Arizona has no comprehensive statewide law banning discrimination based on gender identity. This is for employment, housing, and public accommodations. Fortunately, there have been advances that offer some safeguards at the local and federal levels:
Employment
Employment protection is currently at the federal level. This shields Arizona employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Phoenix, Tucson, and Tempe have local ordinances prohibiting employment discrimination.
- The ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County by the United States Supreme Court in 2020 established Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It criminalizes gender discrimination. It addresses sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination.
Housing
Local ordinances in some cities provide these protections. Some courts and agencies have interpreted the federal Fair Housing Act, which bans sex discrimination, to encompass gender identity. It includes some protection against housing discrimination.
Public Accommodations
Arizona does not have state legislation that expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations. Some municipalities have passed municipal laws that incorporate these safeguards.
Education
There are no explicit statewide protections for students based on gender identity in Arizona.
- Title IX is one of the federal statutes that forbids sex discrimination in educational institutions receiving government funds. This extends protection to transgender and gender non-conforming students.
Healthcare
There are no particular regulations in Arizona that safeguard against sexual orientation discrimination in healthcare. The Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. It covers gender identity in federally funded healthcare settings.
To sum it up, there isn’t a complete statute in Arizona that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identification. However, LGBTQ individuals who encounter gender identity discrimination in Arizona may seek remedies. Along with basic human rights, these protections can be found through municipal regulations, federal statutes, or both. Hence, we recommended consulting with a legal practitioner competent in this field.