Initiative Would Add Sexual Orientation to Anti-Bias Law

A proposed ballot measure would expand Arizona's law against discrimination in employment to cover sexual orientation as well as "gender identity" and "gender expression."

State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and others supporting the initiative, filed Friday with the Secretary of State's Office, need to collect petition signatures from more than 153,000 voters by July 3 to get it on the November ballot.

Sinema says the initiative would protect employment rights of Arizonans now vulnerable to discrimination. But she says it's also intended to pressure social conservatives pushing legislators for a ballot measure to amend the Arizona Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

The Phoenix Democrat says her initiative drive might end if the marriage push ends but she says that may depend on timing.