Arizona's "Fab Four" Storm the U.S. Capitol, Demand Equality!

PFLAGers from three Arizona chapters joined together on Capitol Hill on Thursday, October 11th (National Coming Out Day) for PFLAG National's Capitol Hill Lobby Day.  Making up the PFLAG Arizona team were (from left to right, starting with front row) Diane Steen (PFLAG Tucson), Kim Pearson (PFLAG Lake Havasu City), and Dan Loven and Mike Crum (PFLAG Phoenix).  With pending legislation on hate crimes and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) before the Congress, our intention was to lobby as many Arizona congresspersons as time (and access) permitted.  However, just prior to our arrival in Washington, D.C., the original ENDA legislation was pulled from consideration by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and a weaker version which excludes employment protections for our transgender brothers and sisters was introduced by Congressman Barney Frank.  That last-minute "switcharoo" changed the focus of our Capitol Hill visits, and we were requested by PFLAG National to focus mostly, if not completely, on getting our message across that PFLAG **ONLY** supports the fully-inclusive original ENDA legislation, and fully **OPPOSES** any legislation that would leave any of our GLB or T family members out to fend for themselves.  As PFLAG Executive Jody Huckaby stated, we will not break our families apart to pass a watered-down version of ENDA. 

Reaction to this unexpected ENDA development was swift, and fortunately for our Arizona team, we were able to walk in to our Arizona congressional representatives' offices with our PFLAG credentials (very respected on the Hill) along with the additional backing of over 300 GLBT and allied organizations that quickly banded together to form UnitedENDA.org.  (Sadly, we wished we could have reported to our representatives that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) was on board with us, but they took a slightly nuanced position that left everyone on both sides of this issue scratching their heads.)

Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., we were only able to confirm two appointments with our Arizona congressional leadership.  Unfortunately, the day we arrived, Congress had recessed for the funeral of Representative Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), and thus no congressional representatives were in their offices.  Instead (and I've come to learn this is often the case), we met with staff members from their respective offices.  Arizona has eight congressional districts, and we managed to meet with the staffs of six of the eight in the limited time we had to conduct our visits.  Briefly, here is who we met with and what their position is on ENDA (note:  their respective positions can change quickly, so please understand that the stated positions below are as of Thursday, October 11, 2007 only):

Arizona Congressional District 1:  Rep. Rick Renzi (R).

Unfortunately, the staff member who handles labor issues for Rep. Renzi had left for the day, so we met with another staff member who was covering for him.  This staff member did not know Rep. Renzi's current position on the original ENDA bill or the less-inclusive ENDA bill.  However, we had a 10-minute discussion from which he took notes to share with the labor staff member and Rep. Renzi.

 

Arizona Congressional District 2: 

Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could make it to this representative's office.

 

Arizona Congressional District 3:  Rep. John Shadegg (R).

Per his staff member, Rep. Shadegg has concerns regarding "federalism" in this area.  The representative feels that employment legislation is a state-by-state issue to decide.  We informed the staff member that GLBT people (AND straight people perceived to be GLBT) have no legal recourse when it comes to job discrimination as African Americans, Christians, and others do.  We spoke with this staff member for 15 minutes; unfortunately, they did not take any notes from our meeting.

 

Arizona Congressional District 4:  Rep. Ed Pastor (D).

No one was available to talk with us when we arrived; however, a staff member did call back and speak with Kim Pearson (PFLAG Lake Havasu City).  The report from that follow-up call is not yet available.

 

Arizona Congressional District 5:  Rep. Harry Mitchell (D).

Per his staff, Rep. Mitchell is a co-sponsor of the original ENDA bill.  Rep. Mitchell hasn't yet taken an official position on the less-inclusive ENDA bill.  He is currently listening to constituents and other House members.  His staff specifically mentioned HRC, and it appeared to us that they seem to listen to HRC as HRC is in frequent communication with his office.  (Note:  This is why it is imperative that everyone contact Rep. Mitchell's office to tell him to support ***ONLY*** the fully-inclusive original ENDA bill.)  We met with this staff member for 30 minutes, and the staff member appeared genuinely interested in our input on the original ENDA legislation.

 

Arizona Congressional District 6:  Rep. Jeff Flake (R).

Per his staff member, Rep. Flake has concerns regarding government control vs. private business control over hiring/firing decisions.  He felt that "Wal-Mart should decide who it hires/fires", but we countered that many GLBT people (AND straight people perceived to be GLBT) have no legal recourse when it comes to job discrimination as African Americans, Christians, and others do.  We spoke with this staff member for 30  minutes, and the staff member did take notes from our discussion to share with Rep. Flake.

 

Arizona Congressional District 7: 

Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could make it to this representative's office.

 

Arizona Congressional District 8:  Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (R)

Per her staff member, Rep. Giffords is a co-sponsor of the original ENDA bill.  As for the less-inclusive ENDA bill, Rep. Giffords is "on the fence."  The staff member mentioned HRC's position in our brief discussion.  The staff member had little time to talk with us, so we made our plea for the representative to support the fully-inclusive, original ENDA bill.  We spoke with the staff member for 5 minutes.

All in all, this was a nice experience for us all.  While not every representative supported our issues, we were all impressed with how attentive the staff members were (yes, both Democratic AND Republican).  And, while we did not get to talk with any of our Congress-men or -women in person, going and talking with their staff members on their home turf (i.e., in their Capitol Hill offices) quickly deflated any fears or apprehension each of us may have felt prior to going.  After all, none of us had ever done this before.  And we all agreed afterwards that there's nothing to it!  In fact, we now believe that EVERYBODY should do it --after all, THEY work for US.  It actually felt good to remind these folks, by visiting them in person, that they represent us as citizens of Arizona.

One poignant moment that occurred that day, one that I only realize was so special now, is when we boarded a transport bus near the House of Representatives to be taken back to the conference hotel.  The bus was filling up quickly, and one of the PFLAG staffers got on and asked if someone could save a seat for a woman who was walking slowly with a cane.  So, I hopped up and saved the row of seats next to Dan and I.  The rest of the bus filled quickly, and we wondered if the woman with the cane was going to make it because she was nowhere in sight.  After 10-15 minutes, a woman appeared, being supported by another PFLAG staffer.  She got on the bus, I jumped back to my seat, and she took her seat in the row beside me.  The reason why this is so special to me now?  It wasn't because I was able to save her seat.  It's because I now know her name and just a tidbit of her story.  Her name is Peggy Gage, and she is a PFLAG Mom.  Her story is told briefly in the message below from Mara Keisling. 

The fabulous rock star Cyndi Lauper spoke to a PFLAG press conference today and talked, among other things about the need for Transgender rights.  That is remarkable.  More remarkable though is that Peggy Gage was on Capitol Hill today lobbying to pass a fully-inclusive unified ENDA.  I was fortunate enough to go with her and other PFLAG parents to meet with two members of Congress. That Peggy was there is extraordinary for two reasons.  Peggy is a very proud PFLAG mom and that in itself makes it remarkable that she spent the day at the Capitol lobbying for a transgender-inclusive ENDA.  More remarkable and utterly humbling though is that Peggy lobbied with me today even though her husband Judge Ed Gage passed away last Friday.  Peggy still came to DC from Tallahassee to stand up for her lesbian daughter and for all of us because, she explained, there was important work to do and because her late husband would have wanted her to. We grieve her loss and are thankful and in awe that she found the strength to stand with us and demand justice in this very difficult week for her.

We all were walking the Halls of Congress with PFLAGers such as Peggy Gage.  THAT makes me proud to be a PFLAGer -- among so many other reasons.

Former Phoenix chapter president Mike Crum sits with
former PFLAG National presidents Sam Thoron and Mitzi Henderson,
 all awaiting the PFLAG group photo below.

PFLAGers from across the country assemble on the steps of Capitol Hill.