Volume 12 Issue 8 September 2016 375 S. Euclid Avenue • Tucson, AZ 85719 SASP celebrates, supports and unites Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Seniors in Southern Arizona Tucson Pride Celebrates Unity And the history of the Richard Heakin Memorial Picnic by Dea Brasgalla This year, Tucson Pride will walk down Phoenix’ mark its 39th consecutive year of Please join us to celebrate our Pride in main streets to the Pride. On Sept 30, Tucson Pride Tucson’s LGBTQ community on Sept 30 Capital building. will celebrate with a parade down with the parade and block party on The joint protest in- 4th Avenue followed by a free block cluded gays and their party afterward at the Sky Bar on 4th Ave and on Oct 1 for Pride in the allies from Phoenix, 4th Avenue. The theme for the Desert at Reid Park. Tucson, other Arizo- parade is “Taking Pride Back”. na gay communities, The Grand Marshalls for the Tuc- at end of this article). On Feb 7, and gays from other son Pride Parade are as follows: 1977, the Tucson Mayor and City States. Gay Christian Outreach Ser- Narda Rivera representing Puertas Council unanimously voted to ap- vices provided support and security Albertas; Joseph Howell, repre- prove an ordinance passage of a along the route. The LGBTQ com- senting the LGBT Chamber of Com- Tucson ordinance (Ordinance No. munity continues to hold protest merce; Chad Mosher representing 4616, amending Chapter 17, Article rallies and marches for our causes. Living Out Loud Wellness Center, II of the Tucson Code)” to eliminate Article continues on page 2 and Abby Jensen representing the prejudice and discrimination due to Southern Arizona Gender Alliance sexual orientation in places of public (SAGA). In addition, Mayor Roth- accomodation, in employment, and Senior Pride Monthly schild will also be a Grand Marshall. in housing”. It was the first such Meeting: On Oct 1, Pride in the Desert will ordinance in Arizona and one of the The Senior Pride meetings are open to be held at Reid Park, 900 S, Ran- first of its kind in the United States. everyone and always feature interesting dolf Way. Please visit the website In 1977, the Tucson Lesbian Gay speakers. Senior Pride meets from 2-3 pm at the Himmel Park Library, tucsonpride.org for information Alliance (TLGA—now Tucson Pride) about the events. 1035 Treat Ave on the second Tuesday was formed. TLGA organized Tuc- of most months. Tucson has the legacy of holding son’s first Gay Pride/Richard Heakin On Tuesday, Sept 13: Catherine one of the oldest Pride events in Memorial Picnic, held on National Tornbom, Manager, Center for the nation and being one of the first Gay Pride Day, June 26, 1977. On Community Dialogue. Topic – Elder LGBT organization in the State of June 26, 1983, the Tucson Gay Circles Arizona. Festival was not held. Instead, in On Tuesday, Oct 11: Tara Bruce: Wellness Outreach Program Coordinator After the murder of Richard J. response to the nationwide call to for TMC at The CORE Health and Well- (Dickie) Heakin on June 6, 1976, fight oppression of gay people, the ness Center at La Encantada. by a group of teen-agers who were, Pride Week’s main event was a 130 On Tuesday, Nov 15: Sally Krommes, according to their testimony, “out to mile Civil Rights March from Tucson program director for “Medication Misuse and Abuse!” for Pima Council on Aging. hassle queers,” the newly formed to Phoenix . The March involved Tucson Gay Coalition led protests, camping overnight along the seven [email protected] especially against the results of the day route, then ended in a two mile (520) 312-8923 trial of the killers.* (see “of note” or visit http://soazseniorpride.org History of the Tucson Pride Celebration 2016 Bisbee Pride Parade (continued) In 1983, the event was held in October to beat the heat of summer. In 2002, the Tucson Lesbian and Gay Alliance changed its name to Tucson Pride to better reflect the mission of the organiza- tion. Pride Week was expanded to include 10 days of non-stop events. Of Note: On Sept 15, 2003, the Tucson Mayor and City Council unanimously approved the first Domestic Partner Registry in the State of Arizona, at the recommendation of the city’s Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender issues. Effective Dec 2003, this ordinance provides a registry for Domestic Partners. This is a means by which unmarried couples who share a relation- ship of mutual support and caring, may document their relationship. The Registry provides two priv- ileges that are enforceable within the city limits of Tucson: hospital visitation rights for Partners (with patient consent), and extending use of and access to city facilities to a registered partner as if the domestic partner were a spouse. We can be thankful that historically Tucson’s Mayor and City Council are progressive in their efforts to protect the LGBT community and promote our equality. Please join us to celebrate our pride in Tucson’s LGBTQ community Sept 30 with the parade and block party on 4th Ave and on Oct 1 for Pride in the Desert at Reid Park. * Of Note: The 15-17 year old killers received only probation for what was termed a hate crime. In 1977, Tucson’s gay-oriented newspaper, the Pride festival and Pride picnic were creat- ed. Heakin’s death was also one of the events that led to the creation of Wingspan, the LGBT community center, in 1988. In 2002, a memorial Photos by Stephanie Donoghue plaque honoring Richard Heakin was placed at Sunset Park in front of Tucson’s City Hall. Senior Forum Joyce Bolinger, Editor Rick Jorgensen, Editor Emeritus Join the Pride festivites this year! Dea Brasgalla, Roving Reporter Show Tucson how out and proud our Connie Rose, Graphic Designer • High Desert Rose https://highdesertrose.carbonmade.com community continues to be! Susan Taunton, Webmaster • Wild Blue Pixel http://wildbluepixel.com P.2 Both of my parents were active in the civil rights Community Profile movement in the 1960’s, and have been wonderful Each month our roving reporter, Dea Brasgal- friends to many in their lives, especially to those who la, selects a community member to interview. needed a hand up. Dea welcomes nominations. To be profiled your- Dea: If you could wave a magic wand, self or to propose a person to be profiled, email what would the LGBTQ community look like in Dea at [email protected] 5 years? Bennett: The LGBTQ community would, in five A Chat years, face significantly less stigma, enjoy greater with Bennett health in all possible ways, and be welcomed by everyone based on the content of their character Burke rather than their sexual or gender identity. Dea Brasgalla: Who is Bennett Burke? Tell me In Memoriam: Dr. Noel Matkin, our about yourself. Community Profile individual in the Bennett Burke: I’m July/August issue of this newsletter, currently the Volunteer passed away on July 4, 2016. Coordinator for Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN). Prior to that, He was an active and I spent two years as Director of the Volunteer Center respected member of at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, and our community. He will before that 31 years at Southwest Gas Corporation, be missed. retiring in 2012 as Director of Administration for the For more about the Southern Arizona Division, headquartered in Tucson. life and I have also worked as a firefighter and emergency accomplishments of medical technician, a backpacking guide and out- Dr. Matkin, go to the door instructor, and am currently the Presiding Bish- Community Foundation op for the Liberal Catholic Church International. for Southern Arizona News at Dea: What inspires you, where does your http://cfsaz.org/news/news/ passion lie? Bennett: I find myself inspired by connecting people to each other and to new ideas, by the search for personal growth for myself, and by supporting personal growth in others. I enjoy working Donate to Southern Arizona for equality and opportunity for all, as well as Senior Pride. cooking, entertaining, and cycling. Right now, I’m Make your tax deductible donations training to ride the entire El Tour de Tucson for the to our Fiscal Agent: SAAF first time this November, which will happen soon 375 South Euclid Avenue • Tucson AZ 85719 By Check: please write “Senior Pride”in Memo Line after my 62nd birthday. On Line: WWW.SAAF.ORG Click “ABOUT SAAF”, Dea: Who are your heroes? Click on Wingspan Programs at SAAF, “Southern Arizona Senior Pride” Bennett: My heroes are, quite simply, my parents. Both raised in very poor and broken homes in the By Telephone: Call Lauren. (520) 547-6099 SPECIFY SOUTHERN ARIZONA SENIOR PRIDE 1930’s and 40’s, with few if any positive role models Thanks for helping us to thrive! in their lives, they became wonderful parents on their own. Myself, my sister, and my brother were always lovingly supported, encouraged to work hard, to edu- cate ourselves, and to love and welcome others. P.3 Out and About . Here are the rest of the Tucson Pride with our Roving Reporter, Dea Board Members: Brasgalla Larry Moore, Entertainment Director, Patrick Holt, Entertainment Director, New Board for Tucson Pride Dave Fredericks, Board member, and With the resignation of President April Stephen Myers-Fulgham, Board Member. Moss, the Board of Directors of Tucson Please visit the website Pride has been reorganized and the follow- www.tucsonpride.org ing are the new officers: John Foley, Presi- for information about the events. dent; Tim Franco, Secretary, and CPA Cindy Intergenerational Ice Cream Social Conforti, Bookkeeper.