Legislation would prohibit transgender students from participating in scholastic sports

Phoenix, AZ – Led by ONE Community, a coalition of socially responsible businesses, organizations and individuals who are moving diversity, inclusion and equality forward for all Arizonans, over 150 businesses including the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, the Arizona School Board Association, and TechNet have signed a letter in opposition to HB2706, which would prohibit transgender students from participating in scholarship sports and subject students suspected of being transgender to invasive medical exams.  The letter has been sent to Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers and Senate President Karen Fann.

The letter states:
 
Arizona is a great place to visit, to do business, and to call home. 
 
The people who visit our state - more than 55 million in 2018 - come to enjoy our natural beauty, our vibrant cities, our incredible athletics events and facilities, and our welcoming people.
 
The businesses that set up shop and make investments here - and those who are considering locating in Arizona - are drawn to Arizona because they know we’re open for business, we’re open for opportunity, we have a strong talent pipeline, and we are welcoming to everyone.
That’s why we’re concerned about the advancement of bill HB2706, a measure that would needlessly target transgender youth who deserve - like all children - to enjoy the health, social, and developmental benefits that participation in youth sports offers. 
 
By advancing this bill, Arizona would send a message to the world about who is welcome here. The pursuit of divisive policies that are not based on evidence or need puts our collective economic success at risk. This bill would create a dangerous situation for Arizona’s kids, and put our team members who have LGBTQ children in a terrible position, causing them to worry about their kids’ safety, wellbeing, and inclusion at school and in the community. 
 
What’s more, legislation implementing discriminatory policies toward LGBTQ student athletes could limit our ability to attract major sporting events. Sponsoring organizations carefully consider a host state’s record on inclusivity and respect for LGBTQ athletes and fans when selecting venues. The WP Carey School of Business estimated the NCAA Final Four held in Glendale in 2017 generated $324.5 million throughout Phoenix and cities across the Valley.  If Arizona were to lose the Final Four or other events due to passage of discriminatory legislation, the ripple effects on our economy would be devastating. 
 
We’ve been here before - facing questions about whether our state is welcoming to the LGBTQ community. We came through that moment together, and we are stronger for it. 

We ask that lawmakers not pursue any legislation that would target LGBTQ Arizonans, including legislation to exclude LGBTQ youth from sports. These divisive measures would harm Arizona and create unnecessary hurdles to economic competitiveness. We must remain committed to the values of innovation, growth, and a warm welcome that we all share.

6Stride LLC

Accurate Signs & Engraving Inc.

Addiction Haven

Adams, Habern & Gray, CPAs, PLLC

Aris Hospitality

Arizona Broadway Theatre

Arizona Community Foundation

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Grantmakers Forum

Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association

Arizona School Boards Association

Arizona School for the Arts

AZ Synergy Counseling, LLC

AZTYPO

B-ON The Obvious, Inc

Big Zephyr Music

Black Point Ventures LLC

Brelby Theatre Company

Brodin HR Law

Bryant Commercial Real Estate

Business Ventures Global, LLC

Carter Law Firm

CASCO Financial

Castle & Castle PLLC

Champion PR + Consulting

Changing Hands Bookstore

Chateau Luxe Banquet Center

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

City Square United Methodist Church

Classic Cuisine Inc.

Common Good Web Design

Compass CBS

Compete Sports Diversity

Concilio Latino de Salud, Inc.

Cultivate Counseling

Dawning Public Relations

Dennis Kavanaugh PC

Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Palm, UCC

Designworks

Diamond Strategies, LLC.

Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley-Scottsdale

Downtown Phoenix Inc.

Echo Magazine

Episcopal Church of St. Matthew

Experience Scottsdale

First Church United Church of Christ - Phoenix

First Draft Book Bar

Flower Works LLC

Gateway Bank

Glendale Chamber of Commerce

Gold Canyon Financial Planning, LLC

Goodman's Interior Structures

Groff-Swint Media LLC

Habitat Metro

Harder Development

Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas

High Note Healing, LLC

Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International - Arizona Chapter

HomeLight

Howard Kelly Concepts LLC

HR Answers LLC

Huss Brewing Company

InMedia Company

Inspired Connections

Janson Literary Services, Inc.

Joan Bundy Law PLC

Justin McKay + Co

KEO Marketing

Law Office of Wendy Anderson PLLC

Local First Arizona

Local First Arizona Foundation

MADE art boutique

Mahogany Xan Communications

Many to ONE

Mark's Bookmark Bookseller

McGuire Real Estate Partners

Melanin Magic Foundation

Meridian Educational Consulting

MF Koffee

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

Mountain Park Health Center

MPI Arizona Sunbelt Chapter

MTM Concepts LLC

Noble Beast, Natural Pet Supplies

Nunez Law Firm

Occam Sustainability Partners

Oggi's Sports Brewhouse Pizza

OH Partners

OH Strategic Communications

ON Media

one-n-ten

ONE Community

One Creative View, LLC

Only Human

Opus Funding & Investments, LLC

Papa Ed’s Ice Cream

Pedego Glendale

Perry Consulting LLC

Phoenix Center for the Arts

Phoenix Community Alliance

Pixa

Power Window Repair

Prism Counseling LLC

Project Arizona

Q Counseling Services, Inc.

Quack Car Wash

Quinn Medicine Woman LLC

Realty One Group

Ride the Wave Travel & Cruises, LLC

Rites O'Passage

RNB Flooring Inc

Robert D. Lancaster MD PC

Rollover Doughnuts

Row House Hilton Village

Schuster Print and Marketing

Scuter's Divetastic Adventures

Shaneland Arts

Shanti Yoga Phoenix

Short Leash Hotdogs

Shovel

Slake Consulting

Solomon's Porch

Southwest Center for HIV

Southern Arizona Gender Alliance

Spinners on the Green

Storm Wisdom, LLC

Summit Alliance Solutions, LLC

Sunbelt Holdings

Sun Tree Healing Arts

Teamworks Communication

TechNet

Tempe Tourism

The Halpin Companies Inc

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix

The Lunsford Group, LLC

The Office of Kate Gallego

Third Perspective

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Tuft & Needle

Tyler Allen Law Firm

University Presbyterian Church

Upward Projects

Urias Communications

VH Included

Valle del Sol

Visit Mesa

Visit Phoenix

YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix

Wave Productivity

West USA

World’s Best Connectors LLC