It’s heartbreaking. I’m a third-generation Arizonan, and I’ve tried to live my life authentically. I worked for the City of Phoenix, which had gay rights protections, and that was great. People need to find supportive communities and jobs. But I get that people feel unsafe and worry about their families. It’s so unfortunate because Arizona is such a beautiful state. I just wish this wasn’t an issue. We’re just regular people trying to live our lives, have families, and be productive members of society.