The leadership of Phoenix Pride is obviously extremely concerned about the arrest that was affected on Friday and the knowledge that our signature annual events were the potential targets of acts of terrorism.

First and foremost on our minds is that the plot was interdicted, that our community members are safe, that the broader community as a whole is safe and that the events were able to take place without harm.

We are extremely grateful to the individuals in law enforcement at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and at the local departments who have been involved in this investigation and in affecting this arrest.

I will note that, we know there are those in our community who have very real, very reasonable and valid concerns about relationships between the community and our local police agencies and those are concerns that we continue to address as a community. But in this moment, our partners in public safety stepped up in the most vital of ways and we are thankful to them because but for their help, we might not be able to be here today sharing this information with you.

We will continue to work diligently and vigilantly with our partners in public safety, our partners in the community and our stakeholders at all levels to continue to do everything that is possible to ensure that our events are safe spaces, and secure spaces and welcoming spaces where our community members can not only feel accepted and at home but also feel and know they are safe.

More than 170 events across 10 days in battleground states to engage and mobilize voters

Kickoff in Philadelphia to feature MN First Lady Gwen Walz, PA State Rep Malcolm Kenyatta, PA State Rep Andre Carroll, and others 

WASHINGTON – Just weeks before Election Day, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Out for Harris-Walz, The Harris-Walz campaign’s national LGBTQ+ organizing coalition along with PA Democrats, are launching 10 Days of Action, a series of events aimed at mobilizing and turning out LGBTQ+ and allied voters.

During the push, HRC, Out for Harris-Walz, and PA Democrats will harness the power of LGBTQ+ voters to phone bank, canvass, rally, and fundraise through daily opportunities that will make a meaningful impact, both in-person and remotely through:

• New ad campaign targeting LGBTQ+ voters in battleground states.
• A digital organizing program that empowers individuals to drive voter mobilization from wherever they are.
• A virtual rally on October 10 ahead of National Coming Out Day, to bolster recruitment and GOTV efforts in battleground states on October 12.
• Amplifying student voices on HBCU Out Loud Day on October 16.

“With Election Day around the corner, the stakes are as high as ever for LGBTQ+ Americans,” said Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson. “The American people know that we deserve leaders with a vision to ensure we don’t just get by but have the chance to get ahead. We know we deserve leaders who believe in the promise of this country and the value of our communities. Those leaders are Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. While Donald Trump and JD Vance try to drag this country backward into their Project 2025 nightmare, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are charting a new way forward. Our job is to show up for them in the same way that they have shown up for our community for decades. Over the next 10 days, we will knock doors, make calls, and rally communities across this country to send the clear message that when we show up, equality wins.”

“With so much at stake for LGBTQ+ Americans, we are not taking a single vote for granted,” said Harris for President Campaign National LGBTQ Engagement Director Sam Alleman. “LGBTQ+ Americans deserve leaders who will champion our freedoms — like Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. While Donald Trump and his Project 2025 agenda promise to roll back the clock on our hard won freedoms, Kamala Harris is fighting for a new way forward where we can all be who we are and love who we love. With our 10 Days of Action, we’re bringing this vital message directly to the voters who will decide this election, and showing them that when we fight, we win.”

LGBTQ+ and allied voters are a crucial voting bloc that will play a key role in determining the outcome of November’s election. Recent HRC data shows that the number of Equality Voters, those who prioritize equality when deciding who to vote for, has reached a record 75 million nationwide – a number that includes millions of Equality Voters in the key battleground states that will decide the election. In 2022, Equality Voters constituted 38% of the electorate, playing a critical role in holding back the “red wave” and delivering wins for pro-equality candidates. And for many, trusted messengers like HRC and the Out for Harris-Walz coalition  along with Pennsylvania Democrats will be the difference between showing up or staying home, making the 10 Days of Action campaign paramount in driving turnout.

The 10 Days of Action will build on the work of the Out for Harris-Walz coalition and the Coordinated Campaign, which has mobilized and organized LGBTQ+ voters across the country through:

• Community engagement calls with voters across the LGBTQ+ coalitions,
• Virtual organizing calls with LGBTQ+ activists and community leaders,
• Relational organizing trainings focused on activating and reaching new volunteers targeting battleground voters,
• House parties and community events in Phoenix, Arizona; Ferndale, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The stakes of November’s election on issues of equality are staggeringly high. As president, Donald Trump led a virulently anti-LGBTQ+ administration, banning brave transgender servicemembers from the military and advocating for rollbacks to nondiscrimination protections. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz have been career-long champions for LGBTQ+ rights, defending marriage equality, advocating for the freedom for families of transgender youth to make their own health care decisions, and championing nondiscrimination protections through legislative and administrative action.

The campaigns’ plans for the future stand in stark contrast, as well. As president, Kamala Harris and Democrats have committed to fighting to pass the Equality Act to enshrine anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in health care, housing, education and more into law, while Donald Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda would eliminate federal rules that protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination and rip away more of our hard-fought freedoms.

10 Days of Action kicks off tonight with a rally in Philadelphia featuring remarks from Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, Pennsylvania State Representatives Malcolm Kenyatta and Andre Carroll, Philadelphia City Council Member and Out for Harris PA Co-Chair Rue Landau, creator and author RaeShanda Lias-Lockhart, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, and others.

The 10 Days of Action campaign launches on the eve of National Coming Out Day, first organized by Jean O’Leary and Dr. Robert Eichberg with the National Coming Out Day organization and observed on the October 1988 anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. In 1993, the National Coming Out Day organization merged with HRC. Since its inception, National Coming Out Day has been a community-wide declaration of the power of being free to live authentically. And as LGBTQ+ communities have faced escalating political attacks from MAGA bullies, National Coming Out Day has also served as a call for LGBTQ+ people and our allies to show up defiantly against hate. The 10 Days of Action campaign will be a rallying cry, encouraging LGBTQ+ and allied voters to come out in support of the Harris-Walz ticket and Democrats up and down the ballot.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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Did you know that, according to the CDC, about 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime? These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for education, awareness, and support around domestic violence in our communities.

That’s why Chicanos Por La Causa De Colores is proud to host its 4th annual event, Breaking Cycles. This family-friendly event is designed to inform, empower, and create awareness around domestic violence, with a special focus on breaking the cycles of abuse.

Join us for an impactful day filled with many resources and activities for all ages, including:

• Free vaccinations for children and adults
• Yoga sessions for teens
• Free haircuts
• Free food, music, dancing, and much more!

Together, we can help break the cycle of violence and create a safer future for all. Don’t miss this important event:

Location: Preparatory Pioneer, 6510 W. Clarendon Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85033

Date: Saturday, October 12
Time: 9 AM – 1 PM

We look forward to seeing you there and standing together to raise awareness and support survivors of domestic violence.

Let’s break the cycle!

Hello from Discovery Self Defense of Arizona! We’re happy to join The Pride Guide® as its first and, as of now, only listed martial arts school.

We focus on practical self defense for real world situations, all taught in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Our goal isn’t to make you a living weapon, it’s to help you keep yourself and your loved ones safe. (Becoming a living weapon is just a bonus!)

We teach a variety of techniques, including standing, on the ground, and dealing with weapons. Learn how to escape a sudden grab or deflect a punch, and how to deal some damage yourself if you need to. We’re not just teaching the basics, though: we train all the way to black belt, with a diverse skill set taught for every rank.

I’m the instructor of Discovery Self Defense, Maynard Breese, a second-degree black belt with 15 years of experience in taijutsu. I have 12 years under my belt as an instructor, and currently I’m the only active instructor in Arizona who has trained with Black Belt Hall of Fame member Stephen K. Hayes and the head of Discovery Martial Arts Association, Hanshi John Poliquin.

I want to use these skills to teach vulnerable members of the community how to protect themselves. I’m offering 2 free intro classes to anyone who wants to check us out. If you like it and choose to stay, your first full month’s tuition will be 50% off.

Contact us at the information below to learn more, and mention you found us in the Pride Guide® for the special offer. Stay safe out there!

DiscoveryDefenseArizona@gmail.com

(480) 251-9322

To learn more, feel free to visit us at https://DiscoverySelfDefense.com