A large majority of Republican Party officials in a Maricopa County-area legislative district voted to declare the month of July “Pride in America Month.” The June 29th move comes at the close of a contentious “Pride Month” recognizing the LGBTQ+ community.
In all, two-thirds of the precinct committeemen (PCs) in Arizona’s Republican Legislative District 3 (LD3) voted to pass the resolution.
The resolution cited the patriotic foundations of the country and the Founding Fathers “who fought with their lives to build our unique American history, our culture, our traditions, and infused them with their belief and trust in God.”
It continued, “WHEREAS we, the precinct members of LD3 recognize that God created two unalterable and immutable genders,” and “recognize and enjoy a healthy and reverential acknowledgment of the true diversity in America, which includes freedom of speech and freedom of thought without segregation by race, creed, or religion.”
MCRC LD3 REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE ADOPTS "PRIDE IN AMERICA MONTH" RESOLUTION
For more info, visit: https://t.co/J0g9mSqqGF#MCRC #MaricopaCounty #LD3 #Republican #PCs pic.twitter.com/r2eSYHNF0W
— Maricopa County Republican Committee | MCRC (@MaricopaGOP) July 3, 2023
Part of the backlash during June’s month-long recognition of “Pride” in Arizona emerged over Governor Katie Hobbs hanging rainbow pride flags from the top of the state Capitol tower. State Senator Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) tweeted that it violated federal law on how flags must be hung. “AZ Democrats violate U.S. Flag Code §7. (e), ‘The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs.’ @AZSenateGOP”
AZ Democrats violate
U.S. Flag Code §7. (e), "The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs." @AZSenateGOP pic.twitter.com/sC8m10fFFD— Anthony Kern (@anthonykernAZ) June 12, 2023
State Representative Alex Kolodin (R-Scottsdale) sarcastically responded, “‘But that IS the U.S. flag!’ *The Democrats probably*”
Hobbs issued two executive orders in June regarding LGBTQ. The first, Executive Order 2023-12, requires health care insurance to include “medically necessary” gender reassignment surgeries for state employees. The second, Executive Order 2023-13, prohibits any state agencies from funding, promoting, or supporting conversion therapy for minors. State House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria) called on the governor to withdraw order -13, characterizing it as “unintelligible.”
The Arizona Republicans are not the only organization declaring Pride in America Month. The Idaho Freedom Foundation designated June to celebrate it, competing with the LGBTQ Pride Month, and every day in June through July 4th, they highlighted “a figure who has demonstrated and defended American values.”
The Lake County Republicans in Florida announced, “Here in Lake County Florida, July is ‘Pride in America’ month. Let the celebrations begin.”
Here in Lake County Florida, July is "Pride in America" month. Let the celebrations begin. pic.twitter.com/JGPNEccRvy
— Lake County Republican Party (FL) (@LakeGOP) July 2, 2023
LD 3 has been at the center of controversy this year due to a competing group of Republicans also asserting they are LD 3. There was an election in December for new leadership, but many of the PCs said they believed the election was fraudulent and conducted a new election. The split has divided the Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) and the Arizona State Republican Party (AZGOP). The MCRC recognizes the new LD 3, which issued the resolution, while the AZGOP recognizes the slate elected in December.
The competing groups have their own websites. The MCRC-recognized one issued controversial censures against State Representative Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale) and AZGOP Chair Jeff DeWit. The AZGOP-recognized one stripped three PCs from the MCRC-backed group of their “voting, attending, and speaking privileges” at LD 3 meetings for allegedly violating Standing Rule (A)(3). It states in part that “[a]ny behavior tending to injure the good name of the organization, disturbing its well-being, or hamper it in its work would violate this … Rule of Conduct…”
Since the legislative districts are organized through the MCRC, not the AZGOP, the AZGOP has not prevailed at this point. Litigation is ongoing to resolve the feud.
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Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Pledge of Allegiance” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
