T.J. Shope

 

Serial homophobe and far-right MAGA Republican extremist member of the Arizona State Senate, representing District 16. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 13, 2025. Shope ran for re-election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 16. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. While serving in the state House, Shope held the position of speaker pro tempore. Shope began serving as state Senate president pro tempore in 2023. Shope is running for re-election to the Arizona State Senate to represent District 16. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. He advanced from the Republican primary on July 30, 2024.
Center for Arizona Policy
2024 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: Arizona Senate, Legislative District 13
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 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.*
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 9: Permitting individuals and businesses to not provide services or promote ideas that violate their moral or religious beliefs.**
Candidates' Position: Support.
This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy".
**Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.
Arizona Republicans Ban Public From Attending Controversial Immigration Bill Vote, In Possible Violation Of State Law
"“My brown skin does not make me a criminal!” Someone shouted from the gallery, interrupting Republican Sen. TJ Shope as he spoke in support of HCR 2060. “You should get the hell outta here,” Shope yelled back, which led to more yelling from the gallery."
Jun. 4, 2024
Senate Democrats To File Ethics Complaint After GOP Blocks Arizona Abortion Law Repeal
"Democrats in the Arizona Senate plan to file an ethics complaint against Republican leaders who blocked their attempt to repeal the state’s near-total abortion ban. When the Senate met on Wednesday, Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe) and Anna Hernandez (D-Phoenix) attempted to introduce a bill to repeal the state’s abortion ban that dates back to 1864. But President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge), who was presiding over the chamber at the time, ignored their motions and instead adjourned the Senate’s session until next week."
Apr. 13, 2024
Arizona GOP Pounces On Viral Gender Identity Feud Hitting U Of A Nursing School
“I’m absolutely sickened that this institution of higher learning is perpetuating the lie that a person’s gender is based off feelings and not their God-given biological sex established upon conception,” Sen. Janae Shamp, vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services says in the release. “This is completely groomer garbage that strives to confuse our kids in an effort to cater to the evil that is being accepted by today’s society. As a nurse, I am so disheartened that the next generation of nurses are being hijacked of their capabilities to deliver ethical care.” Tucson lawmaker, Sen. Justine Wadsack, also is quoted." [ . . . ] "“If this issue is not immediately resolved by the university, Senate Republicans will weigh all options to make certain tax dollars are no longer used in such an egregious fashion,” said Senator T.J. Shope, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. “The mental health of our children and the state of our health care industry (are) being threatened by this radical ideology.”
Sep. 8, 2023
The COVID Vaccine Deniers And QAnon Believers Coming To Speak At The Arizona Legislature
May 23, 2023

"A special committee created by the Arizona legislature to examine the state’s response to COVID-19 will feature a litany of speakers who have spread disinformation about the pandemic, vaccines, spoken at QAnon events and have conspiratorial beliefs about the virus, including believing it will usher in the “mark of the beast.”"

[ . . . ]

"The “Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee” will hold two days of hearings on May 25 and May 26 at the Arizona Capitol, during which a string of ostensible experts will tell the state and federal Republican lawmakers on the panel their opinions on the pandemic, and Arizona’s response to it.

The Republican elected officials on the panel include state Sens. T.J. Shope and Janae Shamp, the chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee; state Rep. Steve Montenegro, who chairs the state House of Representatives’ Health and Human Services Committee; and U.S. Reps. Andy BiggsEli Crane and Paul Gosar."

[ . . . ]

"Extremist researchers on Twitter were quick to note that the various groups sponsoring the committee had begun promoting it by the acronym, NCSWIC, which is commonly used within the QAnon community to stand for “Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming.” It most often refers to an unfounded belief that “Deep State” collaborators will soon be arrested."

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 PetersenSonny BorrelliSine Kerr, and T.J. Shope voted to advance the bill. Democratic Senators Lela Alston, Catherine Miranda, and Raquel Terán voted against it."

Center for Arizona Policy
2022 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate District 16
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.
Civic Engagement Beyond Voting - Voting Records - T.J. Shope
2022

Accessed May 9, 2021. What's ALEC? Photo: ALECSource

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.
Center for Arizona Policy
2018 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Representative LD-8
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".
Women Mail Pads, Tampons To Legislator Killing Bill To Give Inmates Free Feminine Products
Feb. 12, 2018
Shame On These Legislators Who Failed Kids
May 4, 2016
ALEC Wines & Dines R-AZ Legislators On Hidden Camera
Mar. 26, 2014
List Of Arizona Republicans Who Voted For Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill
Feb. 28, 2014
Atheist? Not If You Want To Finish High School In Arizona
Jan. 26, 2013
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.

  

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