Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 state of Arizona face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT

LGBT

LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...

 residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

, but same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same protections available to opposite-sex married couples.

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Arizona has a statute that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. In 2006, voters defeated a ballot proposition to add a similar prohibition to the state constitution. A similar ballot proposition

Arizona Proposition 102 (2008)

Arizona Proposition 102 was an amendment to the constitution of the state of Arizona adopted by a referendum held in 2008. It added Article 30 of the Arizona Constitution, which says:"Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state."- Overview :On...

passed in November 2008.

The state recognizes no other form of same-sex relations and denies recognition to same-relations established in other jurisdictions.

Arizona has provided benefits to same-sex partners of state employees since 2008.

Adoption and parenting

Arizona permits adoption by individuals. There are no explicit prohibitions on adoption by same-sex couples or on second-parent adoptions. However, state law requires adoption agencies to "give primary consideration to adoptive placement with a married man and woman". Agencies may place a child with a legally single person if it is in the child's best interest or if there is not a married couple available.

Discrimination protection

Arizona law does not address discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

Hate crime

Arizona includes sexual orientation as a protected group covered by its hate crimes law. Gender identity is not included.