Frank Pratt

Frank Pratt

Republican Frank Pratt was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 8. He assumed office on January 11, 2021. He left office on September 21, 2021. Pratt ran for election to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent District 8. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020. He left office on September 21, 2021.

Center for Arizona Policy

2020 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates

Position Sought: State Senate LD-8

Question 2: 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 4: Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports’ teams.

Candidates' Position: Oppose

Question 9: Protecting a parent's right to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues to help them reach their desired outcome.*

Candidates' Position: Support

Question 11: Protecting individuals and businesses from being required to provide services or use their artistic expression in a manner that violates their moral or religious beliefs.**

Candidates' Position: Support.

* This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy".

**Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.

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Supported Discriminatory ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill

Voted To Protect Licenses For Companies That Discriminate

2016

Supported Discriminatory “Religious Freedom” Bill:

In February 2014, Pratt voted in favor of a bill (SB 1062) that would protect Arizona businesses from lawsuits after denying services based on religious belief.

Opponents of the bill argued that the legislation would lead to businesses discriminating against people, such as homosexuals, based solely on the business owner’s religious belief. The bill passed the House 33-27, and was vetoed. [SB 1062 bill status; ABC 15, 2/22/14]

Pratt Said Reaction to Bill Surprised Him & He Would Have Reconsidered His Vote If He Knew about Backlash:

Pratt said the reaction to the bill surprised him, as it did many GOP lawmakers. If he had known it would spark that level of backlash, he said, “I probably would reconsider my vote.” [Arizona Republic, 2/28/14]

Voted for Similar Bill in 2013:

In May 2013, Pratt voted in favor of a similar bill (Senate Bill 1178), another religious-protection bill that was touted as a way to strengthen Arizonan’s ability to defend their “practice or observance of religion.”

The bill was criticized by the LGBT community as a way to provide legal defense for those who ignore state law or city ordinances meant to protect groups such as same-sex couples and transgender individuals from discrimination. “It’s giving business owners sort of the go-ahead to choose not to provide services for the LGBT community,” said Seráh Blain, executive director of the Secular Coalition for Arizona.

The bill passed the House 32-24, and was vetoed. [Arizona Republic, 5/15/13; Center for Arizona Policy 2013 Family Issues Voting Record, 6/25/13; SB1178, 51st Legislature 1st Regular Session, 5/15/13]

Voted to Protect Licenses for Those Who Discriminate:

In May 2012, Pratt voted in favor of Senate Bill 1365 that would prohibit the state from denying, revoking, or suspending a professional or occupational license based on any action deriving from a person’s religious convictions. Seráh Blain, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for Arizona argued that SB 1365 was “particularly harmful because it elevates the right to religious conviction over other kinds of convictions – and over basic human rights.”

Critics of the bill argued that the bill would allow attorneys to decline to represent health care workers facing complaints related to the delivery of reproductive health care, or refuse representation to someone because they happen to be gay. It could also allow doctors or psychiatrists to refuse to provide care if they felt that doing so would violate their religious beliefs.

The bill passed the House 41-17, and was signed into law. [Patheos, 5/12/12; RH Reality Check, 5/20/12; SB1365, 50th Legislature 2nd Regular Session, 5/01/12]

Supported Giving Preference for Married Couples in Adoption:

In April 2011, Pratt voted in favor of a bill (SB 1188) that would give priority to married couples in adoption cases.

As the Tucson Weekly noted, the bill could block single people from adopting if more married people stepped forward, and Arizona gay families were not eligible to adopt together.

Further, the paper noted that the need for foster care and adoption placement was at an all-time high in Arizona.

The bill passed the House 37-20 and was signed into law. [Tucson Weekly, 2/2/11; SB 1188 bill status]

Voted for Similar Bill in 2010:

In February 2010, Pratt voted in favor of House Bill 2148 that would require state agencies to give “primary consideration” for adoptions to married couples, and would prevent single individuals from adopting unless a married couple is not available.

The bill passed the House 35-22. [Arizona ACLU, 4/29/10; HB2148, 49th Legislature 2nd Regular Session, 2/23/10]

With Outside Help, Ducey Spends Big To Keep GOP Senate Majority

Nov. 7, 2016

Roll Call: Who Supported Expanding Dark Money In Arizona?

Jul. 15, 2016

List Of Arizona Republicans Who Voted For Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill

Feb. 28, 2014

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Center for Arizona Policy

2012 Candidate Questionnaire

Position Sought: State Representative LD-8

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.*

Candidates' Position: Support

* Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.

Source

Center for Arizona Policy

2010 Survey Questions For Arizona And County Candidates

Position Sought: State Representative LD-23

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.*

Candidates' Position: Support

* Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.

Source