PHOENIX (June 17, 2021) – In celebration of Pride Month, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has donated $1.5 million to GLSEN. The three-year grant will be allocated between the Phoenix Chapter ($1 million) and the National Organization ($500,000) and will support the organization’s mission to ensure that every member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

“In our personal lives and through The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, one of our overarching goals is to be champions of inclusivity,” said President and Executive Creative Director of PXG Apparel Renee Parsons. “Every person deserves to feel whole, equal and welcome.”

GLSEN research has found that six out of 10 LGBTQ students have felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and nearly eight out of 10 have avoided school functions because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable. The level of harassment these students experience negatively affects their ability to learn due to increased absenteeism and lower educational aspirations. The anti-LGBTQ bias can also have a profound impact on a student’s overall health and well-being.

“Many LGBTQ youth face cruel, often unbearable levels of bullying and discrimination,” said PXG Founder and CEO Bob Parsons. “GLSEN is working to help all K-12 students feel safe at school and accepted for who they are.”

GLSEN has developed four focus areas to help schools cultivate an inclusive, safe and supportive environment for all their students, especially those of marginalized identities. 

• Activating supportive educators, who are crucial to creating LGBTQ-inclusive classroom environments

• Advocating for inclusive & affirming curriculum, which not only offers support to LGBTQ students but raises the awareness of all students

• Passing and implementing laws and policies to ensure that LGBTQ students can learn and thrive in safe, inclusive, accepting schools

• Supporting student-led clubs because student leaders are integral to creating community and pushing for change

“We are filled with gratitude for this generous grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation,” said Melanie-Willingham-Jaggers, GLSEN’s Interim Executive Director. “It is because of allies like Bob and Renee Parsons that organizations like GLSEN are able to work towards making the world a safe and celebratory place for LGBTQ+ children and young people. In addition to financial support, it’s incredible to have partners who focus their power, reach and influence to lift up our community”

“This transformational gift will enable GLSEN Phoenix to mobilize even more school communities, so that all of our children get to be and become who they ought to be,” said GLSEN Phoenix founding co-chair Madelaine Adelman, Ph.D. “Feeling safe at school means having a sense of belonging, being respected, learning about yourself and others — this is simply the best way to learn.”

In addition to celebrating this grant during Pride Month, GLSEN Phoenix is launching a legacy monthly giving program. To learn more and invest in local efforts to create LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 schools, please visit https://www.glsenphoenix.org/. To learn more about the organization on a national level, visit https://www.glsen.org/ and follow @glsen on social.

About GLSEN Phoenix

Founded in October 2002, GLSEN Phoenix is part of a national GLSEN chapter network that works to ensure that each student in every K-12 school is valued and treated with respect, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We believe that all students deserve safe and inclusive K-12 schools. LGBTQ students who feel unsafe and unsupported at school are more likely to have been victimized and discriminated against at school, and thus, more likely to have high absenteeism, more likely to have lower GPAs, less likely to participate in school activities, more likely to have lower self esteem and a lower sense of school belonging, less likely to graduate from high school, and less likely to consider going to college. We invest the community’s time, talent, and treasure into four evidence-based interrelated areas of activity: supportive teachers, protective policies, inclusive curriculum, and empowered, student-led Gender/Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs. To learn more about our local programs, visit: glsenphoenix.org, facebook.com/glsen.phoenix, instagram.com/glsenphoenix, twitter.com/glsen_phoenix

About GLSEN

GLSEN works to create safe and inclusive schools for all. We envision a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Each year, GLSEN programs and resources reach millions of students and educators in K-12 schools, via action at the national, state, and local level. Over nearly three decades of work, GLSEN has improved conditions for LGBTQ students across the United States and launched an international movement to address LGBTQ issues in education and promote respect for all in schools. Find more information on GLSEN’s policy advocacy, student leadership initiatives, school-based programs, research, and professional development for educators at www.glsen.org. 

About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation

The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation’s giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.

Local community organization teams up with The Pemberton to bring a mini-pride gathering to Downtown Phoenix with resources, LGBTQ+ organization, yoga, Live DJ & more.

PHOENIX (June 15, 2021) – Only Human, a community-based organization that exists to make the world a better place by celebrating the things that make people “only human,” has partnered with local community and retail space The Pemberton to host a local Pride Night in an effort to bring the LGBTQ+ and ally community together as in-person events open back up.

“With COVID shutting down over 80+ pride events we planned to attend and/or host in 2020, we’re eager to offer a safe and joyful space for our local queer community and allies to gather together in-person as away to celebrate Pride Month and strengthen our community. This sort of “mini-pride” gathering will be casual with tabling from LGBTQ+ organizations and business alongside a Pride Yoga session and more,” stated Crissy Saint-Massey, an owner of Only Human.

While Only Human has grown rapidly over the past 5 years to become a leading global LGBTQ+ give-back community, the organization was founded in 2016 in Phoenix by Bree Pear where it has since built physical Headquarters and regularly hosts LGBTQ+focused and friendly events. The organization is queer-owned, qeer-operated and here to bring together our local community in impactful ways that foster lifelong connections and sustainable change in Phoenix and beyond.

EVENT DETAILS:

LGBTQ+ Tabling 7pm-10pm
Pride Yoga: 8pm-9pm
Live DJ

This event is free to attend and/or table at. Please reach out with any questions if you are interested in having a presence.

###

About Only Human

A female-owned company founded in 2016 by local Phoenician, Bree Pear, with incredible growth alongside now business partner Crissy Saint-Massey, Only Human has evolved quickly as tens of thousands of good humans around the world have rallied behind the movement on social platforms and at Only Human community cause events across the country. The organization gives 10% of its profits to a new charity each month while hosting community cause events, international give back trips, and more. For more information, please visit https://onlyhumanco.com/

Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined with Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to introduce the Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality (GLOBE) Act.

The GLOBE Act, H.R. 3800, would establish equality and justice as key components of U.S. foreign policy; affirm that discrimination, hatred, and violence against LGBTQI persons will not be tolerated by the United States; and assert that the United States government will treat LGBTQI rights as human rights throughout its foreign policy, development assistance, and immigration programs. The bill would also establish a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI Persons at the State Department.

“No person should suffer from discrimination because of who they are or whom they love,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “Under the leadership of President Biden and Secretary Blinken, the United States has the opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world by protecting the rights of LGBTQI people at home and abroad. The GLOBE Act equips the federal government with the tools and personnel it needs to promote LGBTQI rights around the world and punish regimes that persecute people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. I’m grateful to Senators Markey, Shaheen, and Merkley for their partnership on this important legislation.”

“Today, millions of people can once again see the Pride flag fly outside of U.S. embassies around the world, affirming the United States’ commitment to protecting LGBTQI rights everywhere,” said Senator Markey (D-MA). “LGBTQI rights are human rights, and we must take further steps to ensure that equality, justice, and non-discrimination policies are embedded throughout our foreign policy. President Biden and Secretary Blinken have committed to making the protection of human rights a key pillar of our work abroad, and I look forward to working with them to ensure these rights are extended to all people, no matter who they are or who they love, first and foremost by a swift appointment of the Special Envoy for LGBTQI Rights. I thank Senator Shaheen and Merkley, and Representative Titus for their leadership on this legislation and their commitment to upholding LGBQTI rights around the world.”

“As the U.S. restores its role as the global leader in promoting human rights, LGBTQI+ rights must be a top priority. We must double down on our commitment to protect the right for people to love freely and express their truest gender identity – regardless of where they live in  the world,” said Senator Shaheen (D-NH). “I’m encouraged by the Biden administration’s efforts to ensure LGBTQI+ rights are integrated within our foreign policy goals, and I look forward to working with them to ensure this bill’s passage to establish a dedicated Special Envoy. We must not back down on our push for equality and justice on the global stage.”

“We are living in a moment where governments around the world continue to make dangerous threats to our LGBTQ family, friends, and neighbors,” said Senator Merkley (D-OR). “America cannot remain silent in the face of that discrimination and abuse. Every person—regardless of who they are, whom they love, or where they live—has the right to be treated with decency and respect. That’s why I’m urging my colleagues to join us in passing the GLOBE Act, to send a clear message that the United States is committed to defending those rights for the American people and for people around the world.”

“The GLOBE Act is landmark legislation that provides legal, diplomatic, and financial tools to advance human rights for LGBTQI persons globally,” said Council for Global Equality Chair Mark Bromley. “It honors the Biden Administration’s foreign policy commitments and allows U.S. embassies to offer targeted support for some of the most marginalized communities around the world.”

“President Biden and this Congress continue to make progress on protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination at home and abroad, reversing the worst actions of the previous administration,” said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David. “The GLOBE Act to Protect LGBTI Rights Worldwide is a critical step in combating bigotry and prejudice worldwide. This legislation sends a clear message: the United States is redoubling its commitment to advancing human rights around the globe. We thank Senator Markey for his leadership and advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ people.”

“We applaud Senators Markey, Shaheen and Merkley and Representative Titus for introducing legislation that promotes a vision of justice for LGBTQI+ people who have been marginalized and criminalized by their governments,” said American Jewish World Service Director of U.S. Advocacy Rori Kramer. “For too long, U.S. foreign policy has not centered the rights of LGBTQI+ people – the GLOBE Act will change that. Addressing the wide-ranging nature of LGBTQI+ rights from foreign aid, to asylum and immigration, to global health, the GLOBE Act would ensure that the United States leads the fight to protect and promote LGBTQI+ rights around the world.”

Specifically, the GLOBE Act:

• Codifies the State Department Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI Persons in law;
• Requires the State Department to document human rights abuses and discrimination against LGBTQI people around the world;
• Restricts entry into the United States for foreign individuals responsible for abuse and murder of LGBTQI populations;
• Ensures fair access to asylum and refugee programs for LGBTQI individuals;
• Requires engagement with international organizations, including the United Nations and the World Bank, to protect international LGBTQI rights; and
• Protects the rights of U.S. LGBTQI citizens serving their countries overseas at diplomatic and consular posts.

In the House, The GLOBE Act is co-sponsored by Representatives David Cicilline (RI-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Mark Takano (CA-41), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Karen Bass (CA-37), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Darren Soto (FL-09), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Judy Chu (CA-27), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Edward Case (HI-01), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Donald McEachin (VA-04), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Bill Keating (MA-09), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Adam Smith (WA-09), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-23), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Donald Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Marie Newman (IL-03), Grace Meng (NY-06), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Al Green (TX-09), John Larson (CT-01), Andre’ Carson (IN-07), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Angie Craig (MN-02), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Jim Costa (CA-16), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Danny Davis (IL-07), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Jim Himes (CT-04).

The all virtual event aims to raise $75,000 to support annual funding

PHOENIX, AZ (April 20, 2021) – Today GLSEN Phoenix announced that it will host its 6th annual Sparkle Glitter GLSEN Remote Fundraiser and Respect Awards on Friday, May 14. The all-virtual event aims to raise $75,000 to ensure the safety of LGBTQ students in Phoenix-area K-12 schools while showing appreciation and admiration to school community leaders. During this challenging time of global isolation it is imperative that all LGBTQ feel supported and safe in being their most authentic selves. Thank you to all who have already donated and to those who plan to donate in supporting our students and inclusive school environments. 

“I am so proud of our chapter for centering the needs of LGBTQ students and educators during this terribly difficult year.” says Dr. Madelaine Adelman, GLSEN Phoenix Chapter Co-Founder and Fundraising Committee Chair, “For some LGBTQ students, their GSA club or supportive teacher’s classroom has been where they feel a sense of belonging, and remote schooling at home has not been a safe place to be their true authentic selves. We have stayed connected with students and educators, and continue to advocate for protective, anti-racist, and transgender-affirming policies.” 

While the format of this year’s event will be different than years past, attendees can expect an incredibly fun and engaging virtual experience. The annual Respect Awards ceremony will shine the spotlight on groups and individuals whose contributions towards creating safer environments for the youth in our school communities deserve to be recognized. Cocopah Middle School GSA will receive the Sean Nonnenmacher GSA of the Year Award. Susanna Belinger of Sierra Linda High School is being awarded the Dr. Eileen Yellin GSA Sponsor of the Year Award. Black Mother’s Forum, Poder Youth in Action and Virtual Arizona Pride will be recognized with the Ally Awards for their respective work for the community, and Brian Shire, a past Co-Chair of the Chapter and long time volunteer and supporter of GLSEN Phoenix will receive the Legacy

Award. The evening will be filled with a multitude of silent auction and raffle items that attendees will be excited to bid on, allowing them the opportunity to support GLSEN Phoenix’s cause all while leaving with something for themselves. One of the hot ticket items will be the travel raffle, which includes a trip to Costa Rica courtesy of AlgoGrowth (over $4,300 in value and includes $2,000 in Visa gift cards). 

GLSEN Phoenix has an evening of entertainment planned. Guests will be treated to special guest appearances, musical stylings and more. Various packages to create the most enjoyable at-home experience possible are available at www.sparkleglitterglsen.com in exchange for donations to GLSEN Phoenix’s total goal of raising $75,000. 

The 2021 Sparkle Glitter GLSEN Remote Fundraiser and Respect Awards are taking place on Friday May 14, from 7:30-9 p.m. Registration is open at www.sparkleglitterglsen.com to receive free tickets and updates on the online silent auction and limited-ticket travel raffle launching on May 7th. 

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact SGG@glsenphoenix.org to learn about the variety of levels available. 

### 

About GLSEN Phoenix

Founded in 2002, GLSEN Phoenix is part of a national chapter network that works to ensure that each student in every K-12 school is valued and treated with respect, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We believe that all students deserve safe and inclusive K-12 schools. LGBTQ students who feel unsafe and unsupported at school are more likely to have been victimized and discriminated against at school, and thus, more likely to have high absenteeism, more likely to have lower GPAs, less likely to participate in school activities, more likely to have lower self esteem and a lower sense of school belonging, less likely to graduate from high school, and less likely to consider going to college. We invest the community’s time, talent, and treasure into four evidence-based interrelated areas of activity: supportive teachers, protective policies, inclusive curriculum, and empowered, student-led Gender/Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs. glsen.org/phoenix, facebook.com/glsen.phoenix, instagram.com/glsenphoenix, twitter.com/glsen_phoenix

About GLSEN 

GLSEN champions safe and affirming schools for all students. We envision a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Each year, GLSEN programs and resources reach tens of thousands of K-12 schools across the United States, and our network of chapters brings GLSEN’s expertise to their local communities. GLSEN’s progress and impact have won support for our work at all levels of education in the United States and sparked an international movement to ensure equality for LGBTQ students and respect for all in schools. For more information on GLSEN’s policy advocacy, student leadership initiatives, public education, research and educator training programs, please visit glsen.org.

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is excited to welcome fresh faces and veteran Broadway talents during its 2021–22 season. Scottsdale Arts ONE Members have a chance to grab their favorite seats before tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, April 2, 2021.

As the Great Bright Way in Manhattan’s lights were dim most of last year, the Center was able to present two Broadway concerts featuring performers on hiatus from national and international stages. Musical lovers in Scottsdale and throughout the Valley can rejoice as Broadway takes the stage in their own backyard in an intimate venue.

Below is the schedule of six upcoming Broadway performances at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (subject to change):

Seth Rudetsky Concert Series
Eva Noblezada with Seth Rudetsky
Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, 8 p.m.
Eva Noblezada originated the lead role of Eurydice in “Hadestown” on Broadway, receiving a Tony® nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Additionally, “Hadestown” won the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Noblezada starred in the revival of “Miss Saigon,” receiving a Tony® nomination and played Eponine in the West End revival of “Les Misérables.” Seth Rudetsky is the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s “On Broadway” and the host of “Seth Speaks” on Sirius/XM Stars. Rudetsky has also worked as musical director/pianist for many theatre productions.

Hitting New Heights
Mandy Gonzalez and Javier Muñoz
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, 8 p.m.
The Broadway stars of “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” join voices to celebrate Broadway’s hottest composers, from Stephen Schwartz to Lin-Manuel Miranda. Mandy Gonzalez turned author with her debut novel, “Fearless.” Javier Muñoz recently joined the cast of “Eureka!,” an upcoming Disney Junior animated series. Additionally, he was recently heard on “Romeo y Julieta” — a new bilingual podcast — as Paris.

Seth Rudetsky Concert Series
Jeremy Jordan with Seth Rudetsky
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, 8 p.m.
Jeremy Jordan, a film, television, cabaret, and Broadway star has earned the Theater World Award for “Bonnie and Clyde.” Jordan received a Tony® nomination for his role in “Newsies” and Grammy® nomination for the “Newsies” cast album. He is widely known for his role on the CW drama “Supergirl.” Seth Rudetsky is the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s “On Broadway” and the host of “Seth Speaks” on Sirius/XM Stars. Rudetsky has also worked as musical director/pianist for many theatre productions.

Broadway Perspectives 2022: Women of Broadway
Saturday, March 12, 2022, 8 p.m.
Join us for “Broadway Perspectives 2022: Women of Broadway,” where four of Broadway’s finest female vocalists celebrate the roles and musical selections that underscore the leading lady’s influence on The Great Bright Way. Produced and hosted by New York casting director Stephen DeAngelis.

Shoshana Bean
Saturday, April 9, 2022, 8 p.m.
Independent Music award-winner and veteran of the Broadway stage, Shoshana Bean recently starred as Jenna in “Waitress.” Her latest release, “SPECTRUM,” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts.

Lea Salonga
Thursday, May 5, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
A “Disney Legend” with a powerful voice and perfect pitch, Lea Salonga is a performer best known for her Tony®-winning role in “Miss Saigon.” Recently seen on the annual “Broadway Backwards” concert on March 30 and available on demand through April 3.

SCOTTSDALE ARTS
Through its partnership with the city of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts (formerly known as Scottsdale Cultural Council) creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a regionally and nationally significant, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through four acclaimed branches — Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation — serving more than 600,000 participants annually. In conjunction with the city of Scottsdale, we also host more than 200,000 people annually on our campus through a robust rentals program.

SCOTTSDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Since 1975, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has provided a stage for a wide range of artists and genres, creating shared, inspiring experiences for the community that celebrate artistic excellence and cultural awareness. Today one of the premier performing arts halls in the western United States, the Center presents a diverse season of music, dance, theater, comedy and film from around the world.

LOCATION AND PARKING

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is located at 7380 E. 2nd St. in downtown Scottsdale. Free parking is available in the public parking garage located to the west of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Wells Fargo Avenue. Additional free parking is available at the Old Town Parking Corral at East Second Street and Brown Avenue and at the Civic Center Library parking garage located on Drinkwater Boulevard at East Second Street.

ACCESSIBILITY

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers performance accommodations to enhance audience members’ experience, including: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or live audio description with two weeks advance notice. Assistive-listening devices and wheelchair seating are also available. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/accessibility/ or contact the Member and Patron Services Box Office at 480-499-TKTS (8587) [TDD: 480-874-4694] for further details. Please inquire about services when ordering tickets.

TICKET DISCOUNTS

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of ticket discounts for Scottsdale Arts members at the Friends level and above, groups of 10 or more and those purchasing packages to four or more events in one order. The Center provides free tickets to selected events for eligible teachers and active-duty military and veterans. Visit www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org/visit/tickets-discounts/ or call 480-499-TKTS (8587) for more information.

THE STORE
The award-winning Store at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts supports the mission and diverse programs of the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts. The Store’s unique selection of merchandise includes artist-made jewelry, stylish furnishings for home and office, unique creations by Arizona artists, fair-trade and upcycled/recycled global crafts, music, books, greeting cards and imaginative toys. Purchases are tax free, and members receive a 15 percent discount. Gift wrapping and shipping are also available. The Store is open Wed. – Sat., 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sun., noon 5 p.m., and throughout most evening events. Phone: 480-874-4644.

HOW TO REACH US

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
7380 E. 2nd St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org
480-499-TKTS (8587)

Chandler Public Library – Downtown
22 S Delaware, Downtown Chandler

Grab & Go: Trans Day of Visibility
March 31, 2021
9 am – 7 pm
March 31 is International Day of Trans Visibility. It aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans
people around the globe. To recognize the contributions and lived experiences of trans and non-binary
people, check out the Downtown Branch’s display of library materials. There will also be fun items to take
while supplies last.

Grab & Go: Show Your Pride
June 28, 2021
9 am – 7 pm
June 28, 1969 was the beginning of an event known as the Stonewall Uprising, a series of spontaneous
demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in New York City. In the decades following
Stonewall, June has become a month of events and parades commemorating Stonewall and
acknowledging the LGBTQ+ community’s accomplishments. This Grab & Go has the materials to make a
rainbow pennant banner based on the Philadelphia 2017 8 stripe flag. It will also contain an enamel pin.
Limited quantities, available while supplies last. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of
Museum and Library Services.

Chandler Public Library – Online

Read the Rainbow – Teen Books
March 24
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Online – Register at chandlerlibrary.org
Join Chandler Public Library’s new book club focused on books by, for, and about the LGBTQ+
community. Each month will feature a librarian curated selection of titles based on a theme, genre, or
collection. Pick a title from the monthly list and arrive ready to rate your title on a scale from 1 to 5 stars
and discuss what you liked and didn’t like about it.
This month we will be reading: TEEN / YOUNG ADULT
Pick ONE title from the list below. All titles are available from Chandler Public Library.
● Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
● The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee
● Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
● I Wish You the Best by Mason Deaver
● Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
● Odd One Out by Nic Stone
● Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Read the Rainbow – Picture Books
April 28
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Online – Register at chandlerlibrary.org
Join Chandler Public Library’s new book club focused on books by, for, and about the LGBTQ+
community. Each month will feature a librarian curated selection of titles based on a theme, genre, or
collection. Pick a title from the monthly list and arrive ready to rate your title on a scale from 1 to 5 stars
and discuss what you liked and didn’t like about it.
This month we will be reading: PICTURE BOOKS
Pick ONE title from the list below. All titles are available from Chandler Public Library..
● A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith
● Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya
● It Feels Good to Be Yourself: a book about gender identity by Theresa Thorn
● Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
● Maid and Maiden by Daniel Haack
● Pride: the story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
● Red: a crayon story by Michael Hall
● When Aidan became a brother by Kyle Lukoff

Read the Rainbow – In the Shadow of the Expressway
May 26, 2021
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Onlline – Register at chandlerlibrary.org
Join Chandler Public Library’s book club focused on books by, for, and about the LGBTQ+ community.
This month we will all be reading Lydia R. Otero’s In The Shadows of the Freeway: Growing up Brown
and Queer.
Born in 1955, Lydia R. Otero knew they were queer the moment their consciousness had evolved enough
to formulate thoughts. Nicknamed La Butch by their family, Otero shares a unique perspective: displaced
by their queerness, but rooted in place through their relationship with Tucson, Arizona. In this book, which
combines personal memoir and the historical archive, Otero takes readers to a world that existed on the
physical and social margins and describes how a new freeway created a barrier that greatly influenced
formative aspects of Otero’s childhood. The author examines the multiple effects of environmental racism,
while the lack of services and low expectations of the schools Otero attended are further examples of the
discrimination directed at brown people. This book offers more self-disclosure than Otero’s previous
works, as the author’s memories and experiences of childhood take center stage. Otero reveals the
day-to-day survival mechanisms they depended upon, the exhilaration of first love, and the support they
received from key family members.
We welcome James Burns, Executive Director of the Arizona Historical Society, who will lead the
book discussion.

Graphic Novel Book Club – Fun Home
June 16, 2021
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Online – Register at chandlerlibrary.org
Do you love comics, graphic novels, and sequential art? Join us for our new Graphic Novel Book Club!
This month we will be reading and discussing Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. In this
Eisner and Stonewall Award winning work (which was adapted into an award-winning Broadway Musical),
In this graphic memoir, Alison Bechdel charts her fraught relationship with her late father. Distant and
exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and
her family referred to as the Fun Home. It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as
a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving
a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve.

Read the Rainbow – Biographies and Memoirs
June 23, 2021
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Online – Register at chandlerlibrary.org
Join Chandler Public Library’s new book club focused on books by, for, and about the LGBTQ+
community. Each month will feature a librarian curated selection of titles based on a theme, genre, or
collection. Pick a title from the monthly list and arrive ready to rate your title on a scale from 1 to 5 stars
and discuss what you liked and didn’t like about it.
This month we will be reading: BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS. All titles are available at Chandler Public
Library
Pick ONE title from the list below.
● Confess: the autobiography by Rob Halford
● Officer Clemmons: a memoir by Francois Clemmons
● One Life by Megan Rapinoe
● Over the Top: a raw journey to self-love by Jonathan Van Ness
● Shortest way home: one mayor’s challenge and a model for America’s future by Pete Buttigieg
● The Velvet Mafia: the gay men who ran the swinging sixties by Darryl W Bullock

Focus on early diagnosis of HIV infection to improve treatment and prevention

PHOENIX (March 9, 2021) – It may surprise many that more than 11,000 residents of Maricopa County live with HIV and many more who are unaware of their status. For Valleywise Health, the numbers are a daily reality and in a continued effort to prevent the spread of HIV throughout our county, the public health safety net system recently completed expansion of opt-out HIV screenings at all 11 federally qualified health centers and emergency rooms at their main Roosevelt campus and Maryvale location.

In addition to the opt-out screenings, Valleywise Community Health Center – McDowell, the states’ leading provider of primary health care and HIV specialty treatment, also launched the availability of free home test kits shipped directly to your residence. These kits are available to any Maricopa County resident over the age of 18 and can be requested at valleywisehealth.org/HIVhometest. The test will be mailed in discreet packaging and includes detailed instructions of how to complete the test.

Patients who test negative either at a facility or through the home test, but may be considered high-risk can request consultation from Valleywise Health with prescription of the preventative medication, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), available at all locations. PrEP is a once daily medication that can be used in combination with other methods, such as condoms, to reduce risk of HIV infection by up to 99%. For those who test positive, a confirmatory test will be conducted and further assessment and treatment plans will be determined between patient and physician.

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn if they are infected with HIV,” said Dr. Ann Khalsa, Medical Director of Valleywise Community Health Center – McDowell. “When individuals know their HIV status and either take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or quickly start HIV treatment, we can help stop transmission and support the goal of getting to no new infections by 2030.”

The testing expansion is possible in part thanks to a $582,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Health Services. In 2011 Valleywise Health Medical Center became the first hospital in Arizona to provide routine HIV screening in its emergency department, and since then has administered nearly 100,000 tests.

“Unfortunately, HIV still has a stigma attached to it that it somehow only effects certain populations, but like all viruses knows no boundaries,” says Dr. Khalsa. “The way in which these voluntary tests and at home tests can be conducted can be done easily, quickly and bring peace of mind to anyone who feels they are at-risk or potentially infected and I applaud those who take initiative to know their status.”

For more information on Valleywise Health and their HIV services, please visit valleywisehealth.org/services or to order your free home test kit, visit at valleywisehealth.org/HIVhometest.

About Valleywise Health

Located in Phoenix, Arizona and named one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the nation by IBM Watson Health in 2020, Valleywise Health (formerly Maricopa Integrated Health System) has a proud tradition of being the community safety net health care system with a mission and commitment to serving the underserved. Valleywise Health consists of Valleywise Health Medical Center, Arizona’s only public teaching hospital, the only trauma center in Maricopa County verified by the American College of Surgeons to treat adults and children and Arizona’s only nationally verified Burn Center serving the entire Southwestern United States. Other services include the McDowell Healthcare Center, the largest provider of HIV primary care in Arizona, the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic, three behavioral health centers and 11 federally qualified community health centers. To learn more, please visit www.ValleywiseHealth.org.