INSTITUTE NEWS & EVENTS
iLGBTS Statement re: HB 2706
 
On March 3rd, 2020 the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2706, also known as the "show me your genitals/prove you're not transgender" bill (Equality Arizona, 2020). This decision demonstrates the most recent of Arizona and U.S. lawmakers' vilification and attempted erasure of trans* people---with the current aim being to revoke transgender students' ability to participate in school athletics teams.

The Institute for LGBT Studies is committed to protecting and advocating for transgender rights. We strongly reject the notion that trans* students should be excluded from participating in any facet of life within schools or beyond due to transphobic beliefs about "protecting" cisgender, heterosexual students' rights or opportunities. 

We support full inclusion of trans* people in athletics and argue that the nondiscrimination laws that were created to protect cisgender women athletes in the past are directly applicable to transgender women athletes in the present. 

Learn more about ACLU of Arizona's plans to respond to the passing of HB2706 here. Read a powerful statement of support for trans-inclusive athletics by a multitude of sports organizations here
iLGBTS is proud to co-sponsor...
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. 
QUEER CONEXIONES
Support Desert Voices at La Cocina GALA Fundraiser!
 
Tuesday, Mar. 10th, 2020
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
La Cocina | 201 N Court Ave
10% of lunch or dinner purchases donated to GALA scholarship fund!

La Cocina Restaurant is helping Desert Voices LGBTQA+ supportive chorus raise money for partial scholarships to the 2020 GALA Festival in Minneapolis. Susan Miller is organizing the event as part of a Toastmasters High Performance Leadership project. Along with fantastic food and creative cocktails, enjoy live performances and enter a raffle for a chance to win a prize!
Cultivate new skills in Non Violent Communication for Parents, Friends & Caregivers with Jay Brissette!
 
Saturday, Mar. 14th, 2020 (BIPOC only)
Monday, Mar. 16th, 2020 (all welcome)
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Email for BIPOC-only location details
Mar.16th location- WGRC (SUMC 4th Floor)
FREE

Jay Brissette is a black, queer, youth worker, born and raised in Los Angeles. As co-founder of the (now defunct) Los Angeles Childcare Collective with 17 years of experience working with youth and a parent themself, Jay is invested in creating a future that centers and honors black children and youth. Their focus is creating trainings and resources that make political education accessible to children of color and serving communities of color as a parent educator. They are currently working as a parent educator with echo, an organization whose mission is to educate trauma survivors (including parents and service professionals) about trauma and resilience in order to break the cycle of generational trauma.

Register for BIPOC-only space here. Learn more about these events here
Catch Prof. Emeritus Fenton Johnson discussing his latest book at Tucson Festival of Books!
 
Saturday, Mar. 14th, 2020
Pacheco Integrated Learning Center, Rm 141|
1500 E University Blvd
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 
&
Sunday, Mar. 15th, 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
SUMC, Santa Rita Rm | 1303 E University Blvd
Free

Fenton Johnson explores what it means to choose to be solitary and celebrates the notion that solitude is a legitimate and dignified calling. He delves into the lives and works of iconic "solitaries" he considers kindred spirits. Each character portrait is full of intense detail, the bright wakes they've left behind illuminating Fenton Johnson's journey from his childhood in the backwoods of Kentucky to his travels alone throughout the world and the people he has lost and found along the way. Combining memoir, social criticism, and research, At the Center of All Beauty resonates with all solitaries and all who might wish to carve out more space for solitude.

Read more about Fenton's work here
Sky Bar Presents: Jamie J. Soto, Flor de Nopal, and Mattea!
 
image text: Sky Bar Presents: Jaime J. Soto, Flor de Nopal, Mattea. March 14th @ 9PM. Free. 21+.
CONFERENCES, CALLS, CLASSES and FUNDING
Apply now for the Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce Foundation Scholarship!
 
Deadline: Sunday, Mar. 15th, 2020 at 11:59PM (AZ time)

The Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce Foundation  believes that one way to elevate our community is through higher education, and recognize that there are many deserving college students in the LGBT+ community who may need assistance, mentoring, and support in their college careers, and who, due to their identification as LGBT+ may be at risk for loss of educational funding and support. To support those students, the foundation provides an annual $2500 scholarship. This scholarship is open to LGBTQ+-identifying University of Arizona students in degree-seeking programs during the 20-21 academic year!

Read the complete scholarship criteria and apply here.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Save the date for SAGA's Trans Day of Visibility Picnic!
 
image text: Save the Date! Trans Day of Visibility Picnic. Presented by SAGA (Southern Arizona Gender Alliance). Sunday, March 29, 2020. 1-5PM. Armory Park. 221 S 6th Ave, Tucson.

Catch Dr. Anjali Arondeker at SCCT's Speaker Series!
 

image text: Politics of the Archive/s, Social Cultural Critical Theory Speaker Series 2020. 26 March 2020, 5-6:30 PM Public presentation. CATalyst Studios, UA Main Library. Sexuality's Abundance: Towards a Poetics of the Archive by Anjali Arondekar. For complete event details, as well as biography of Dr. Arondekar, click here.
 
Jellywink Boutique SexEd Presents: Kink in Color
 

Monday, Mar. 23rd, 2020
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Jellywink Boutique | 416 E 7th St
Open to 18+ folx | 10.00 suggested donation, registration required

Join Jellywink staff member DiAn (they/them) for a queer-inclusive discussion about kink for people of color only. We'll discuss many areas of kink and ways to troubleshoot the problematic issues that people of color often face in the kink community. Please register to attend - seats are limited and we might not have chairs for unregistered folks. Each attendee requires separate registration.This workshop is informational only - we'll be discussing concepts and showing products, not using them on anyone. Suggested contribution of $10, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. $10 ticket includes a $5 store credit to use within a week of the workshop!

Learn more about this workshop here. Register here
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