Arizona State Senator comes out following veto of anti-gay bill
“I’m gay, I’m a Latino, and I’m a senator. And it’s okay.”
— Arizona state Senator Steve Gallardo (D.), coming out to reporters in the Senate Caucus in Arizona. Gallardo felt compelled to come out publicly after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed Senate Bill 1062, which provided legal cover to business owners who discriminated against LGBT people. “After I stood up on the floor and argued against 1062, as I’ve done on many bills before, I sat down and said, ‘Wow. This bill affects me. It affects me directly,'” he told reporters. “Seeing the people out there, protesting. I thought it’s time. It’s time to let people know about me. And to send people a message. I’m more interested in letting people who struggle with this know that it’s okay.”
Image Credit: Michael Schennum, The Arizona Republic
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