Aloha…I’m Paul Jesus one of the managers at Betty’s Beach Cafe. As some of you may know…Betty’s did not survive! Lahaina Town has lost homes and businesses due to Hurricane Dora. This fundraiser is to help my staff that lost everything to relocate and get them back on their feet after this tragedy. Anything helps. Please keep Maui in your prayers as we figure out the next steps in rebuilding this beautiful town. We love and thank you all so much for all of your support throughout the years.

The LGBTQ+ community has been “exploding” back onto the travel scene in the past year as the COVID-19
pandemic wanes, according to David Paisley, senior research director with LGBTQ-focused Community Marketing
& Insights (CMI).

CMI recently completed its 17th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey, a broad look at the LGBTQ+ community, including its travel habits. Paisley spoke about the survey results this week during a webinar.

Paisley theorized that the LGBTQ+ community was slower to come back to travel than the general population because COVID became such a political issue in the United States.

The survey and other CMI research suggests travel is largely happening at a greater level than before the pandemic among the LGBTQ+ community, Paisley said. That is particularly true of people ages 18 to 54. There is still some reluctance to travel among older survey takers.

In other research Paisley conducts for specific destinations, he often asks where survey takers have traveled in the past 12 months. Statistics for every destination in 2023 are exceeding 2019 across the board, he said.

“I think the LGBTQ community went through a pattern [where] we were actually underperforming for a couple of years, and we’re sort of exploding out of it right now,” he said.

CMI’s Community Survey found that more than half of respondents planned to book a hotel room (57%) or take a flight primarily for vacation (52%) in the second half of the year. Just under half, 49%, plan to take a vacation by car from home. Only 12% said they did not expect to travel for vacation for the rest of the year.

Big cities or metro areas were the most popular destinations for those planning travel for the remainder of the year (55%), followed by a beach destination (40%) and a road trip (37%).

Of those planning to travel during the remainder of the year, 77% will travel within the mainland United States, 19% will go to Europe and 11% to Mexico. Rounding out the top five destinations are the Caribbean and Canada (tied at
9%) and Hawaii (7%).

This year, 14,432 self-identified LGBTQ+ community members completed the survey from April to June.

For more information on the survey go to Community Marketing Insights https://cmi.info/

PHOENIX (April 13, 2023) — Aunt Rita’s, whose mission is to end HIV in Arizona, announced Stacey Jay Cavaliere as its new Executive Director bringing fresh eyes and new perspectives to the Valley-based nonprofit leading the Foundation into its next chapter.

A dedicated and experienced leader in Arizona’s nonprofit community, with nearly 20 years of experience working in social services and nonprofit, Cavaliere will build upon Aunt Rita’s solid foundation serving as its chief fundraising and administrative officer and leading its development/administrative team.

Cavaliere is a respected professional in the field holding various executive leadership positions throughout his career. He is a tireless advocate for vulnerable populations and marginalized communities, including youth and young adults of color, justice-involved populations in recovery, houseless individuals, and those living with HIV. He has also developed and managed positive youth development and homelessness prevention programs, stewarded major, corporate, and sustaining donor initiatives, and has extensive experience executing record-breaking fundraising events.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to extend a warm welcome to Stacey Jay,” said Aunt Rita’s Board of Directors Chair, Daniel Sciortino, who led the search committee. “With nearly 20 years in non-profit leadership and a great track record as a team-builder, innovator, and change agent, I know he will be an excellent leader. We are thrilled to support him as he builds upon the solid foundation.”

Cavaliere walks proud in his truth as an HIV-positive individual, often serving as a personal resource for others. When he was first diagnosed, Aunt Rita’s Foundation was one of the first agencies he reached out to for resources, which led him to receiving services at several of the partnering agencies.

“My journey has now come full circle and I truly believe the universe is calling me to serve the community in a new capacity,” said Cavaliere. “As the incoming Executive Director of Aunt Rita’s Foundation, I look forward to leading this dedicated team and supporting the partnering agencies during this pivotal time in the Foundation’s history; building upon the Foundation’s rich legacy, and working each day tirelessly, to end HIV in Arizona. Let’s get to work!”

Aunt Rita’s partner agencies include Ebony House, The Bill Holt Clinic at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, CAN Community Health, Chicanos Por La Causa LUCES Program, HEAL International, HIV Care Directions, Valleywise Health, one n ten, Southwest Behavioral Health Services, Southwest Center, Shot in the Dark, Southwest Recovery Alliance, Terros Health, and more.

Aunt Rita’s has provided millions of dollars in grant funding in support of critical HIV prevention and treatment programs throughout Arizona. Aunt Rita’s distributes free 15-minute Home HIV oral swap test kits through GetTestedAz.org, where free vouchers for confidential in-person clinical testing at Safeway/Albertsons and Sonora Quest locations statewide for all STIs. Aunt Rita’s Foundation also works with the Arizona Department of Health Services to connect individuals of any status to knowledgeable providers covering the entire state through HIVAZ.ORG.

Aunt Rita’s Foundation was a founding member with the City of Phoenix Fast Track Cities initiative and plays a vital role in advocating at the Arizona legislature and State Government to establish laws, regulations, and policies that further our efforts to educate, prevent HIV, and treat HIV.

For more information on Aunt Rita’s Foundation, visit www.auntritas.org.

WHAT: ANGELS IN AMERICA: PART ONE, MILLENNIUM APPROACHES by Tony Kushner

WHERE:       Fountain Hills Theater
11445 N Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

WHEN: Mar. 3 – 19, 2023. Thursday through Saturdays at 7:30pm,
Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm * Rated R. For Mature Audiences 18+
Strong Language, Sexual Situations and Adult Content

HOW: Reservations: (480) 837-9661 x3 or visit fhtaz.org. Individual tickets are $35.00. Discounts for groups

Fountain Hills Theater announces the opening of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Angels in America: Part One, Millennium Approaches.

Angels in America: Part One, Millenium Approaches is a metaphorical and symbolic vision of America during the mid-1980s. In the midst of the AIDS crisis and a conservative Reagan administration, New Yorkers grapple with life and death, love and sex, heaven and hell. ​ In Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, set in New York City, a gay man is abandoned by his lover when he contracts the AIDS virus, and a closeted Mormon lawyer's marriage to his pill-popping wife stalls. Other characters include the infamous McCarthy-ite lawyer Roy Cohn, Ethel Rosenberg, a former drag queen who works as a nurse, and an angel. Angels in America is an epic drama that has deservedly earned awards for its portrayal of contemporary America–its mixture of brutal reality and miraculous fantasy, its tragedy and comedy, cruelties and compassion.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the play’s Broadway premiere. Awards: Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1993) Tony Awards (1993): Best Play. Angels in America: Part One, Millennium Approaches is directed by Chris R. Chávez and stars Rob Allocca, Keith Chandler, Raheem D’Angelo, Debra Lyman, Katie Marburger, Cindy Pruett, Van Rockwell and Pat Russel. Presented through Special Arrangement with Concord Theatricals. *Rated R for sexual situations, language and adult content. For Mature audiences 18+.

  Angels in America: Millennium Approaches will play Mar. 3 – 19, 2023.  Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30PM and Sundays at 2PM.  Individual tickets are $35.00. Seniors receive a $5.00 discount on all Thursday performances. Group, Active Duty and Veteran discounts are available. All performances are at Fountain Hills Theater on its Mainstage at 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. (The Corner of Saguaro and Rand). Tickets are available through the Theater Box Office at (480) 837-9661 x3 or by visiting fhtaz.org.  Box Office Hours are 10:00AM-5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday. For additional information not contained in this press release, please call Fountain Hills Theater Artistic Director, Peter J. Hill at (480) 837-9661 EXT. 7.