The increase of homophobia, transphobia, and racism in the area is getting alarming.
It's been crazy. Just absolutely out of the blue pretty much straight to the face type of stuff. I know Tucson is considered a purple city (and I mean shoot, one of the first cities in America to add sexual orientation to local fair housing laws) but everyday it seems to get more and more problematic. I currently reside in Oracle where it's pretty crazy already but my mom lives in Marana and boy oh boy, the stuff I've been reading and seeing and hearing is insane. And plus I went downtown on Saturday and I heard some crazy comments just in passing!
I've shaken my head so much that my neck muscles got biceps.
*Edit: I had some complaints about not giving examples. I apologize but I am not trying to incriminate, I'm just giving my overall opinion and feeling about the atmosphere I've been experiencing. Please see below for a response in gave to a commenter. Thank you for your understanding.
Sorry, I didn't want to give examples/details as it was more of an observation rather than a "complaint". I love this city/town/area but it is weird to hear how blatant people can be. One example I will/can give is of the Marana teacher who got suspended for teaching the idea of intersex in chromosomal definitions. (Sawyer Syndrome). A bunch of people on FB and even a few in person were saying "it's not his place to say that" even though it's exactly how he described. It's science, nothing more, nothing less.
I was taught this in High School in Indiana in 2011 and everyone in my class listened and understood this with no problems. We even were taught about Two-Spirit and yet when I brought that up to some of my current employees (who are in high school) they were shocked that it was a thing. They were never taught this!
That's what I will say as I can see how certain things can be construed in an aggressive manner. No matter what I could and will say, I will be retorted by someone who thinks I'm crazy.
I shall bow out and add this to the edit.