HERO

HERO is a LGBTQ advocacy group based out of Phoenix, AZ. What is HERO?

HERO was formed in early November 2008 after the passage of prop 102 in Arizona and Prop 8 in California, both of which legally defined marriage between one man and one woman. At that point, we realized that people needed to become more visible and educated about the issues faced within the LGBTQ community. The HERO Steering Committee is a all volunteer, grassroots, group of community organizers a

nd leaders with diverse backgrounds. As a board we meet monthly usually the 2nd Thursday of the month , however please check our calender for specific date in time. ORGANIZATIONAL STATEMENT OF NON-VIOLENCE
1.We will use no violence, physical or verbal, towards any person
2.We will not use classist, racist, s*xist, transphobic, homophobic, or otherwise hateful language
3.We will carry no weapons or other dangerous articles on our persons
4.We will not bring or use any alcohol or illegal drugs
5.We will not destroy property
6.No matter the circumstances of provocation, we will not threaten others with physical harm nor respond with physical violence to acts directed against us
7.We will adhere as closely as we are able to the letter and spirit of truth in our spoken and written statements
8.We will take responsibility for and accept the reasonable legal and other consequences of our actions, and will not seek to evade these consequences beyond legitimate recourse
9.We will not run from or otherwise attempt to evade law enforcement officials
10.We will minimize or eliminate

06/03/2023

SB1040, Kavanagh’s anti-trans bathroom bill for schools, was sent to the Governor today. While there’s every reason to believe she will veto it, we need to back that up with a show of support. Please write Gov. Hobbs and ask her to veto SB1040. You can email her at [email protected], or reach her through the official contact page.

Send an email to Governor Hobbs

05/18/2023

SB1001, Kavanagh’s anti-trans pronoun bill for schools, has been sent to the Governor (other bills have to pass through the Senate first). While there’s every reason to believe she will veto it, we need to back that up with a show of support. Please write Gov. Hobbs and ask her to veto SB1001. You can email her at [email protected], reach her through the official contact page.

Send an email to Governor Hobbs

05/13/2023

The final push is on in the legislature for this session. ALL of the remaining anti-LGBTQ bills are up for vote on the House floor on Monday. Republicans finally have their replacement for Liz Harris, they have got their majority, and they are going to cram a long list of bills down the throats of Democrats to finish off the session. These bills are up for vote Monday:

SB1001 - anti-trans pronoun bill for schools, forcing pronouns to be used according to s*x at birth
SB1040 - anti-trans bathroom bill for schools
SB1026 - anti-drag bill on use of state money
SB1694 - bans all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, including on gender identity
SB1028 and SB1030, which both started as anti-drag bills, had drag references amended out of them, but Republicans still think will restrict how, when, and where drag can be performed.

Please contact your state representatives, if you haven’t already, and ask them to oppose these bills. Please also contact the new Republican, Julie Willoughby, who has not heard from us on these bills yet, and these other Republicans who might be swayable:
Julie Willoughby- [email protected] - 602-926-4153
Matt Gress - [email protected] – 602-926-4105
Michele Peña - [email protected] – 602-926-3696
Timothy Dunn - [email protected] - 602-926-4139

05/09/2023

The Department of Education is accepting public comment on a proposed policy for transgender participation in school sports. Please submit your comments in support of trans-athletes by May 15th.

Let trans and inters*x students play sports!Participating in sports gives young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to learn and play, be part of a team, and nurture relationships. That’s why we’re advocating for real policy change at the federal level. Send a message to the Biden-Harris ad...

04/25/2023

SB1001, Kavanagh’s anti-trans pronoun bill, is apparently up for House floor debate tomorrow, Tuesday, 4/25/23. This bill will ban faculty in a school from referring to a trans student by their preferred pronouns or name other than their legal name or related nickname unless they have written consent from a parent. I say “apparently” because it showed up on a COW calendar for today, but the House did not have a floor session today. My guess is that it will be up tomorrow. This is just debate. I don’t know when they will vote on it, because ousted Republican Liz Harris has not been replaced, and House leadership appears to be hesitant to move forward on partisan votes until she’s replaced.

Please write your representatives and ask them to oppose SB1001. You can find your legislators at the link below. You can also write these Republicans, who are in my assessment, in order, the most likely to vote against it.
Matt Gress - [email protected] – 602-926-4105
Michele Peña - [email protected] – 602-926-3696
Timothy Dunn - [email protected] - 602-926-4139

04/12/2023

Anti-drag bill SB1026 and the anti-trans bathroom bill for schools SB1040 are both up for final House floor vote tomorrow, Wednesday 4/12/23. SB1028 and SB1030, which started as anti-drag bills but had the drag references amended out of them (but Republicans still think will be used against drag shows) are also up for final vote. If you haven't done so, please contact your House representatives and ask them to vote against these bills.

04/06/2023

SB1040, the anti-trans bathroom bill in schools, is up for House floor debate on Monday, 4/10/23. A vote on the bill will follow within the following couple of days. This bill bans restroom use that is not consistent with one's birth s*x as defined by both original birth certificate and genetics. It does require schools to make “reasonable accommodation” for trans students to use either single occupant bathrooms or employee bathrooms if written request is given, unless the school demonstrates “undue burden”. Since there is no appropriations consideration in this bill, any school that doesn’t already have such a restroom can say it’s too expensive to make one. No exception for the trans student is given in such a situation. It doesn’t limit who can request to use the single occupant restroom, and does not allow the school to refuse the request. A single use restroom can become overwhelmed leaving the trans student with none to use.

This is the last stop before it goes to the governor, and yes, she will veto it, but Republicans want that to use it against her. They will say that the governor isn’t protecting girls from trans kids. Let’s not let them use us as pawns.

Please call or write your state senator and ask them to oppose SB1040. You can find your legislators at the link below. We need to get just one Republican to vote against it. You can also write these Republicans, who are in my assessment, in order, the most likely to vote against it.
Matt Gress - [email protected] – 602-926-4105
Michele Peña - [email protected] – 602-926-3696
Liz Harris - [email protected] – 602-926-4153
Timothy Dunn - [email protected] - 602-926-4139
Teresa Martinez - [email protected] – 602-926-3158

04/05/2023

SB1026, Kavanagh’s anti-drag bill, is up for floor debate tomorrow Wednesday, 4/5/23, to be followed by a floor vote. SB1026 bars any state money or federal money passing through the state going to any entity that presents a drag show “targeting” minors. This is an attempt to shut down drag story telling and book readings. It would install in statute the insinuation that drag is somehow dangerous, and create a definition of drag in law that may be used as a reference in future legislation. If it passes the House, it goes to the Governor. She will likely veto it, but that’s probably Kavanagh’s goal.

Please write your representatives and ask them to vote no on SB1026. You can also write these Republicans, who are the most likely to vote against it.
Matt Gress - [email protected] – 602-926-4105
Michele Peña - [email protected] – 602-926-3696
Liz Harris - [email protected] – 602-926-4153
Timothy Dunn - [email protected] - 602-926-4139
Teresa Martinez - [email protected] – 602-926-3158

03/17/2023

Anti-drag bill SB1026 being heard in the House Government Committee this Wednesday, 3/22/23 at 9:00 AM. This bill passed the Senate on 3/2/23.

SB1026 bars any state money or federal money passing through the state going to any entity that presents a drag show “targeting” minors. This is an attempt to shut down drag story telling and book readings. It would install in statute the insinuation that drag is somehow dangerous, and create a definition of drag in law that may be used as a reference in future legislation.

Please write the members of the House Gov committee asking them to oppose this bill, and if you have a Request To Speak account, please register your opposition.

Republicans:
Timothy Dunn - Chairman - [email protected] - 602-926-4139
John Gillette - Vice - [email protected] - 602-926-4100
Rachel Jones - [email protected] - 602-926-3558
Steve Montenegro - [email protected] - 602-926-3635
Kevin Payne - [email protected] - 602-926-4854

Democrats:
Flavio Bravo - [email protected] - 602-926-4033
Lydia Hernandez - [email protected] - 602-926-3553
Jennifer Longdon - [email protected] - 602-926-3264
Mae Peshlakai - [email protected] - 602-926-3708
https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/bills/SB1026S.htm

03/17/2023

amending title 35, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 35-196.06; amending section 35-197, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the prohibited use of state monies.

03/15/2023

Today on the AZ Senate floor, Senator Kern's two anti-drag bills, SB1028 and SB1030, were both given floor amendments that removed all references to drag or male and female impersonation from them. They are now generic tightening-up of s*xually oriented performances bills, but are no longer bills targeting gay culture. Kern in his comments made it clear that going after drag shows was still his goal in these bills, but they now treat drag like any other kind of performance. For the moment, we can cal this a win.

03/15/2023

2 anti-drag bills are up for floor debate and vote in the Senate tomorrow, Wednesday March 15th. SB1028 criminalizes drag shows from public property or anyplace where they could be seen by a minor.

SB1030 will place regulations on drag shows and businesses that host them. It will create new licensing requirements for places that present drag shows. It will establish new zoning rules on where such businesses can be located. It will define any business showing a drag show as an “Adult oriented business.” It will limit the hours when a drag show can be performed.

Please write your state senator and ask them to oppose these bills.

Address

We Are Everywhere In
Phoenix, AZ

Website

http://www.heroarizona.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when HERO posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Phoenix?

HERO

06/03/2023

05/18/2023

05/13/2023

05/09/2023

04/25/2023

04/12/2023

04/06/2023

04/05/2023

03/17/2023

03/17/2023

03/15/2023

03/15/2023

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category