By Mary Jo Pitzl | The Republic | azcentral.com
State Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, disclosed he is gay at a news conference Wednesday morning, saying the furor over Senate Bill 1062 prompted his decision to go public.
“Two weeks ago was a difference, Feb. 19 was an actual game changer,” Gallardo told a select group of reporters, referring to the date the Senate debated and passed SB 1062.
Gallardo said his decision to talk publicly about his sexual orientation had nothing to with his political future. The two-term senator last week announced he will run for the Democratic nomination for the Congressional District 7 seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor. He is one of three announced candidates.
He said the issue of his sexual orientation is much bigger than any of his personal political ambitions.
