Russell "Rusty" Bowers

 

 
serial homophobe and far-right Republican Russell Bowers (also known as Rusty) was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 25. He assumed office on January 12, 2015. He left office on January 9, 2023. Bowers ran for election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 10. He lost in the Republican primary on August 2, 2022. Bowers began serving as state House speaker in 2019.
Center for Arizona Policy
2022 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate District 10
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.

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.

High Stakes: Legislative Session Begins With Three MJ Bills Out Of The Gate
"From last year’s failed bill to set limits on THC blood content for DUI—which would be unconstitutional in Arizona, given the language of Prop 207—to Speaker Rusty Bowers’ continuing efforts to paint cannabis users as violent, child-eating zombies, proposed cannabis legislation continues to remind us that the definition of “legal” is often a moving target."
Jan. 20, 2022
Speaker Bowers Refuses To Let Pregnant Rep. Salman Work And Vote Safely At Home
"Bowers’ behavior is disgusting. So much for Republicans claiming to be the pro-life party. They are also acting with pure vindictiveness, given Rep. Salman’s strenuous opposition to the voting suppression measures sought in the last session by Jake “Troll Farm” Hoffman"
Jan. 8, 2022
Who Are The Republicans Attacking Arizona’s Education?
House Speaker Rusty Bowers is one of the lead figures fighting to overturn the proposition (Prop. 208) as one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. However, due to his role as Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, Arizonans should take note of his likelihood to attempt to attack portions of Prop 208 through the state legislative route as well.
Dec. 7, 2020
Center for Arizona Policy
2020 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Representative LD-25
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.
Mesa Lawmaker Opposes Anti-Discrimination Bill
"The proposals from Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, and Rep. Daniel Hernandez, D-Tucson, would expand existing laws now prohibiting discrimination in public accommodation based on race, religion, sex, age, disability or nationality. Both SB 1321 and HB 2716 would add sexual orientation and gender identification to the list. Only a handful of Arizona cities already have such protections. [...] Both measures face an uphill fight. Neither Senate President Karen Fann nor House Speaker Rusty Bowers of Mesa has agreed to allow either bill to be heard."
Feb. 4, 2020
House Speaker Bowers Claims Planned Parenthood Wants More STDs And Abortions
Sep. 16, 2019
Arizona Lawmaker Says State 'Fortunate Not To Experience A Major Mass Shooting,' Forgetting Tucson
"In 2011, a gunman killed six people and injured 13, including then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, in a Safeway parking lot in the Tucson area."
Aug. 6, 2019
Battle Lines Drawn In Arizona Gay Discrimination Case
Dec. 24, 2018
Arizona’s New State House Speaker Doesn’t Believe LGBTQ People Are Equal Under The Law
"Bowers is in his second stint in state government: he originally served in the state House from 1993 to 1997, then served in the state Senate from 1997 to 2001 (where he served as Majority Leader). After an unsuccessful 2010 Congressional campaign, he was elected to return to the state House in 2014. Over that time, one thing has been constant: he does not believe LGBTQ people deserve equal treatment under the law. His bigotry was on display as early as his first term in the legislature. In 1994, angry that Phoenix passed a 1992 ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation for city employees and large city contractors, Bowers authored a proposed amendment to Arizona’s state constitution to prohibit localities from adopting gay rights laws. His reasoning: he believed homosexual behavior to be bad for society."
Nov. 29, 2018
Center for Arizona Policy
2018 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Representative LD-25
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 ALEC Politicians
Oct. 4, 2017
Here Are The Koch Brothers' 5 Favorite (And 5 Least Favorite) Arizona Legislators
Aug. 20, 2017
Center for Arizona Policy
2016 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate LD-25
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.
Center for Arizona Policy
2014 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Representative LD-25
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.
Center for Arizona Policy
2010 Questions for Congressional Candidates
Position Sought: United States Senate
Question 5: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as between only one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 8: Protecting healthcare workers from being required to perform procedures that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 10: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in discrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose
Question 14: Repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which states that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and declares states do not have to recognize same-sex marriage from other states.
Candidates' Position: Oppos
**Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.
Gay Discrimination Bill Rejected
"Sen. Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, said Richardson is wrong to try to cloak this issue in the fabric of civil rights protections and then chide those who do not support the legislation."
Mar. 28, 2001
Mesa Legislator Introduces Plan To Ban Gay-Rights Laws
"members of the Arizona House have introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to ban laws that protect homosexuals against discrimination. Rep. Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, the primary sponsor of the legislation"
Jan. 24, 1994

PAID FOR BY STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF ARIZONA • NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE
Email: stonewalldemsaz@gmail.com. All Original Content Copyright ©2023 Stonewall Democrats of Arizona. All Rights Reserved.
 Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Fair Use Notice