Recently out Arizona senator told “be more gay” by colleague
“She questioned my integrity. She said she was glad I came out, but that I should be more gay. Iām more offended that she questioned my integrity.”
— Arizona state Sen. Steve Gallardo, speaking with Arizona Capitol Times, regarding a closed-door caucus meeting in which Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford questioned Gallardo’s honesty with regards his sexual orientation. Gallardo came out in March after announcing his intention to run for Congress, which prompted Cajero Bedford to push for a vote to remove Gallardo from his post as Senate minority whip.
Cajero Bedford claims her comments were intended as a joke. “I said, āYou ought to act more gay,ā and he said, āI canāt.ā It was an attempt to be sort of neutral. Iām fine with him being gay or not.” She also elaborated on why she tried to have him removed from his position as minority whip. “Heās running for office and staying in leadership, and he wasnāt (at the Capitol) all last week. He voted to put Landrum Taylor out, and now heās doing the same thing. Thatās a question of honesty.” Taylor was Gallardo’s predeccesor as minority whip, and was voted out of office after announcing her bid for Congress. Cajero Bedford’s vote to remove Gallardo failed 3-8.
Image Credit: Michael Schennum, The Arizona Republic
Support Metro Weeklyās Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet itās crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So wonāt you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each weekās magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
