John Kavanagh

  

Rabidly anti-LGBTQ serial homophobe and far-right MAGA extremist Republican member of the Arizona State Senate, representing District 3. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 13, 2025. Kavanagh ran for election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 3. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. Kavanagh previously served as a Republican member of the Arizona State Senate, representing District 23. He was first elected to the chamber in 2014, and he served until January 2019. He served as the state senate President Pro Tempore. Kavanagh previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 23 from 2007 to 2015. Kavanagh is a retired New York police officer. Kavanagh is running for re-election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 3. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Republican primary on July 30, 2024.
Arizona Republicans Ban Public From Attending Controversial Immigration Bill Vote, In Possible Violation Of State Law
"Republican Sen. Warren Petersen then ordered the gallery to be cleared and was advised by Republican Sen. John Kavanagh to have everyone in the gallery arrested for “disrupting the legislature.” This only further incensed the crowd, who began to chant, “stop the hate!”"
Jun. 4, 2024
Arizona House Moves Forward With Bill For 'Same Sex' Showers In Schools
"State lawmakers are moving to forbid public school students to shower with anyone other than those who have the same sex organs. But foes said this is a problem that really doesn’t exist. And beyond that, they said the remedy offered for transgender students whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex — a private place to shower — is likely unworkable as schools simply don’t have such facilities." [ . . . ] "Rep. Seth Blattman, D-Mesa, said Republicans have “an obsession with sexual organs.” He pointed out Kavanagh also is the sponsor of another measure that would require schools to notify parents if a student seeks to be addressed by a pronoun that differs from his or her biological sex."
Mar. 27, 2024
Arizona Senate: Schools Must Tell Parents About Students' Gender Identities
"The Republican-led state Senate voted Monday to force teachers to “out’’ students, to their parents, who want to be identified by a different gender. Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said parents have a right to know so they can get their children mental health treatment for their “gender dysphoria.’’"
Feb. 26, 2024
Proposals Targeting Trans Students, Revised Versions Of Measures Vetoed Last Year, Advance In Legislature
A legislative committee advanced three proposals targeting transgender youth on Wednesday. All were sponsored by John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, and passed the Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats opposed. Two bills were modified versions of legislation Kavanagh introduced last year and were vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs. The governor called them "harmful legislation directed at transgender youth" and said that she would veto anything that “aims to attack and harm children.”
Feb. 8, 2024
Proposed Legislation Would Require Parents To Know Child's Pronoun Changes
"The Arizona State Senate Education Committee will be considering legislation that would require parents to be notified if their child begins going by different pronouns from their biological sex while at school. Senate Bill 1166, sponsored by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would also apply to the use of a different first name that is not their first or middle name on "official school records," excluding "commonly associated" nicknames. In addition, the proposed legislation would make sure schools cannot force staffers, whether they're employees or independent contractors, to use a student's preferred pronouns different from their sex assigned at birth if they have "religious or moral convictions" against doing so. It would only apply to students who are under 18 years old."
Feb. 5, 2024
Fanatical Republican Extremist Of The Day: John Kavanagh - 2023 Update
"a man who proudly roasted his good pal, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, by forgetting at a roast you harass the guest of honor, and instead, chose to make a series of racially insensitive jokes at the expense of Hispanics. Kavanagh is also a big beneficiary of the prison industrial complex, having once been labeled by John Oliver on Last Week Tonight as a man who Satan waits in hell for, sharpening his pitchfork, because he defended Arizona's prison hospitals showing pure sugar into a woman's c-section surgical wound as a story that "should be taken with a grain of salt, or in this case, a grain of sugar". Kavanagh is also wildly anti-immigrant, supporting SB1070, and wanting birthright citizenship granted by the 14th Amendment to be ignored. He's widening his portfolio of bigotry over time, though, trying to create a bill to criminalize transgender individuals from using the "wrong" bathroom."
Dec. 11, 2023

The anti-Drag Storey Time Bill. This bill would apply only to libraries and other government facilities.

This bill, had it become law, would be the same as laws covering a cabaret but with the words "drag show" instead of "cabaret". This is simply a sneaky attempt to outlaw drag shows.

Arizona Senate Panel Ignores Own Attorney, OKs Bills Attacking Trans Students And Drag Queens

Elias Weiss / Phoenix New Times

Mar. 1, 2023
 
"Relentless Republicans advanced three anti-LGBTQ bills to the full Arizona Senate on Monday despite warnings that the bills might be unconstitutional.
 
Senate Rules Attorney Chris Kleminich warned the Senate Rules Committee that SB 1001, which targets transgender children in schools, and SB 1026 and SB 1698, two weapons in the GOP’s war on drag queens, weren’t likely to be upheld in a court of law.
 
SB 1001, sponsored by Republican Senator John Kavanagh, prohibits teachers and school officials from referring to students by pronouns that don't match their assigned gender at birth unless they have written parental permission. That bill moved forward in the Senate Education Committee in January."
 

[...]
 
"Despite Kleminich’s admonition, Republicans advanced the bill to the full Senate with a 4-3 vote. Republican Senators Warren Petersen, Sonny Borrelli, Sine Kerr, and T.J. Shope voted to advance the bill. Democratic Senators Lela Alston, Catherine Miranda, and Raquel Terán voted against it."
 

[...]
 
"Kavanagh, who has been attacking LGBTQ people in Arizona for the past decade and who has a habit of authoring unconstitutional bills, also sponsored SB 1026, which would prohibit public money from being used to pay for “drag shows targeting minors.”"
 
"The Fountain Hills Republican sponsored SB 1026 despite telling Phoenix New Times that he can’t think of an instance in which taxpayer dollars were used to put on a drag show for children in Arizona. The bill defines public money as “tax monies of this state, federal monies passing through the state treasury, or any other state monies." It was passed by the Senate Government Committee on February 9."

Sex Obsessed GOP Lawmakers Advance Bill Targeting Drag Shows

Feb. 9, 2023
 
"State Senator John Kavanagh, a Fountain Hills Republican who is leading the rush to erase drag from public life, sponsored SB 1026 despite admitting in a recent interview with Phoenix New Times that he can’t think of a single instance in which taxpayer dollars were ever used to put on a drag show for kids in Arizona. The bill defines public money as “tax monies of this state, federal monies passing through the state treasury or any other state monies.”
 
On a 5-3 party-line vote, the Senate Government Committee approved the bill. Republican Senators Jake Hoffman, Wendy Rogers, David Farnsworth, Justine Wadsack, and Janae Shamp voted in favor of the proposal. Democratic Senators Priya Sundareshan, Juan Mendez, and Eva Diaz voted against it.""

[ . . . ]

"SB 1026 is one of at least seven legislative proposals targeting Arizona’s LGBTQ people. Another of Kavanagh’s bills, SB 1001, prohibits teachers and school officials from referring to students by pronouns that don't match their gender assigned at birth unless they have written parental permission. That bill moved forward in the Arizona Senate in January. SB 1028, sponsored by Senator Anthony Kern, makes it illegal to host drag performances at places where the show “could be viewed by a minor.” The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill on February 4.
 
During public testimony on Wednesday, Kavanagh mocked a member of the public who spoke against the proposed bills. Although each speaker was given 90 seconds to speak, Kavanaugh flippantly snapped his fingers and thumb together repeatedly to suggest a mouth talking. He later made the gesture at Hoffman, the committee chair, who laughed and grinned. Hoffman, who also chairs the right-wing Arizona Freedom Caucus, has threatened to sue Governor Katie Hobbs over an LGBTQ-inclusive executive order banning discrimination in hiring and employment at state agencies"

Drag Shows, Pronouns Targeted By Arizona Republicans

Trudy Ring / The Advocate

Jan. 9, 2023
 
"Two Republican Arizona lawmakers are opening the legislative session by seeking to restrict drag shows.
 
State Sen. Anthony Kern has filed one bill that would ban drag performances during certain hours -- aimed primarily at quashing drag brunches -- and another that would prohibit them on public property or any location where they could be viewed by a minor. Sen. John Kavanagh has chimed in with a bill to ban the use of state funds for drag shows targeting minors.
 
Kern's Senate Bill 1030 would stipulate that a drag show could not take place between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday or between 1 a.m. and noon Sundays. It would put drag shows in the same category as performances featuring nudity. Violation would be a misdemeanor. His bill dealing with locations, SB 1028, also would put drag shows in that category and would make the first violation a misdemeanor and subsequent ones a felony. Kavanagh's SB 1026 would prevent state funds from being distributed to any violator for 36 months after the violation."

Kavanagh Proposes Law To Govern Pronoun Use In Schools
"State lawmakers are once again wading into the area of the rights of transgender minors. A new proposal by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would bar school employees from knowingly referring to a student by a pronoun “that differs from the pronoun that aligns with the student’s biological sex” regardless of the student’s preferences. Only if the adult first gets parental permission would that be permissible. And Kavanagh already is planning to expand what has been introduced as SB 1001 to close what he sees as a possible loophole where teachers could avoid pronouns and instead address a student by the first name he or she prefers. He wants state law to read that only a student’s given name or some variant could be used. So someone named Edward could be addressed as Eddie or Ed. But calling that student Emma or Evelyn would be breaking the law."
Dec. 30, 2022
Center for Arizona Policy
2022 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate District 3
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 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.*
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 9: 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.
Freedom Voter Guide: John Kavanagh
2022

4.

 Conscience Rights for Creative Professionals: Allowing creative professionals (photographer, baker, wedding vendor) to decline to participate in events or create messages that violate their moral or religious beliefs. (Religious Freedom Laws)

Support

5.

 Conscience Rights for Faith-Based Organizations: Exempting faith-based organizations from regulations that cause them to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. (Religious Freedom Laws)

Support

8.

 Women's Sports: Preventing biological males who identify as female from competing in women's sports. (Transgender Discrimination)

Support

9.

 Gender Identity Counseling: Allowing parents to obtain professional counseling for children struggling with gender identity issues to help them reach their desired outcome. (Dangerous Reparative Therapy)

Support

10a.

 Protected Class for Sexual Orientation: Adding “sexual orientation” as a protected class alongside race, religion, sex, age, and disability in nondiscrimination law. (Candidate supports LGBTQIA Discrimination)

Opposed

10b.

 Protected Class for Gender Identity: Adding “gender identity” as a protected class alongside race, religion, sex, age, and disability in nondiscrimination law. (Candidate supports LGBTQIA Discrimination)

Opposed

15.

 Medical Rights of Conscience: Allowing health care workers and providers the freedom to practice medicine in accordance with their personal beliefs and conscience. (Religious Freedom Laws)

Support

16.

 Parental Rights for Healthcare Disclosure: Requiring schools to disclose to parents if the school is providing counseling or medical services to a child who desires to undergo “gender transition.”

Support

In other words, as PROVEN by this bill, Republicans and ammosexuals find it wrong to discriminate against inanimate objects but have no problem discriminating against people.
Arizona Legislator Sparks Outcry Over Comments About Afghan Refugees
"In a video on Twitter, Kavanagh is standing in front of a hotel where about 300 refugees are staying. He says they are “roaming” the community of Scottsdale and may not have been properly vetted before arriving."
Feb. 2, 2022
Arizona Republican Lawmaker Unwittingly Exposes Election Reform Scam
"We’re moving forward to do bills to correct problems that came up during the election that need to be solved, regardless of whether there was actual fraud or nonexistent fraud,” Kavanagh said."
Apr. 27, 2021
CNN's Brianna Keilar Has Testy Exchange With Arizona State Lawmaker Over Voting Rights Bill
Kavanaugh took issue with Keilar calling the bill a "purge" and said she was "spinning the truth." "I am not spinning it, either," Keilar said. "Sir, you are not being honest and what you are saying doesn't even line up with what you have said about votes. You talked about quality votes over quantity, I think that is loud and clear."
Apr. 23, 2021
White Patrician Elitist Rep. John Kavanagh Says ‘Everybody Shouldn’t Be Voting’
"There’s a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “Democrats value as many people as possible voting [democracy!], and they’re willing to risk fraud [false!]. Republicans are more concerned about [nonexistent] fraud [Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth], so we don’t mind putting security [voter suppression] measures in that won’t let everybody vote — but everybody shouldn’t be voting."
Mar. 11, 2021
Center for Arizona Policy
2020 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Representative LD-23
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.
Who Are The Republicans Attacking Arizona’s Education?
"Proposition 208 passed during the 2020 general election, and received 1,675,810 votes, with approximately 52% of the vote and also received more votes than President-Elect Joe Biden, or Donald Trump did this election ... Now, there is a group of Republican politicians that are teaming up with one another to find any possible way to undermine the education funding initiative–including a joint lawsuit attempting to challenge the constitutionality of the education-funding proposition. This Republican coalition to invalidate the Invest in Education initiative includes Republicans from both legislative chambers, and even statewide politicians."
Dec. 7, 2020
Battle Lines Drawn In Arizona Gay Discrimination Case
"The case centers on a Phoenix wedding invitation business that preemptively sued Phoenix over its non-discrimination ordinance, which includes sexual orientation. The business owners argue making invitations for same-sex weddings goes against their religious beliefs and the city’s law would force them to do that."
Dec. 24, 2018
Arizona ALEC Politicians - SourceWatch
Sep. 21, 2018
Center for Arizona Policy
2018 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Representative LD-23
Question 4: 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 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.
*  This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy".
Arizona Lawmaker's Proposal May Make It Harder To Enact Voter-Initiated Legislation
Jan. 4, 2018
Arizona Bill Punishes Even Peaceful Protesters When Events Turn Violent
"If the bill becomes law, prosecutors could seize the assets of protesters, even if they didn't participate in any violence. The bill would add rioting to the list of offenses that could be charged under Arizona's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization laws."
Feb. 23, 2017
Lawmaker Wants To Make It Easier To Deny “Unduly Burdensome” Public Records Requests
"State lawmakers are making a new bid to make it easier for public officials to deny requests for records they believe are “unduly burdensome or harassing.” The proposal by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, leaves in place existing requirements for records to be open to public inspection. And it spells out that those who are denied access can sue and recover their legal fees. But SB 1019 adds a requirement that the records sought be identified with “reasonable particularity.” Potentially more significant, it provides public officials with the ability to claim that “the request for access to public records is unduly burdensome or harassing.”"
Dec. 24, 2016
Center for Arizona Policy
2016 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate LD-23
Question 4: 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 6: Prohibiting government from discriminating against an individual, organization, or small business based on their beliefs about marriage.*
Candidates' Position: Support.
Question 10: Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room that aligns with their gender identity.
Candidates' Position: Oppose.
* Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.
Roll Call: Who Supported Expanding Dark Money In Arizona?
Jul. 18, 2016
John Kavanagh, Arizona State Representative, Defends Transgender Bathroom Bill
"The Arizona state legislator who received national attention for promoting a harsh anti-transgender bill aimed at prosecuting transgender people for using a public restroom if their gender appearance didn't match the gender on their identification said yesterday that his effort is indeed “targeting” transgender people"
Feb. 2, 2016
Arizona GOPer Wants To Criminalize Filming Within 20 Feet Of Police
"Under Kavanagh’s bill, a first offense would result in a $300 fine while further violations could send offenders to jail for up to six months"
Jan. 8, 2016
Sen. John Kavanagh Is Lying To Your Face About The Education Budget
Mar. 6, 2015
Center for Arizona Policy
2014 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Senate LD-23
Question 9: Arizona’s voter-approved constitutional definition of marriage should be defended to the fullest extent legally possible.
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 antidiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose
Question 15: 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
* Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.
Crazy/Stupid Republican Of The Day — John Kavanagh
Dec. 10, 2014
John Kavanagh's Support Of SB 1062 And SB 1070, And His Offensive Remarks About Latinos
Mar. 3, 2014
Latinos Are Punch Line At Joe Arpaio Roast
"Arizona State Rep. John Kavanagh, a Republican from the Scottsdale area, had conservatives chortling with one joke after another about racial profiling, “rounding up Hispanics” and much more. For good measure, he mocked the controversy around SB 1062, the so-called religious freedom bill, taking a shot at Muslims in the process. And he mocked the federal monitor appointed to oversee Sheriff Arpaio’s operations after a judge determined that his department engaged in racial profiling and illegal detentions of Latinos."
Feb. 26, 2014
John Kavanagh Defends His Trips To Commie China And Azerbaijan
Jan. 23, 2014

This law would allow people to sue over an “impending violation” of religious liberty, (such as serving or treating a person perceived to be LGBTQ) as opposed to waiting until after the attack has occurred. It protects the practice or observance of all religions, including actions motivated by religious beliefs, against state and local laws or policies.
Arizona Lawmakers Keep Pushing For Anti-Trans Bill
"After seven hours of testimony that stretched into Wednesday evening, an Arizona State House committee approved legislation that would bar transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, reports the Associated Press. The state-level legislation seeks to override local antidiscrimination policies that already protect transgender people. The Arizona House Appropriations Committee voted 7-4, along party lines, to advance committee chairman Rep. John Kavanagh's Senate Bill 1045."
Mar. 28, 2013
Is John Kavanagh Arizona's Worst Legislator?
"Republican Representative John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills has had quite the legislative session thus far. He kicked it off by announcing his support for repealing Arizona's voter-approved medical marijuana law, followed it up with vocal support of a bill that would protect Sheriff Joe Arpaio in the event of a recall election, and most recently, he's gone "bathroom birther" -- proposing that people use their birth certificate to prove they're using the correct public restroom."
Mar. 20, 2013
Center for Arizona Policy
2012 Candidate Questionnaire
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 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.
PLEASE NOTE:  A "Yes" vote would allow ranch dogs to be neglected or abandoned, killed and tortured. It would allow the  owner of a ranch dog to inflict unnecessary injury to the animal and not provide medical attention.
AZ. Rep. John Kavanagh: Working Hard To Keep Us Stupid
Kavanagh’s HB 2675 is just one more shot fired in the GOP’s war to privatize everything.
Feb. 27, 2012
Humpday Hall Of Shame: Arizona's John Kavanagh
Aug. 3, 2011
Arizona Rep Backpedals On Effort to Remove Sikh Man From 9/11 Memorial
"Earlier this year, Kavanagh introduced House Bill 2230, which would remove panels containing 11 phrases that Kavanagh considers offensive from an Arizona 9/11 memorial. Among the phrases proposed to be removed was the name of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man who owned a gas station in Mesa and was killed on September 15, 2001. His murderer, who is currently serving a life sentence, mistook Singh Sodhi’s turban for Arab garb and also fired at two other Middle Eastern targets that day. Kavanagh said he believed the memorial should be limited only to victims of the events of 9/11, not the aftermath"
Apr. 27, 2011
Sponsor Of Arizona Citizenship Bill Hopes It Prompts Lawsuit
"The Arizona state legislator who co-sponsored the latest immigration crackdown proposal -- to end citizenship for U.S.-born kids of illegal immigrants -- told CNN Friday that he hopes the legislation will provoke a lawsuit so that the U.S. Supreme Court "can end the controversy over the true meaning of the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause.""
Jan. 29, 2011
Arizona Bill Would Deny Citizenship To Children Of Illegal Immigrants
"John Kavanagh, a Republican state representative from Arizona who supports the proposed law aimed at so-called "anchor babies," said that the concept does not conflict with the U.S. Constitution."
Jun. 16, 2010
Center for Arizona Policy
2012 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Representative LD-23
Question 9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as only 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 antidiscrimination 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.
Center for Arizona Policy
2006 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Representative LD-8
Question 7: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support.
Question 8: . Adding “sexual orientation” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in antidiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose.
  

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