This year’s Spotlight event is particularly meaningful, as it is also the ten-year anniversary of the UNITY Pledge, which is now the largest equality pledge in the nation! The UNITY Pledge is a concerted effort by Arizona businesses, organizations, and individuals to advance workplace equality and equal treatment in housing, workforce, and public accommodations. To date, over 3,500 businesses and 20,000 individuals have proudly signed the pledge, supporting an update to Arizona’s non-discrimination laws.
The 2023 Honorees include:
Common Good Award:
ONE Community and the Equality and Fairness Campaign will honor Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) with the ONE Community Common Good Award. Sen. Sinema, Arizona’s Senior Senator, is the first to be recognized in this new category. The Common Good award honors bipartisan leadership that brings people together to work for the common good of our state and nation. Senator Sinema was instrumental in introducing and passing the landmark Respect for Marriage Act in 2022 that repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and requires the U.S. federal government and U.S. states and territories to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial civil marriages in the United States.
Furthermore, this year’s Local Heroes Honorees represents a diverse group of individuals, from various backgrounds; however, what they have all demonstrated is their dedication to ensuring Arizona is a place that celebrates, respects, and protects all who live and work in our great state:
Local Heroes Awardees include:
Sarah Krahenbuhl, Executive Director, Phoenix Suns Charities & Vice President of Social Responsibility, Phoenix Suns & Phoenix Suns Charities
Terri Kimble, President, Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Jennie Patel, Vice President, Social Responsibility & Volunteers, NCAA Mens’ Final Four Local Organizing Committee
Paul Rockower, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix
Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank, co-owners Brick Road Coffee
Unity Agent Honor:
This year’s Unity Agent honor is awarded to Lynette Braddock, an Arizona mom who has advocated tirelessly on behalf of her daughter Chloe, who is an incredible transgender young woman in her second year of law school. Braddock spoke and testified at the Arizona State Legislature and the Chandler City Council last year on behalf of her daughter and others in the community seeking fair and equitable laws. She also traveled to Washington D.C. twice during the summer with the Equality and Fairness Campaign to advocate for a comprehensive update to federal non-discrimination law. Without statewide non-discrimination protections, Braddock worries about her daughter being discriminated against in employment, housing and public accommodations once she graduates law school in 2024, even though she ranks in the top 10% of her law school cohort at NYU. Braddock has and continues to work collaboratively and advocate for full inclusion through policy measures alongside ONE Community to protect her daughter and so many others in our community.
Additionally, ONE Community will be highlighting past collaborative efforts that led to the passage of ten municipal ordinances that updated or created non-discrimination policies over the past ten years. To date, these cities include Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Sedona, Winslow, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tolleson and Chandler. These ordinances protect residents living in their respective cities from discrimination in housing, employment and places of public accommodations based on characteristics including race, ethnicity, disability, religion, age, nationality, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
