A protest held March 27 on City Hall’s lawn aimed to raise awareness of discrimination against Flagstaff’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) community.

The protest, organized by Flagstaff Citizens Against Discrimination (FCAD), showcased the lack of equality in Flagstaff for LGBTQ people. These citizens can be evicted from their homes, fired from their jobs and experience bias in public restrooms for their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sasha Solomonov, a member of FCAD, said the government does not have a law or ordinance in place to combat this discrimination. If the LGBTQ community acted against these prejudices, the city would respond with little, if any, aid.

“Flagstaff does not have any (laws) for the city, so they would not necessarily support you,” Solomonov said. “The civil rights policy does not include sexual orientation, (so) no legal action could be taken.”

Students and Flagstaff residents protest inequal rights for the LGBTQ populace March 27 on City Hall Lawn. - Matt Beaty /The Lumberjack

These issues were brought to the forefront during a series of town meetings held in the last few months regarding an ordinance proposed by Equality Arizona, a statewide LGBTQ rights group, that would add gender identity and sexual orientation to the list of personal characteristics protected from discrimination in the areas of housing, education, employment and public accommodations. 

The Commission on Diversity Awareness, a city group designed to bring tolerance and respect for all citizens, proposed the town meetings to gather public opinion regarding the necessity of an ordinance in Flagstaff.

Sarah Friedmann, team leader of the Flagstaff branch of Equality Arizona, said the town meetings seemed like a way for the city to dismiss LGBTQ issues.

“It was really hard because (it seemed like) the city did not want to deal with it and the diversity board was homophobic,” Friedmann said. “The LGBTQ community in Flagstaff felt really stepped on. The city needed to have citizen input to tell them whether or not discrimination is bad.”

At the final town meeting, the City Council voted 6-1 against the ordinance, instead passing a resolution of inclusion that carries no force of law. The next day, members of the community met up to discuss means of combating discrimination against LGBTQ people. 

At this gathering, FCAD was created to increase awareness of issues the City Council deemed too divisive. These include the passing of an ordinance to limit discrimination toward members of the LBGTQ community.

Solomonov said most people she talked with supported FCAD’s cause but had not known about it before she told them.

“(We are) just letting people know what is going on,” Solomonov said. “It is something the majority of Flagstaff supports (because) it is the same protected category as gender or race. That is basic human rights.”

FCAD plans to continue protesting every Tuesday in front of Flagstaff City Hall when the city council is in office.

Leigh Conner, a women and gender studies major, said she hopes these constant reminders will cause the city council to take notice of the importance of the issues.

“We are hoping they will see that we are not going to give up,” Conner said. “Their resolution will not accomplish anything.”