News & Commentary

What just happened? ACLU of Arizona Policy Director Will Gaona breaks down the 2017 legislative session in Arizona.

Are you a teacher or school administrator seeking guidance on how to handle ICE or CBP presence in school? Are you a parent or legal guardian interested about the rights your child has in school? Download the ACLU of Arizona’s fact sheets and know what rights students have in schools:

With an interest in protecting the rights of same-sex parents, the ACLU and the ACLU of Arizona filed a friend of the court brief with the Arizona Supreme Court in the case McLaughlin v. McLaughlin to ensure the proper interpretation of Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted same-sex marriages equal legal protections. 

In June 2016, the board of directors of public charter school organization Great Hearts Academies adopted a policy that marginalizes and delegitimizes transgender students enrolled in its schools. The policy allows school staff to mistreat transgender students by classifying them in accordance with their sex assigned at birth, not their gender identity. This policy applies to what name and restroom students can use, the uniform and grooming standards they must follow, and their eligibility for athletic teams.

The City of Apache Junction has criminalized its homeless population with an “anti-camping ordinance,” which the council should repeal immediately.

The start of the New Year also marks the start of a new legislative session in Arizona, as in many states around the country. The First Regular Session of Arizona’s 53rd Legislature opened on Monday, January 9th. So far, 1,144 bills, memorials, and resolutions have been introduced. Here’s an early look at some of the bills we’ve been working on.