Scottsdale
officials meet with the gays

Following a wave of bad publicity involving hostility toward gays, Scottsdale, Ariz., leaders met with LGBT leaders on Wednesday.

Scottsdale mayor Mary Manross, Scottsdale police chief Alan Rodbell, and representatives from Equality Arizona, a local gay rights group, announced at a press conference that they will work together to make the city more gay-friendly for residents and tourists.

"Even one crime, especially a hate crime, is one too many for Scottsdale," Manross said, according to The Arizona Republic. "Our city had the first diversity office in the state, maybe the nation, and we have domestic-partnership benefits for employees. I'm proud of what we've done."

Scottsdale, a posh Phoenix suburb, has recently been witness to two hate crimes against gays, a lawsuit alleging transgender discrimination at a nightclub, and a scuffle over the city declining to proclaim June as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Awareness Month. Manross decided to proclaim June as Human Relations Diversity Observance Month, saying the previous title was "too narrow." (The Advocate)