SAFE FOCUSES ON GLBT FAMILIES IN ARIZONA

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