Melvin ran for the
Arizona Senate in
2006 in the 26th
Legislative
District, beating
incumbent Republican
Senator Toni Hellon
in the primary but
was defeated by
Democratic candidate
Charlene Pesquiera
in the general
election. He ran for
the same seat again
in 2008. Pesquiera
did not seek
re-election and
Melvin beat
Democratic candidate
Cheryl Cage. He was
re-elected in 2010.
After Arizona
redistricted its
legislative
districts in 2012,
he decided to run
for the new 11th
Legislative
District. His
Democratic opponent
was Jo Holt. In
April 2013, Melvin
declared that he
would seek the
Republican
nomination for
governor of Arizona
in 2014. He dropped
out of the race in
June 2014. In
February 2014,
Melvin was
interviewed by
Anderson Cooper on
CNN, regarding
Melvin's support for
Arizona SB 1062,
which had been
characterized as
allowing religious
people to
discriminate against
others (particularly
members of the LGBT
community), if their
beliefs were
offended by those
other people. In the
same interview, he
also stated that he
was unaware of
anyone in Arizona
who practiced
discrimination. In
the same month, he
objected to the
Common Core State
Standards Initiative
containing algebra,
which he described
as "'fuzzy math,'
substituting letters
for numbers in some
examples." In 2016,
Melvin ran for a
seat on the Arizona
Corporation
Commission, but lost
the Republican
primary, coming in
last place.
"Arizona State
Senator Al Melvin
cannot honestly
answer Anderson
Cooper's simple
question on
discrimination
toward gays. He's
either too stupid or
cowardly to answer."
SB-1062-SB 1062 was an Arizona bill to amend an existing law to give any individual or legal entity an exemption from any state law if it substantially burdened their exercise of religion, including Arizona law requiring public accommodation.
It would allow
anyone to assert
a legal claim or
defense of free
exercise of
religion in a
legal
proceeding,
regardless of
whether the
government is a
party to the
proceeding.
It would allow
private
individuals and
corporations to
assert religious
beliefs in a way
that could lead
to
discrimination
against gay and
lesbian, and
other,
Arizonans. This
bill could
embolden people
to discriminate
against anyone
who doesn’t
share their
beliefs or
religious
practices.
If SB 1062 were
enacted,
employers could
impose their
religious
beliefs on
employees and
businesses could
refuse to serve
customers
despite state
and local laws
requiring public
accommodations—like
restaurants and
hotels—to serve
all people
Question
9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates'
Position: Support
Question
11: Adding
“sexual
orientation,”
“gender
identity,”
or
“gender
expression”
to the
protected
classes
of race,
religion,
age,
sex, and
ancestry
in
nondiscrimination
law.
Candidates'
Position: Oppose
Question
15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
SB
1365
-
Vote to
pass a
bill
that
requires
government
protection
of the
expression
of
religious
beliefs.
Highlights:
Prohibits
state
government
from
denying
or
revoking
an
individual’s
professional
or
occupational
license
due to
any of
the
following
(Sec.
1):
Declining
to
provide
service
because
of an
individual’s
“sincerely
held"
religious
beliefs;
Refusing
to
affirm a
statement
that is
contrary
to their
religious
beliefs;
Expressing
religious
beliefs;
or
Operating
the
individual’s
business
pursuant
their
religious
beliefs.
*SB
1365 would allow a
doctor to refuse to
treat a person who
was LGBTQ or allow a
waitress or waiter
to refuse service to
a person who was
LGBTQ simply by
saying it was
against their
sincerely held
religious beliefs to
treat or serve a
queer person.
2010 Survey
Questions For
Arizona And County
Candidates
Position Sought:
State Senate
LD-26
Question
9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates'
Position: Support
Question
12: Adding
“sexual
orientation,”
“gender
identity,”
or
“gender
expression”
to the
protected
classes
of race,
religion,
age,
sex, and
ancestry
in
nondiscrimination
law.
Candidates'
Position: Oppose
Question
15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
