Thank You Steve - By Mark R. Kerr

Recently, Tucson City Councilmember Steve Leal (D-Ward 5) surprised Tucson with his announced that he would not be seeking another term on the City Council in 2009.

Since 1989, Leal has been a constant fixture on Tucson’s City Council, serving his constituents and community well during his tenure but it is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) and HIV/AIDS communities which has benefitted tremendously with Steve Leal representing Tucson’s Ward 5 on the Mayor and Council dais.

Leal’s initial run for the Ward 5 Council seat, defeating Republican incumbent Roy Laos, set the stage for this relationship because of Laos’ actions, outing a member of the then, Tucson Women’s Commission, Kathleen Mayer of the Pima County Attorney’s office and alleging that the Women’s Commission was promoting “overt Lesbianism.” His race and candidacy helped to create one of the first LGBT political organizations - the Lambda Democratic Caucus that was recognized by the Pima County Democratic Party and Arizona Democratic Party respectively.

By his defeat of Laos in 1989, Steve Leal’s victory was the beginning for which he attended Pride events (then known as the Pride Picnic) during his time as a Councilmember to thank the community for its support. Steve Leal though took it a step further, by helping LGBT non-profit groups, such as Wingspan and HIV/AIDS service organizations obtain funding from the city’s grants and financial plans.

Thanks to Councilmember Leal’s actions, in 1995, Tucson became the first governmental entity in Arizona to have laws on its books covering hate crimes, with full criminal penalties.

In 1997, Tucson was the first governmental entity to extend medical and dental benefits to the same sex domestic partners (and their families) of city employees. Councilmember Leal was a fervent supporter of the extension of benefits since he felt all loving, committed relationships should be treated equally under the law but he was concerned about the potential ramifications of this proposal and whether it would leave open the potential legal challenge to the then, 20-year-old anti-discrimination ordinance that ensured Tucsonans rights to employment, housing and public accommodation (regardless of sexual orientation). Leal did not vote, leaving the table as an act of voting “present,” the only option possible under the city codes but an act of bravery but an important reminder of never forgetting the past.

LGBT Tucsonans gained a voice in its government in 1999, with the approval of the formation of the City of Tucson Commission on GLBT Issues, something Councilmember Leal supported publicly and voted for enthusiastically.

When a young Gay man was the victim of a brutal assault and hate crime in 2002 by an off duty Tucson Firefighter, it was Councilmember Leal (along with then Councilmember Jose Ibarra) who stood up to the “good old boy network” and called for an investigation and termination of employment but when the Council did not go along with proposals by Leal for further inquiry, he called for further action to be taken so that the Firefighter could not have contact with other citizens. It was Councilmember Leal, who brought to the Mayor and Council, a resolution to support proposed legislation before the Arizona Legislature to expand the states’ hate crimes statute to cover misdemeanor offenses.

When Tucson’s Mayor and Council voted unanimously to create a domestic partners registry, it was Councilmember Steve Leal who was thanked, for helping to spearhead the effort to recognize same-sex and opposite-sex committed relationships who could not or chose not to get married.

In 2006, Proposition 107 was on the ballot, a measure that would have banned same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships, Councilmember Steve Leal supported a measure putting the Tucson Mayor and Council on record as opposed. Leal supported a similar measure this year for Proposition 102, the measure banning same-sex marriages. Tucson’s Mayor and Council was one of the few governmental entities to take a stand.

For 20 years, Steve Leal has served on the Tucson City Council with distinction and honor, controversy and commendation. Tucson’s LGBT, HIV/AIDS and other minority groups owe him a big debt of gratitude for his service to the community.