Arizona State Senator comes out as gay
By Josh Haggis
Arizona state Senator Steve Gallardo announced yesterday (March 5) that he is gay.
Gallardo said the controversy over Senate Bill 1062, which would have allowed business owners to refuse to serve gay people on the basis of their religion, pushed him to come out, the Phoenix New Times reports.
Republican Governer Jan Brewer vetoed the bill last week after it caused widespread outrage.
Speaking about his decision to come out during a press conference, Gallardo said:
“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.’
“Seeing the people out there, protesting. I thought it’s time,” he added. “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.”
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