“We’re here! We’re queer! We’re fabulous, don’t f-ck with us!” came the chants filling the evening air.
Arizonans rallied at the state Capitol the evening of Nov. 4, a day after voters approved Proposition 318. The measure expands the state’s ban on transgender students’ in girls’ sports and restricts their access to school bathrooms and locker rooms. About 58% of voters backed it when The Associated Press called the race early Nov. 4.
Maria Teresa Mabry, co-founder and director of the Arizona Democracy Resource Center, paused with visible emotion when asked what might have swung voters toward Prop. 318.
“There was a huge influx of money that came in to really amplify a message that this was about women and girls,” Mabry said. “This was actually about removal of trans folks from public spheres.”
The measure passed the same night Arizona Democrats flipped a congressional seat and voters rejected a Republican-backed voter ID measure.
Mabry still pointed to signs of growing trans visibility and support in Arizona.
Mabry noted the large turnout for the group’s mobilization events in recent weeks, including the Trans Liberation March on Oct. 24 and Party at the Polls on Oct. 28 in downtown Phoenix, pointing to what they called the “first trans march in the history of the state of Arizona.”
“We had folks come from Winslow, we had folks from Yuma, we had folks from Sierra Vista come to Phoenix,” Mabry said. “We are a voting bloc.”
What’s the story behind Prop. 318?
Arizona was one of five states with measures on the ballot targeting transgender youth in the 2026 elections, along with Washington, Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri. These measures called for restrictions on transgender youth access to healthcare, sports, and school facilities in Washington, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, and Missouri.
Prop. 318 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
The ballot measure, which started in the Arizona House as House Concurrent Resolution 2003, was introduced by state Republican Rep. Selina Bliss (R–Prescott) to prohibit transgender students from playing on sports teams that are not aligned with their sex assigned at birth.
Republican lawmakers sent it directly to voters, bypassing Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who vetoed similar bills in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Because voters approved it, the law is voter-protected, which makes it much harder for future legislatures to undo.
Arizona law already bars transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams. The new measure goes further, barring transgender students from using locker rooms, bathrooms, or showers that align with their gender identity. It also extends the sports ban to private athletic associations. Supporters campaigned on the measure as a way to protect girls’ sports.
Opponents argued the measure violates the Arizona Constitution’s single-subject rule by covering both student athletes and school restrooms.
They also argued the title, “Protect Girls’ Sports in Arizona Act,” is misleading, because it doesn’t mention that the law would affect bathrooms for all students, not just athletes.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Greg Como rejected that argument in July, ruling that the measure could stay on the ballot.
What advocates say went wrong
Mabry said opponents’ messaging fell short in the final days before the election. The campaign didn’t center trans people’s own stories enough, they said, and that human element was key to countering what they called a dehumanizing message from supporters.
The main opposition campaign, run by the progressive group Will of the People, announced in October it would spend $1 million fighting Prop. 318 and three other measures Republican lawmakers sent to the ballot.
One lawmaker at the event, state Sen. Lauren Kuby (D-Tempe), said that the language of the ballot measure has had a chilling effect at the Legislature, where some families were afraid to testify.
Kuby said Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills), a co-sponsor justified his support by dismissing trans Arizonans as a small number of people.
“I heard from a number of constituents who said their children wanted to come and testify, but they felt threatened,” she said. “The idea that people are afraid to come in because they know they are going to be mocked and treated with arrogance by a Senate chairman? Cowards.”
Mabry framed the measure as dividing people into those who are worthy of participating in civic life, and those who are not.
“There’s a certain party moving to make sure that certain folks have access and privilege, and that the rest of us are alienated,” Mabry said.
Mabry said it’s important to build political spaces where trans people can share how discrimination has affected their lives.
“Even in the ‘No’ campaign there was a hesitancy to talk about trans issues,” Mabry said. “We know when we talk about trans issues they actually poll significantly higher, especially when we get to tell our own stories.”
