Local News

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, in partnership with Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their straight allies, will be bringing the Voices of Honor Tour to Phoenix, AZ on Tuesday, August 11th.

The national tour highlights the discriminatory law that hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk.

The schedule for the Phoenix stop is as follows:
• 9:00am: Press Conference with Iraq and Afghanistan-era Veterans
Marvin Andrews Courtyard in front of City Hall
200 W Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003

• 5:00pm: Town Hall Discussion on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Pulliam Room, Burton Barr Library
1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

“Voices of Honor” features a diverse group of gay, lesbian, and straight veterans who have served under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Jarrod Chlapowski, a former U.S. Army Korean linguist who opted to not re-enlist because of DADT and is a public policy advocate at the Human Rights Campaign; Alex Nicholson, a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector discharged under DADT and current executive director of Servicemembers United; Eric Alva, a former Marine and first American injured in current operations in Iraq; and others standing united and speaking out for the repeal of this discriminatory policy that continues to harm our nation's security.

To learn more online, visit: www.hrc.org/VoicesOfHonor

Read the Press Release here. Read More »

Michael Cole - HRC Back Story

This past weekend, Human Rights Campaign volunteers participated in Ya Es Hora events — the largest and most comprehensive effort to incorporate
Latinos as full participants in the American political process.  Its
multi-layered integrated campaign provides a comprehensive approach
that links naturalization to voter participation and Census enumeration
under a single message: “it’s time.”

Ya Es Hora is led by four national organizations and dozens
of regional and local organizations including: Univision, the largest
Spanish-language media network in the U.S.; Mi Familia Vota Education
Fund; National Council of La Raza; National Association of Latino
Elected Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund; and the Service Employees
International Union.  Together, the Ya Es Hora partners have
a goal to move over 1 million Latino eligible legal permanent residents
(LPRs) on the path to U.S. citizenship during 2009 and 2010.  Since
2007, this campaign has helped process U.S. citizenship applications
for more than 1.4 million Latinos.

HRC volunteers in South Florida, Los Angeles and Phoenix assisted
Latino/a legal permanent residents – individuals and families – in
completing their applications to become US citizens.  Some of their
reflections on the day are below.  We’ll also be organizing volunteers
for upcoming sessions in Washington, DC, Denver and other cities and
you can contact Hyacinth Alvaran for more information.

From Cynthia Lewis of Phoenix who helped organize a group of 30 volunteers:

"The experience of helping the attendees prepare their paperwork for
citizenship was a humbling experience for the volunteers. Not only
because of the extent of the information required (how many of us can
remember every single trip we have taken out of the country since we
have lived in the US) but also the  questions we had to ask of
seemingly ethical individuals of good moral character was a little
uncomfortable for us. I heard many a volunteer (myself included)
preface a particularly invasive question with an apology at having to
ask a question of this nature. However, the attendees were more than
grateful for our time and patience as they dug into the far recesses of
their memories for this information, shuffled through countless
documents of their own for dates, addresses, addendums, affidavits,
etc. I heard countless “thank-you”, “Gracias,” and saw more heartfelt
hugs, vigorous handshakes, and Cheshire cat smiles than I can count. 
These folks sat for hours to get to a volunteer, sat through the
application process, and then sat with the lawyers to make sure the
forms were in order and all the while they remained grateful, proud and
dignified.

The volunteers worked hard the entire day – and come lunch time,
members of the church provided burritos the size of a forearm! The
homemade flour tortillas, rice, beans, chicken, beef, and spicy salsa
were fabulous!! Picking one up and eating it provided everyone with a
few laughs!!" Read More »

Phoenix Mercury vs. Detroit Shock

Saturday, July 18
7:00 p.m.

Don't miss the fun as the Phoenix Mercury take on the Detroit Shock! Come early for the pre-game exclusive mixer in the Verve energy Lounge! This special package also includes:

• Lower Level Ticket to the game
• Access to the Pre Game Mixer (snacks, cash bar)
• Group Welcome on Jumbotron
• Mercury Jersey Drawstring Bag

Already have tickets? No problem! You can join the fun for just $23! Your package will also include one additional game ticket (in addition to your season ticket) and a $5 food/beverage voucher. This offer expires on Thursday, July 16 at 11:59 p.m. Get your tickets today!

Use this Special Offer Code to purchase tickets: HRC

Ticket Offer
Special Package Pricing
$32 Community Night Package
Non-ticket holders, click here to purchase tickets!
Game Ticket Holders
$23 Community Night Package
Game ticket holders, click here to purchase tickets!

FREE Mercury Jersey Drawstring bag by showing your ticket at the table outside of section 122!

If you do not receive your tickets within 30 minutes, please email Julia LaManna at jlamanna@suns.comor call 602.379.7805.

  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, July 11

Iglesia Discípulos del Reino
116 N Lindsay Rd, Suite 9
Mesa, AZ 85204

Somerton Middle School
AWC Learning Center.
1011 N Somerton Avenue,
Somerton, AZ 85350

Volunteers needed:
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
or both shifts
(Workshop is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Spanish fluency helpful, but not necessary.

Volunteers are required to attend the following trainings:

For the Mesa location:
SEIU
3707 N 7th St, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85014
July 6, 6 p.m. for general volunteers
July 7, 6 p.m. for lawyers

For the Somerton location:
Campesinos Sin Fronteras
144 W Main Street
Somerton, AZ85350
928-627-7426
July 9, 6 p.m. for all volunteers

If interested, please RSVP to Kathy Young at kjkicks@gmail.com by July 5th.

¡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, Human Rights Campaign Read More »