Arizona Lawmaker with Hate Group Links Reintroduces Vetoed Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

A conservative Arizona lawmaker has introduced a controversial bill aimed at redefining legal recognition for individuals with diverse sexual identities. Representative Lisa Fink (R-Glendale), who has close ties to Christian nationalist groups, seeks to limit access to gender-aligned public facilities for transgender and intersex individuals.

Fink leads the Protect Arizona Children Coalition, an organization known for spreading misinformation regarding gender identity and sexual orientation since its inception in 2019. The coalition’s website now links to Family Watch International, identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group. Fink’s political endorsement came from Arizona Women of Action, a group dedicated to recruiting conservative parents for school board positions and promoting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

The rhetoric associated with Fink’s allies includes severe accusations against educators, suggesting they are indoctrinating children regarding sexual orientations. This hostile language has manifested in her recent legislative proposal, which states that only two sexes exist, effectively excluding transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals from Arizona’s legal framework. Intersex individuals, who have variations in reproductive anatomy that do not conform strictly to male or female classifications, are particularly affected by this bill.

House Bill 2062, known as the “Arizona Sex-Based Terms Act,” mirrors last session’s Senate Bill 1628, which was vetoed by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. That previous legislation sought to restrict transgender individuals from updating their legal documents, potentially affecting over 7,000 trans youth in the state.

Data from the U.S. Trans Survey indicates that a significant number of transgender individuals face harassment when their identification documents do not align with their gender presentation. Advocates have labeled such proposals as “erasure bills,” aimed at invalidating the identities of transgender people and reinforcing discriminatory practices.

Jeanne Woodbury from Creosote Partners described the bill as overly focused on intersex individuals, suggesting its definitions of gender are restrictive and dehumanizing. Critics assert that these narrow definitions serve to further marginalize an already vulnerable population.

Concerns regarding the bill’s unintended consequences have been raised, especially regarding the impact on parenting rights for queer individuals. Representative Patty Contreras (D-Phoenix), who has been vocal in defending LGBTQ+ rights, plans to push back against such measures and focus on passing more inclusive legislation, including a ban on conversion therapy practices.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona is prepared to lobby against Fink’s bill should it reach the governor’s desk. They work closely with Governor Hobbs to ensure protective measures for the LGBTQ+ community remain in place.

Fink did not respond to inquiries from LOOKOUT by the time of publication, leaving her motivations and intentions regarding HB 2062 unclear.