The new policy against sexual harassment in the Arizona House of Representatives doesn’t specifically mention sexual orientation.
The policy says the state House won’t allow harassment or discrimination against people protected by state or federal civil rights laws. Those laws, however, don’t explicitly protect LGBT people.
Gay state employees in Arizona are protected from employment discrimination through an executive order, issued in 2003.
Tony Navarrete is a state House member and part of the new LGBT caucus. He said the sexual harassment policy is a step in the right direction.
Still Navarrete said it should be an example for the entire state.
“We need to make sure that we are clearly stating that we are going to protect the rights of LGBT members in the Legislature,” he said. “And if we can’t pass it at the state level, then let’s start at the area that we can control, and that’s at the state Capitol.”
Navarrete said he hasn’t directly experienced sexual harassment as a gay man working at the state Capitol but said the LGBT caucus will pay attention to the issue.
