AZ: Katie Hobbs vetoes anti-trans, gun bills
Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday used her veto stamp to reject Republican attempts to allow guns on college campuses and to permit shelters to discriminate against trans women.
House Bill 2312 sought to shield domestic violence shelters from gender discrimination claims, but critics pointed out it created a loophole for shelters to turn away trans applicants. The measure would have protected shelters from lawsuits if they refused to allow biologically male employees around women or their children.
Rep. Rachel Jones, R-Tucson, said she drafted the bill after a Christian women’s shelter lost its federal funding partly for violating federal employment law, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex.
Hobbs, who worked as a social worker for decades, highlighted the importance of increasing access to domestic shelters and services for victims. HB2312 does neither, she said. Instead, it makes it easier to discriminate against Arizonans for their gender identity. The Democrat has repeatedly vowed to reject any anti-LGBTQ legislation sent to her desk.
“Arizonans who choose to work in domestic violence shelters and services are among our most qualified, dedicated public servants who are hired and retained for individual skills, merits and employment histories regardless of their sex,” she wrote in a veto letter. “They deserve the freedom to live their lives without laws targeting them for their gender identity.”
https://www.azmirror.com/blog/katie-hobbs-vetoes-anti-trans-gun-bills/
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