LOCAL

Trial date set in August for “Phoenix Five”

Phoenix — Five Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell protestors arrested in April outside Sen. John McCain’s Phoenix office have been given an Aug. 24 date for trial on trespassing charges in Phoenix City Court.

Dubbed the “Phoenix Five,” the defendants are members of the Human & Equal Rights Organizers — Meg Sneed, Jimmy Gruender, Lee Walters, Luisa Valdez and Allen Howard-Stidham, who was discharged from the Coast Guard under DADT.

After McCain’s staff refused to arrange a conference with the senator, the group staged an act of civil disobedience by standing and sitting in front of the entrance to the office. After four hours, building management lodged the complaint that resulted in their arrest.

National gay chamber continues boycott

Phoenix — The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will continue to be part of a boycott of Arizona, but has expressed its support for LGBT businesses.

The national group was responding to a request by the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to end the boycott.

The local gay chamber had asked for an end to the boycott announced in June by 23 LGBT groups in protest of the state’s new immigration law, SB1070.

The local gay chamber said the national recession is already hurting businesses and the boycott “only deepens the troubles of businesses throughout the state, to the extent that some of our very own LGBT businesses may close their doors.”

LGBT groups join SB1070 protest at Capitol

Phoenix — Local LGBT groups helped to lead a crowd of more than 100 people protesting Arizona’s new immigration law on June 28 at the state Capitol.

It was the first of 30 days of protests over SB1070 organized by Latino groups.

LGBT organizations selected June 28 as the date to participate since it marked the 41st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. They conducted a 50-minute rally, then joined Latino protestors in a silent march around the Capitol.

Among the speakers were Tom Simplot, Phoenix City Councilman; Jimmie Muñoz, Democratic candidate for District 16 House; Erica Keppler, of the Arizona Trans Alliance; Ernesto Oritz, executive director of the 1 Voice Community Center and the Rev. Brad Wishon and Jimmy Gruender of the Human & Equal Rights Organizers.