INSTITUTE NEWS & EVENTS
Sign Equality Arizona's letter to stop HB2706!
 
Last month, HB2706, also known as the "Save Women's Sports Act," was introduced to the floor. In effect, this bill would lead to the exclusion of transgender students from athletics participation in schools--requiring all athletes to prove that they were assigned female at birth if they wish to play on any teams designated for "females,women, and girls."

We echo Equality Arizona's statement, "Being excluded from sports can be devastating to already vulnerable transgender youth, given that sports can play an invaluable role in a students' physical, social, and emotional well-being. Our laws should protect transgender youth, not encourage discrimination against them."

Arizona trans* youth need our help--please contact legislation now to oppose HB2706. You can also read more about HB2706 as well as sign Equality Arizona's letter here.
Join Drag Story Hour AZ for our next upcoming ACE Workshop!
 
Saturday, Mar. 7th, 2020
11 AM - 1 PM
Antigone Books | 411 N 4th Ave
Free, All ages welcome

At this workshop, the co-leaders of Drag Story Hour-Arizona will discuss the increasing popularity of drag story hours around the country, how drag story hours fit into the broader history of drag as a queer art form, and the creation of LGBTQ+-inclusive spaces for children.

We will begin with a miniature version of a Drag Story Hour performance, running about 30 minutes, which will include a story, songs, and a craft.

These activities will be followed by a group discussion and brainstorming session on how to create LGBTQ+-inclusive spaces for young people of all ages.

Learn more about this event here.
iLGBTS is proud to co-sponsor...
Unseen Documents with Ariel Goldberg
 
image description: A centered black and white photograph of Ariel Goldberg on a background image of a stapled telephone pole. image text reads: Unseen Documents, Ariel Goldberg. Ariel Goldberg will give a talk on the lesbian and queer, trans and unnameable, undercurrents of the predominantly Jewish New York Photo League, a school, social group, and center for debate on social documentary photography from 1936-1951. Goldberg will examine the cross-sections of Jewish assimilation of immigrant Jewish League photographers in the mid-twentieth century with closeted queer life of this era. Tuesday, Mar. 3rd, 5PM. Jewish History Museum, 564 South Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705. Read more about Ariel's publications here
QUEER CONEXIONES
CATalyst Studios Presents: Womxn, Trans & Femme Maker Night!
 
Tuesday, Mar. 3rd, 2020
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
CATalyst Studios | UA Main Library, B203
FREE 

Please join us in the Main Library's CATalyst Maker Studio for an open and inclusive night of making and centering the creative and critical work of self-identified womxn, trans, and femme makers, artists, scientists, engineers, designers, and learners within the UofA and Tucson community. Each monthly workshop will be unique and materials and tools will be provided; attendees are welcome to bring a project of their own to work on and get help during this time. These events are open and inclusive to allies, partners, friends, and fellow makers who wish to support and center womxn, trans, and femme makers.

Can't make it on March 3rd? You can also join on April 7th and/or May 5th!

Email any questions or concerns to catalyst@email.arizona.edu
IAMME Youth Empowerment Conference
 
Friday, Mar. 6th, 2020
Check in: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM; 
Conference: 9:45 AM - 1:30 PM
Pueblo High School Auditorium | 3500 S 12th Ave

The Pueblo High School IAMME Club is pleased to invite you to the 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Conference. The day will feature an opening session, various workshops, free lunch, resource fair and more! All LGBTQ+ & allies are welcomed.

For more information, contact Ms. Cortez at imelda.cortez@tusd1.org.
In the Shadows of the Freeway: Book Party with Lydia R. Otero
 
Saturday, Mar. 7th, 2020
6:00 PM
Hotel Congress | 311 E Congress St
Free, All ages

Raised in an adobe house built by their mother, Lydia Otero takes readers to a mid-20th century barrio that existed on the social margins of Tucson, Arizona despite sitting a little more than a mile away from the central business district. Born in 1955, and nicknamed La Butch by their family, Lydia knew they were queer the moment their consciousness had evolved enough to formulate thoughts. In addition to growing up fighting assigned gender expectations, a new freeway greatly influenced formative aspects of Otero's childhood.  This book, which combines personal memoir and family history with historical archives, offers more self-disclosure than Otero's previous works, as the author's experiences of childhood take center stage. Otero reveals the day-to-day survival mechanisms they depended upon, the exhilaration of first love, the love of reading and the support the author received from key family members as they tried to gain a sense of belonging in a world mired in dislocation.

Register for this FREE event here. Learn more about the author here.
CONFERENCES, CALLS, CLASSES and FUNDING
Register now for the 13th Annual Rainbow Graduation!
 
image text: Rainbow graduation; The 13th annual LGBTQA & Allied Graduation Celebration; Saturday, May 9th, 2020; 4:00-6:00 PM. Gallagher Theater, Student Union. 1303 E University Blvd. This festive and intimate end-of-the-year celebration will provide personal recognitions for the achievements of underrespresented sexual and/or gender identities at the UA. Rainbow Graduation is open to all graduating undergraduates, graduates, or professional school students (including allies!) to show their fabulous wildcat pride! Each graduate will receive a rainbowcord, a certificate of honor, and a catered reception following the ceremony. Register by April 22nd at LGBTQ.ARIZONA.EDU. We look forward to honoring you in May!

Are you graduating this May (or December 2020)?  Do you want to participate in a graduation ceremony that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of underrepresented sexual and/or gender identities at the UA? Rainbow Graduation is open to all graduating undergraduates, graduates, or professional school students (including allies!) to show their fabulous wildcat
pride!
 
Be recognized for your academic efforts and achievements at the 13th Annual Rainbow Graduation on Saturday, May 9th at 4pm in Gallagher Theater in the Student Union. Graduates will receive a rainbow cord, a certificate, and will be the guests of honor at a catered reception following the ceremony.
 
If you would like to participate, please follow the step-and-step instructions below by April 22, 2020 @ noon.  It is important that you submit all the necessary information. If you need any assistance in the process, please don't hesitate to contact us at   UARainbowGraduation@Gmail.com
 
Step One (Collect all the necessary information):
For your convenience, we recommend you to have all of the following information handy while you are filling out the form:
1.   Your name as you'd like it to appear on your certificate
2.  Graduating degree(s)
4.   Career goal(s)
5.   Your favorite quote
6.   Any leadership positions you have held in an organization that does social justice and/or LGBTQ+ community work
7. The name, email address, and phone number of your presenter:
As a graduating student, we ask that you please select someone who will present you during the Rainbow Graduation Ceremony. The person you select will sit with you during the ceremony and have 30 seconds to say a few words about you during the Presentation of Graduates.  This person could be a friend, partner, family member, professor, mentor, neighbor, or whomever you choose.
*If you have trouble finding a presenter, or have any concerns about the presenter in general, please let us know. We will work with you to ensure you have the best experience possible.
8. Accessibility needs for accommodations
9. Electronic picture of yourself
This information will be included as part of a PowerPoint presentation that will be shown as you are recognized during the ceremony.
 

Step Two (Fill out the form):
Please fill out the web form here that will contain all of the aforementioned information.
 
Please complete these steps by April 22nd @ noon. Thank you!
Here are all the details for the event:
 
The 13th Annual LGBTQA & Allied Graduation Celebration
Saturday, May 9 th, 2020
4pm to 6pm   (Graduates will be asked to arrive early for a rehearsal)
 
Gallagher Theater, Student Union, 1303 E. University
This festive and intimate end-of-the-year celebration will provide personal recognitions for the achievements of underrepresented sexual and/or gender identities at the UA. Rainbow Graduation is open to all graduating undergraduates, graduates, or professional school students (including allies!) to show their fabulous wildcat pride! Each graduate will receive a rainbow cord and certificate of honor, and a catered reception will follow the ceremony.  You must register by April 22nd to participate.
 
We look forward to honoring you in May!
 
-The Rainbow Graduation Planning Committee

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Making Art From Life with Staceyann Chin!

image text: Making Art from Life with Staceyann Chin. Monday, March 16th, 2020; 10AM - 12PM. UA Marshall Building, Room 531. RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/staceyannchin. 
UAMA Presents: GRRRL Justice Screening at the Loft Cinema!
 

Thursday, Mar. 26th, 2020
6:00 PM
The Loft Cinema | 3233 E Speedway Blvd
FREE


Join us for a free screening of the film GRRRL Justice followed by a conversation between writer/director Shontina Vernon and Dr. Stephanie Troutman.

This short narrative film explores the pathways of girls and queer youth of color into the juvenile justice system. It uses gender and sexuality as a framework for understanding their rising rates of incarceration. Through the lead characters in this powerful triptych, we also come to understand the necessity of art and youth-led community spaces in their healing and liberation as well as the power of story.

Read more about this event here
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