Local News

Casa Grande, AZ- Equality Arizona and Human Rights Campaign applaud Mayor Bob Jackson and the City of Casa Grande for issuing a Proclamation in support of National Coming Out Day October 11, 2009.

“We are proud to support the work of Equality Arizona’s Casa Grande Equality Team as they create a strong partnership with the City of Casa Grande,” said Barbara McCullough-Jones, Executive Director of Equality Arizona.  “By developing meaningful relationships with elected officials in their home town, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and allies from all walks are creating a safer Arizona for our community to live, work and visit.”

“We are thrilled that the City of Casa Grande, AZ is recognizing the importance of coming out.  The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is stronger when we can safely be open and honest about our lives, and when we are supported by our elected officials and neighbors. We encourage members the Casa Grande LGBT community and their allies to celebrate this Declaration by talking to your family and friends about the importance of equality and fairness for our community,” said HRC president Joe Solmonese.

The Proclamation states, “educating our community about the diversity of our City is essential to overcoming stigma and discrimination; …we recognize the value of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender people that live, work and play in our city as essential to sound economic growth."

“The City of Casa Grande realizes it is in the best interest of all of our citizens to celebrate the diversity of our city and is eager to continue working with the Casa Grande Equality Team.  The first step of this partnership is this Proclamation in support of National Coming Out Day, and we look forward to a long partnership,” said Deputy City Manager Larry Rains. Read More »

Equality Arizona is proud to work with our Equality Team members in Mesa and Human Rights Campaign Arizona to discuss a potential relationship recognition ordinance in the City of Mesa.

Please show your support by calling or emailing the Mesa City Council, Mayor Scott Smith and the Human Relations Advisory Board to let them know you support a process to explore relationship recognition that that will provide opportunities for unmarried people to take care of each other.  

Your voice needs to be heard.  Already, opposition has organized to oppose this effort – before the dialogue even begins.  We are calling on the Human Relations Advisory Board to continue the research, dialogue and allow the democratic process to unfold in Mesa. Right now the opposition is trying to drown out and derail a fair minded conversation.  

Equality Arizona and Human Rights Campaign Arizona have collaborated to provide research and education to members of the Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board, the Mesa City Council and Mayor Scott Smith.  We will continue to bring awareness to the value of fulfilling relationship responsibilities. The opposition is talking to our government, and right now they are speaking for all of Mesa.  We must add our voices to the conversation.

Call to Action:
Please make your voice heard and encourage your friends, neighbors and family members to show support for this process in Mesa.  This affects all Arizonans. Decision makers are only listening to the opposition right now.

Call or email Mayor Steve Smith, the Mesa City Council and Human Relations Advisory Board right now and tell them to allow the education and dialogue to continue at the Human Relations Advisory Board, and ask them to keep an open mind during this process.

Please cc info@equalityarizona.org and action@hrcarizona.org when you send your email, or reply to this email and let us know you made a call! Please keep us informed about your phone and email conversations.

Mayor Scott Smith 480-644-2388 mayor.smith@Mesaaz.gov

Mary Berumen, Diversity Office Director and Staff Liaison to Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board
mary.berumen@Mesaaz.gov
For non Mesa residents to show support please email: council@Mesaaz.gov

For Mesa residents, please contact your councilmember directly.

District 1 - Councilmember Dave Richins 480-644-4002 councilmember.richins@Mesaaz.gov
District 2 - Councilmember Alex Finter  480-644-3772 councilmember.finter@Mesaaz.gov
District 3 - Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh  480-644-3003 councilmember.kavanaugh@Mesaaz.gov
District 4 - Vice Mayor Kyle Jones  480-644-3004 councilmember.jones@Mesaaz.gov
District 5 - Councilmember Dina Higgins 480-644-3771 councilmember.higgins@Mesaaz.gov
District 6 - Councilmember Scott Somers 480-644-4003 councilmember.somers@Mesaaz.gov

To find your district click here: http://mesaaz.gov/maps/district_maps.aspx Read More »

Please join the Human Rights Campaign as we partner in a historic campaign to build strategic alliances with the Latino/a community! This is a great opportunity for civic engagement and to expand HRC’s community and visibility.

We need volunteers to assist Latino/a legal permanent residents - individuals and families - in completing their applications to become US citizens.

Saturday, September 19th

Alhambra Collage Preparatory High School
Saturday, September 19th, 2009
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
3802 W Maryland Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85019

Volunteers needed:
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Or both shifts

Spanish fluency is helpful, but not necessary.
Volunteers are required to attend one of the following trainings:

In-Person
Wednesday September 9th at 6:00 pm
SEIU headquarters
3707 N 7th St, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85014

By Webinar
Thursday September 10th 2009, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Monday September 14th, 2009, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Registration needed ahead of time to receive webinar info.

If interested, please RSVP to Kathy Young at kjkicks@gmail.com by September 8 and indicate:

1) Which training you will be participating in
2) Your name, email address, and cellphone number
3) Your t-shirt size
4) Your shift preference
5) Your fluency in Spanish (helpful but not required)

¡Ya Es Hora! - It Is Time!

Co-Sponsors: Mi Familia Vota, National Council of La Raza, NALEO Educational Fund, SEIU, Univision, Somos America/We Are America, 88.3FM La Campesina, AILA, ACORN, Univision 33, Human Rights Campaign

Group Formed by HRC Arizona to Support Family Equality and Education

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Arizona Steering Committee has formed Strengthening Arizona Families Equally (SAFE), a group that will solely focus on issues affecting GLBT families in the state.  SAFE has a mission to create awareness and encourage dialogue between GLBT parents and siblings, in addition to providing educational opportunities to the community.

HRC SAFE will work with Arizona schools in developing essential education-related tools to increase safety for parents and students and drive awareness of GLBT families. SAFE has plans to launch the “Welcoming Schools” program in Arizona. It aim is to provide administrators, educators, parents and guardians with the resources necessary to create learning environments in which all learners in Arizona schools are welcomed and respected.  SAFE will work to empower parents to learn more about the GLBT community, so they can get involved in supporting equality for all families.

“As a GLBT parent, one of the important things for me is to find other GLBT families in the community that we as a family can interact with and share experiences,” said Kathy Young, board of governor for HRC Arizona and blogger on GLBT family issues.  “It is vital for our kids to see other examples of families that have two moms or two dads and our hope is that SAFE will enable us to build vital relationships with other GLBT families so our children won’t feel that they are different from their friends.

“There are many issues that affect same sex parents and children and we hope to bring together many of the gay parenting groups in the valley to assist them in addressing these issues,” said Chuck Brazeal, co-chair of SAFE.  “I have been involved with a gay dads group for the last three years and it is our hope to provide a communications platform and a chance to all meet at city-wide events.  Our first SAFE is planned for October 25, 2009 at the Phoenix Children’s Museum."

SAFE will provide information locally about initiatives the national HRC organization programs such as the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Family Project. The project serves as a comprehensive range of family issues including adoption, civil unions, custody and visitation and family law. For more information about the SAFE group, programs and events please email safe@hrcarizona.org Read More »