Tucson Observer

Equality Across America Tucson Congressional District Action Team (EAA-Tucson) will meet December 6, 2009 2 to 4:00 p.m. at Colors, 5305 E. Speedway Blvd.

EAA continues the work of achieving full federal equality for LGBT Americans in all matters of civil law.

Please bring your ideas, passion, and a friend! This meeting will focus on creating a sustainable organization and outreach to allies and allied organizations. For more information visit: www.eaatucson.org.

TUCSON (Observer Update) – Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) will be holding our volunteer orientation on November 12th from 5:15pm to 9:15pm. The orientation will take place at First Congregational UCC which is located at 1350 N Arcadia Ave, Tucson.

TIHAN is a volunteer driven organization with a commitment to providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care to those living with HIV/AIDS. Visit us at tihan.org to learn more. Here are some of our volunteer positions:

Care Team Member – Make someone’s day brighter by visiting them, running errands with them, or helping them get to their doctors appointments. Care Teams provide compassionate nonmedical support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Link Specialist – This position was rated the second most important to wellbeing by the people living with HIV that we serve. Link specialists provide referrals and well calls to our CarePartners.

Administrative Support for TIHAN Staff – The TIHAN office seeks fun-loving people to help with a data entry and administrative tasks.

Grants Team Member – Looking to keep your grant writing skills fresh? Looking for experience in grant writing, editing, or research? TIHAN is searching for both experienced and inexperienced-but-interested volunteers to join our grants team. We are a small, but dynamic nonprofit and your skills will make a huge difference here!

To sign up for orientation, simply contact Katelyn, Volunteer Resources Coordinator at (520) 299-6647 or email her at katelyn@tihan.org. We hope to see you there!

TUCSON (Observer Update) – The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) is pleased to announce the addition of staff member Natalie Brown, who will be serving as its Director of Education and Community Relations.

Natalie is a University of Arizona graduate with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. She has a passion for public health and has been involved in AIDS education efforts in the United States, Mexico, and anzania, as a volunteer with Support for International Change and the United Methodist Church. She currently serves on the United Methodist Church’s Desert Southwest AIDS Task Force and assists with Strength for the Journey, a retreat for individuals living with HIV and their care givers. Natalie is thrilled to make the transition from TIHAN volunteer to staff member and is excited to work more closely with TIHAN’s wonderful education volunteers.

In her role as Director of Education and Community Relations, Natalie coordinates HIV/AIDS awareness and education programs, including developing HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention materials for faith communities, trainings for volunteers, working closely with liaisons and congregations, and building relationships with other agencies, service providers, and the general community.

Sunday, October 11, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) and Title Sponsor Desert Diamond Casino and Hotel will be hosting the 21st annual AIDSWALK Tucson.

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TUCSON (Observer Update) – On Sunday, October 11, 2009, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) and Title Sponsor Desert Diamond Casino and Hotel will be hosting the 21st annual AIDSWALK Tucson.

AIDSWALK 2009 will be an important day for the Southern Arizona community in helping to raise funds in support of people living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV/AIDS who utilize SAAF’s programs and services. Annually SAAF reaches thousands of southern Arizonans through critical care services or targeted education, outreach, and intervention. “To stand by and do nothing about the HIV epidemic is not an option. Today is about making a difference in a healthier community for all of us” says, Wendell Hicks, Executive Director.

SAAF provides care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Arizona, including case management, housing, transportation, food support, medications and dental assistance and support groups. SAAF also provides outreach to groups at high risk of HIV/AIDS through targeted prevention programs as well as general community education to help reduce the risk of HIV. The funds raised at this year’s AIDSWALK are more important than ever. Come out to AIDSWALK on October 11th, stand up to the stigma, show support for those living with HIV/AIDS, and help bring an end to new infections in our community! The people SAAF serves will feel the impact of your support and they will know that the community cares.

For more information about AIDSWALK visit aidswalktucson.com or call (520) 791-WALK (9255).

On Sunday, October 11, 2009, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) will be hosting the 21st annual AIDSWALK Tucson. During this tough economy, SAAF would like to recognize the long and unwavering support of AIDSWALK’s title sponsor, Desert Diamond Casino and Hotel. Desert Diamond has been supporting AIDSWALK for 15 years and has been Title Sponsor for 8 years. It’s community involvement has been vital to SAAF’s programs and services and the people we serve. However, Desert Diamond has also been a leader in philanthropy in many other aspects of Tucson’s vibrant civil society, and it is important to honor and recognize it’s role in making Southern Arizona a better place.

AIDSWALK has always been heavily supported by Tucson’s large and small businesses, and this year we want to say a special thank you to everyone who has continued to show support even within a difficult financial climate. The financial, media and in-kind support of SAAF’s sponsors ensure that the funds raised at AIDSWALK yield the highest impact on the programs and services offered at SAAF. The commitment of Tucson’s businesses and organizations to the local community is what makes our city and region so strong. Sponsorship and opportunities for businesses to be on the mall the day of AIDSWALK are still available.

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On Tuesday, August 25, the nation lost one of its leaders with the passing of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ senior Senator, Edward Kennedy, at the age of 77 due to brain cancer.

For 47 years, Senator Kennedy served the residents of the Bay State as well as those downtrodden and oppressed across the nation, including the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.

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As many in the community are already aware, the state funding for ADAP medication to Pima county residents living with HIV/AIDS has been cut.

The biggest impact will be felt by those whose doctors have prescribed medication to control side effects, address behavioral heath needs, and pain management; as the cost of these drugs will no longer be paid by ADAP.

Also, the MAP co-pay coverage has been eliminated for many medications. The Pima County HIV/AIDS Consortium is seeking input from the community about the effects of these changes on finances, health, lifestyle and general welfare of HIV/AIDS persons in the form of a brief survey.

It can be taken online at http://surveymonkey.com/consortium2009 or it can be filled out on paper. Local health care providers have made space available for the distribution and collection of the paper surveys. They include: SAAF, El Rio-SIA, UMC, and COPE. We will also have drop boxes at the COPE, CODAC, and HOPE center methadone clinics.

The survey is open right now until Monday, September 14. The results will be forwarded to the state health department in Phoenix to assist in planning for future policy, and used here in Tucson by the Consortium and the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona to improve assistance for HIV/AIDS persons.

Since Wingspan had to relocate to new premises, the Tucson chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network) has moved their meeting location.

Until further notice, GLSEN-Tucson will be meeting in the Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave, in Meeting Room B.

Even though the meeting location may have changed, the date and time have not. On the first Thursday of each month, these meetings will take at 4:30 p.m. For more information, go online to chapters.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/tucson/home.html.

“Turnabout for TIHAN” is an annual show put on by Tucson’s GLBT clubs and their bar staff.

Each club and bar’s staff request donations from their friends and customers in order to do a “turn-about” from male to female (or vice versa) and put on a fabulous show to benefit the work of TIHAN, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (tihan.org)

So get ready for the glitz and glamour, the pumps and passion for this year’s “Turnabout for TIHAN” benefit show, one of the biggest drag shows of the year, and takes place on Sunday, September 6 at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park (445 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona). The doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the show starts at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are only $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door. The evening also features a raffle with some great prizes.

Join us for Turnabout, featuring emcees Bunny Fufu and Janee Starr, along with your favorite bar staff in drag from your favorite participating bars: Woody’s, IBT’s, Coyote Moon and Colors.

Tickets are on sale now through the TIHAN office (credit card orders can be taken – (520) 299-6647), or at participating bars. For more information about the event, or to volunteer, contact Scott Blades at scott@tihan.org.

T-Squares, Tucson’s GLBT square dance club, is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a dance on Saturday, August 29 at the Therapeutic Recreation Center at Reid Park, 1000 S. Randolph Way.

The T-Squares club is a member of the International Association of Gay Squares Dance Clubs (IAGSDC) and the local Square & Round Dance Association of Southern Arizona (SARDASA). T-Squares’ diverse membership is open to all regardless of age, race, gender, religion, ethnic background, or sexual orientation.

The T-Squares club dances every Tuesday evening at the Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall at 2902 N. Geronimo Ave from 6:30 to 9:00 pm with a crash course slated for September 15th for anyone interested in taking square dance lessons with a uniquely Gay flair. For more information about T-Squares, email them at T-Squares@azgaydance.org, or visit azgaydance.org and click on “Tucson, AZ”

Welcome to OZ, Tucson’s newest LGBT/LGBT-friendly mixed bowling league had a wonderful inaugural summer season with 39 bowlers (thirteen teams), and are looking to carry the momentum forward and expand for the upcoming winter season.

Welcome to OZ is housed at Tucson Bowl, 7020 E. 21st Street (22nd & Kolb Rd) and will bowl on Thursday nights, practice at 6:45 p.m. and bowling at 7:00 p.m. The Winter league will begin on Thursday, September 10 and is a 34 week leaguer ending on Thursday, May 20, 2010 with a banquet held on Thursday, May 27, 2010.

A league meeting will be held on Thursday, September 10, 6:00 p.m. with our season beginning at 7:00 pm. Teams will consist of three bowlers each. Come as a team of three, a double or a single, we will assist in making teams. Let’s continue the fun, so for more information contact us at: welcometoOZ09@gmail.com.

The American Psychological Association (APA) adopted a resolution stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.

Unlike the stories, spin, etc., from the APA website:

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