“Equality Voters” delivered huge margins to pro-equality Democrats up and down the ballot, pushing back against extremism and defying pre-election predictions of a massive “red wave”

WASHINGTON – New polling released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — shows that the 2022 election defied pre-election predictions of a massive “red wave” in no small measure because Equality Voters pushed back against extremism and voted to protect commonly held values and our democracy.

Across the country, election deniers and right-wing extremists lost winnable elections because they advocated views that are out-of-touch with average voters, particularly the huge number of Equality Voters who made the critical difference up and down the ballot. Equality Voters are a group of voters modeled to support LGBTQ+ equality, numbering 62 million nationwide. They represented 39 percent of the 2022 electorate—a number that reflects the growing political strength of this voting bloc—and tend to be younger and more racially diverse than the electorate as a whole.

“Republicans lost because they nominated extreme candidates, conspiracy theorists, and far-right radicals who advocated extreme positions, including attacks on an LGBTQ+ community that grows more politically powerful every election cycle,” said Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign Interim President. “As Sen. Mitch McConnell said earlier this week, Republicans’ negativity and excessive attacks were rejected by independent and moderate Republican voters. They didn’t generate the landslide they were betting on, thanks to the historic turnout of pro-equality, pro-democracy, and pro-choice voters who showed up to the polls in record numbers to reject extremism and deliver a series of victories for pro-equality candidates, including historic victories for LGBTQ+ candidates, women, and candidates of color.”

Equality Voters delivered huge margins to Democrats at every level of the ballot.

• At the U.S. House level, 81 percent of Equality Voters supported the Democratic candidate. Equality Voters delivered similar margins for Democratic U.S. Senate candidates and Democratic candidates for governor.
• This number is comparable to the level of support Equality Voters gave Joe Biden two years ago (also 81 percent) and nearly matches the level of support Black voters delivered this cycle (87 percent).
• Among self-identified LGBTQ+ voters, who made up a midterm record 7 percent of the 2022 electorate, fully 80 percent supported U.S. House Democrats. LGBTQ+ voters delivered similar margins for Democratic U.S. Senate candidates and Democratic candidates for governor.

Dobbs and Trump defined Republican extremism for many voters, but anti-equality issues and attacks on marginalized people also defined right-wing radicalism this year.

• Among voters who voted against Republicans, a majority identify either abortion, support for Trump and election denial as the most important reason for doing so.
• Attacks on people of color and LGBTQ+ people rank next on this list.

As predicted, right-wing efforts to spread propaganda about and attack transgender people failed.

• In this survey, we asked voters which specific issues motivated them to vote this year. Inflation (52 percent) and abortion (29 percent) rank first and second on this list.
• Less than 5 percent identify gender affirming care for transgender youth or transgender participation in sports as issues motivating them to vote, last on this list.
• This confirms extensive research prior to the election that found anti-transgender attacks were only effective in riling up extreme members of the conservative base, which is why the attacks were so prominent in paid media during Republican primaries.
• While the attacks were ineffective with the general electorate and in fact repelled swing voters, they still caused harm, including increasing stigma, discrimination, and violence against the transgender community.

Voters will tolerate no retreat on marriage.

• With this week’s pivotal U.S. Senate votes on marriage equality underway, a convincing 61 percent of 2022 voters in this fairly conservative, midterm electorate support Congress passing a law to protect the federal right to same-sex marriage.
• This majority includes 67 percent of Independent voters, 54 percent of voters over age 50, 62 percent of non-college women, and, of course, a resounding 81 percent of Equality Voters.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Greg Lee receives inaugural diversity award for NFL franchises LGBTQ+ allyship

Arizona Cardinals Chief Financial Officer Greg Lee accepts Compete Sports Diversity’s
2022 Person of the Year award on Oct. 26. (Photo by Jared Wickerham)

Tempe, Ariz. (Nov. 10, 2022) — As the world turns its attention to State Farm Stadium, where Super Bowl LVII will decide the next team to hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 12, 2023, one senior executive with the Arizona Cardinals just brought home a different trophy.

Greg Lee, Arizona Cardinals Chief Financial Officer, was recognized as Compete Sports Diversity’s Person of the Year for 2022. The award was presented by Compete, in partnership with Tempe Tourism Office, on Oct. 26 as part of the TEAMS Conference & Expo presented by SportsTravel magazine in Oklahoma City.

“Compete was honored to partner with the Tempe Tourism Office to recognize Greg Lee as our first-ever Person of the Year,” said Eric Carlyle, Compete CEO. “Greg’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in sports has been a game changer in both recreational and professional sports.”

Lee was selected by Compete’s executive committee, which considered “spirit, generosity and dedication to sports diversity” as the criteria for selecting the inaugural honoree. In Lee’s nearly 17 years with the NFL franchise, he has played an integral role in countless efforts that set him apart from the other candidates.

“Lee was among the first senior executive from the NFL teams to champion equity, diversity and inclusion by asking what he could do for the LGBTQ+ community,” Carlyle added. “He listened and then he took action by working closely with the community in meaningful ways. He’s set a shining example that other executives are now adding to their playbook.”

By partnering with the National Gay Flag Football Association (NGFFL), the Arizona Cardinals were instrumental in bringing Gay Bowl XXI – an LGBTQ+ flag football tournament – to Tempe, Arizona, in 2021.

That relationship continues, as representatives from the NGFFL were subsequently invited to the 2022 NFL Draft to announce Cardinals third-round pick (No. 87 overall) before a live audience in Las Vegas, as well as an estimated 10.3 million viewers worldwide. The team’s selection — Cameron Thomas, defensive end from San Diego State — was read by NGFFL player and former league commissioner Joel Horton, making him the first openly gay person to announce an NFL draft pick.

Off the field, the Arizona Cardinals are gold sponsors of the Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce (GPECC), and also launched a new partnership with Compete’s annual Sports Diversity Summit in 2021.

“The Tempe Tourism Office is proud to be a presenting sponsor of Compete’s inaugural Person of the Year award,” said Michael Martin, President & CEO of the Tempe Tourism Office. “Not only does this speak volumes about the inclusive and welcoming spirit of our city, it also celebrates our Gay Bowl XXI guests and enriches the narrative around the Cardinals’ local relationships and priorities as we countdown Super Bowl LVII. Everyone is welcome here, and this is just one way we’re sharing that.”

Another way in which Tempe is widely extending an invitation to all visitors year after year, is via its Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score, a snapshot that is based on a nationwide evaluation of municipal laws and related criteria, including non-discrimination laws and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. Since 2014, the City of Tempe has earned the perfect score of 100.

For updates on the Tempe Tourism Office’s LGBTQ+ efforts, please visit tempetourism.com/travel-tips/lgbtq or, for more information on booking your next event in Tempe, visit tempetourism.com/plan-an-event.

Washington, DC – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — hailed the victory of at least 10  pro-equality, openly LGBTQ+ members of the House of Representatives Equality Caucus, a record.  Those members are Becca Balint (VT-1), David Cicilline (RI-1),  Angie Craig (MN-2), Sharice Davids (KS-3), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15). When the new congressional term begins in January, these House members will join openly LGBTQ+ Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema in Congress. Votes are still being counted in CA-41 and OR-5, where openly LGBTQ+ Will Rollins and Jamie McLeod-Skinner are in close races.

Openly LGBTQ+ members play key roles in promoting, advancing, and eventually passing critical legislation, like the Equality Act and the Respect for Marriage Act during the 117th Congress. Their fight to expand civil rights at the federal level and prevent our progress from being rolled back comes at a time when state legislators across the country have introduced more than 350 anti-LGBTQ+ bills.

Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison released the following statement:

“The election of a record number of openly LGBTQ+ pro-equality members of the U.S. House Equality Caucus is historic and meaningful because these members represent the diversity of America and are role models to LGBTQ+ people of all ages who aspire to positions of leadership. They are not only advocates advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community they are also serving their constituents with honesty, integrity, hard work and courage. Each will make our country better and advance equality for women, people of color, and other marginalized communities.  The Human Rights Campaign  salutes voters for their wise choice electing these public servants and is proud to stand with such strong leaders in our work to advance LGBTQ+ equality over the next two years.”

HRC-Endorsed Openly LGBTQ+ Candidates Winning Seats in the House

Becca Balint, VT – 1

David Cicilline, RI -1

Angie Craig, MN – 2

Sharice Davids, KS – 3

Robert Garcia, CA – 42

Chris Pappas, NH -1

Mark Pocan, WI – 2

Eric Sorensen, IL – 17

Mark Takano, CA-39

Ritchie Torres, NY – 15

HRC-Endorsed Openly LGTBQ+ Candidates in the House Where Vote Counting is Underway

Jamie McLeod-Skinner, OR – 5

Will Rollins, CA – 41

Italics denotes incumbent

HRC’s Commitment to Mobilizing Equality Voters

Equality Voters are a voting bloc of demographically and geographically diverse Americans who are united by the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. Equality Voters are younger, more racially diverse, and more female than the general electorate, they recognize and trust the HRC brand, and they are more likely to identify with issue-specific organizations than candidates or political parties.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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Arizona Jewish Historical Society Keeps Holocaust History Alive

PHOENIX­– The Arizona Jewish Historical Society is honored to announce that Phoenix will be one of only 12 locations worldwide to feature a holographic-like video of a local holocaust survivor. Part of a new original exhibit, Stories of Survival: An Immersive Journey through the Holocaust, is coming to Phoenix on Nov. 9, also known as Kristallnacht Remembrance Day.

As World War II and the holocaust get pushed further into history, it becomes even more important to archive the memories of past events so that generations to come can remember. This compelling museum will showcase experiences to help visitors learn and understand the impact of the holocaust on the Jewish community and how the public can carry the stories and lessons with them.

“We are humbled to preserve the stories of those who endured the horrific events that occurred during the holocaust,” said Lawrence Bell, Executive Director of AZJHS. “Our hope is that Oskar’s story will live on to teach others about the power of our words and actions. This new exhibit is meant to inform and educate the public about the dangers of hate speech and the idea that any race, religion, or background is above others.”

The installation will feature an interactive real time Q & A holographic of Oskar Knoblauch, a local survivor of the holocaust who has made it his mission to never let the horrors of the Holocaust be forgotten. The Shoah Foundation’s, Dimensions in Testimony, is a 3D life size holographic of Knoblauch that “comes alive” as he educates by answering questions from visitors with his true story and the story of others who were affected by the holocaust. The horrors he experienced will live on to teach the lessons he learned of treating humans with respect, understanding self-love and loving others through hardship, and being an upstander who speaks up for those being bullied and mistreated by their peers.

“I had a fulfilling and quite memorable childhood until in 1933 when at the age of eight, my life was shattered by the onset of Nazism. Hitler spread propaganda that Jews were a horrible, dirty, and evil race. My family was none of these and I hope people can learn from my experience,” said Knoblauch.

The second immersive and educational experience will be a virtual walk-through of a concentration camp with the utilization of VR. A 360-degree, virtual reality experience will captivate visitors with an Oculus Quest Meta Head and Hand Controlled video. Visitors will be immersed in the powerful 16-minute award-winning Shoah Foundation virtual-reality film, The Last Goodbye, that transports viewers inside the Nazi death camp Majdanek in Poland.

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society is located at 122 E. Culver Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1720.

To learn more about the holographic, please visit https://www.azjhs.org/interactive-hologram-holocaust-testimony-experience. For more information on the Arizona Jewish Historical Society please visit https://www.azjhs.org/ .

About Arizona Jewish Historical Society

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society preserves and celebrates the rich heritage of Arizona’s Jewish communities, educates the public about the Jewish historical experience including the Holocaust, and promotes awareness of our state’s diverse history through arts, culture, and educational programming.

For too long, LGBTQ+ elders have felt invisible. Whether you’re older or younger, voting is a way for us to honor the LGBTQ+ pioneers that came before us and strive to create an equitable world that values our elders and offers boundless opportunity for our community to thrive.

SAGE is gathering with community organizations in Arizona to discuss what older Arizonans need to know when heading to the polls on November 8^th and commit to being SAGE Voters to remind the country that LGBTQ+ elders refuse to be invisible on Election Day and all year round.

We’ll hear from advocates from the ACLU, Equality Arizona, and others about how to safely vote this year and how people of all ages can support LGBTQ+ elders as they head to the polls.

Please reach out to advocacy@sageusa.org with any questions.

Date: Friday, October 7th, 2022

Time: 6 pm MST

Location:

Church of the Beatitudes
555 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85021

Exact location provided upon RSVP

RSVP link: https://sageusa.org/vote-az.

Organizations partner to provide no-cost vaccine administration.
APPOINTMENTS STRONGLY SUGGESTED. Limited walk-ins available.

PHOENIX — Phoenix Pride (phoenixpride.org) and Southwest Center (swcenter.org) are partnering to host a FREE and OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic on Sat., Oct. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Southwest Center campus, 1101 N. Central Ave. Phoenix 85014. The event is being supported by the Maricopa County Public Health Department.

      APPOINTMENTS FOR THE CLINIC ARE AVAILABLE NOW and can be made online at https://bit.ly/swcclinic. A limited number of walk-in doses will be available while supplies last, but APPOINTMENTS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

       No medical referral is needed to participate in the clinic and payment is not required for individuals to receive the vaccine during the event, which will also feature information about HIV/AIDS testing and PREP. Southwest Center will accept a range of health insurance plans, but those without insurance will still be seen. Some clinical restrictions may prevent individuals from receiving the vaccine, and detailed information regarding restrictions and limitations with the monkeypox vaccine can be found online at https://www.maricopa.gov/5825/Monkeypox. Southwest Center representatives are also available to answer additional questions, via email to prideinyourhealth@swcenter.org.

         The clinic is being held under the “Pride in Your Health” banner as part of the series of “Fall into Pride” events leading up to the 41st Phoenix Pride Festival & Parade, Oct. 15-16, at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix.

        “Phoenix Pride is committed to promoting the health and well-being of our entire community, including the LGBTQ+ comm-unity and our allies, but also, the public at large,” Executive Director of Phoenix Pride Mike Fornelli said. “We know that the LGBTQ+ community often faces greater challenges in accessing quality and affordable healthcare, and we continually undertake efforts to provide preventative measures to the community, in conjunction with outstanding healthcare partners like Southwest Center. And, at a time when gay and bi men, in particular, are being stigmatized in association with the spread of monkeypox infections, it is vitally important that we create safe spaces where people know they can be comfortable receiving the preventative care that they need, especially as we head into this year’s Pride Festival weekend.”

         “We recognize that being protected and educated on monkeypox and how it spreads is mission-critical to ensure a success-ful, responsible, and safe celebration of Pride here in Phoenix,” Southwest Center Senior Director of Healthcare Operations Casey Simon added. “Our community has responded to monkeypox positively. We are confident that we can continue this momentum of protecting ourselves and others by getting vaccinated before Pride. We are grateful to Phoenix Pride for making the community’s health a priority for this year’s event and to Maricopa County Public Health for their support.”

Davey Miller

September 14, 1958 ~ August 14, 2022 (age 63)

           Davey Wylie Miller age 63, of Phoenix, AZ passed away on Sunday August 14, 2022.  He was born in Iowa on September 14, 1958, the son of Walter and Edith (Ferguson) Miller. 

            In the mid 1980’s, Davey moved to Phoenix, AZ, fell in love with the area and made Phoenix his permanent home.  Davey was a lover of schnauzers and at one time, had seven of them!  They brought him so much joy over the years and he cherished spending time with them.  Davey was adored in his neighborhood and valued time spent with his neighborhood friends.  He always appreciated the delightful cooking of Annette and Michelle, laughing at Mitch’s jokes, laughs with Michael.  He often called Michael and Annette to “take me to the store or the doctor” and he was famous for requesting take out from Red Lobster or Outback!!

            Davey is survived by his daughter, Chantelle; grandchildren, Jenna and Rayden; siblings, Dayton (Sue) Miller, Marion (Charlotte) Miller, Daniel (Jean) Miller, Owen (Carol) Miller, Dianne Knockel, Denise Boardman, Betty (Tom) Thompson, Susanne (Jay) Westemeier and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

            He was preceded in death by his life partner Albert Monteverde, parents, sister, Donna Balk; 3 brothers, Merlin, Jerry Lee & Walter Jr. 

           Davey is now in heaven with Albert who he loved and adored.  The family would like to thank his caring neighbors in Phoenix and appreciate all who were there for him.

Because of Davey’s love for his schnauzers, we ask that donations be made in his name to Arizona Schnauzer Rescue.

https://www.azschnauzer.org/donate