Glendale has become the ninth city in Arizona to pass an LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. The city council passed it unanimously on Tuesday.
Glendale is the third Valley city to pass such an ordinance in the past 90 days alone, following Mesa and Scottsdale.
In a joint statement, LGBTQ advocacy groups, Equality Arizona and ONE Community, praise the passage of the ordinance.
“Equal treatment isn’t a red or a blue issue — it’s an Arizona issue. All hard-working people, including those who are LGBTQ, want to do their jobs and provide for their families. LGBTQ people want the same thing as everyone else — the freedom to work hard, access basic services, and take care of themselves and their loved ones without fear of discrimination. We are grateful to the City of Glendale for their leadership,” Angela Hughey, President of One Community said in the statement.
The ordinance fully protects LGBTQ families and individuals from discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and housing within the city. The statement says Arizona has no statewide law barring such discrimination.
“Tonight is a victory for the people of Glendale. Inclusion and equal rights are universal values, central to the beliefs of Arizonans, faith communities, and to good business practice,” Michael Soto, Executive Director of Equality Arizona, said in the statement. “We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, without exception, and this ordinance is a historic step forward for Glendale and Arizona.”
