AZ politicians and organizations react to newly signed anti-LGBT and abortion ban bills

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - "A dark day in Arizona history," Democrat Reginald Bolding commented in regards to the new bills that Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Arizona) passed into law Wednesday afternoon.

Ducey signed a ban on abortions after 15-weeks of pregnancy along with two bills involving transgender rights, bill 1138 and 1165.

Senate bill 1138 states people below the age of 18 cannot undergo surgery to change their gender and bill 1165 states that Arizona students must be placed in sports teams based on their biological sex.

Bolding continued to state, "With the stroke of his pen, Governor Ducey has hurled Arizona backwards to its ugliest past. Today he put the lives of pregnant people and transgender youth in danger."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona had this to say about the decision, “First and foremost — to trans kids in Arizona: know that you are loved and you are not alone. Governor Ducey’s decision to sign this harmful and discriminatory piece of legislation into law is nothing more than a political ploy to score points with extremist lawmakers and hateful groups peddling falsehoods and manufactured outrage.”

The National Center for Lesbian Rights along with ACLU of America stated they will be filing a lawsuit over these new laws.

The Human Rights Campaign of Arizona and local LGBTQ+ advocates will be holding a press conference Thursday morning and will discuss their thoughts on the new Arizona laws.

The press conference will take place on Transgender Day of Visibility.

The LGBTQ Arizona Caucus sent out a press release describing the transgender laws, "anti-transgender bills SB1138...bans gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, and SB1165 ban[s] transgender girls from playing in sports."

The opposition continues to grow as more groups continue to speak out publicly.