Special Edition • Thursday, October 8, 2020 • VOLUME 114 • ISSUE 47
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DAILYWILDCAT.COM won’t stop Pandemic Pride celebrations Tucson Pride festivities will take a different approach this year. Having to adapt like most events, these celebrations will be held vitrually. This LGBTQ+ Pride special edition aims to highlight the colors and stories in our community.
Virtual Pride celebrations LGBTQ+ culture in athletics Topic of the Week
Local queer artists photo profile
More
2 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
LGBTQ+ Pride Special | VOLUME 114, ISSUE 47
Arts & Life
Sports
Pride 2020 goes virtual with its celebrations
4
6
Arts & Life
Looking at LGBTQ+ culture in UA Athletics
8
News Dean of Students announces ‘BEST’ team
Arts & Life History and future of LGBT studies and courses at UA
10
Opinion
12
Four queer atrists share their experience with community
11
Science
Topic of the Week: What pride means to our staff
14
Opinion
Banner Health recognized for LGBTQ+ health care
15
Pronoun importance and celebrating pride with confidence
For more content updated daily, visit dailywildcat.com. To submit story pitches or community commentary, email storyideas@edailywildcat.com or message us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @DailyWildcat VOLUME 114 • ISSUE 47 Editor-in-Chief Sam Burdette editor@dailywildcat.com
Assistant Sports Editor Ari Koslow arikoslow@dailywildcat.com
Photo Editor Sofia Moraga photo@dailywildcat.com
Managing Editor Pascal Albright pascal@dailywildcat.com
Enterprise Editor Jake Toole investigative@dailywildcat.com
Copy Chief JT Thorpe copy@dailywildcat.com
News Editor Priya Jandu news@dailywildcat.com
Arts & Life Editor Mikayla Kaber arts@dailywildcat.com
Assistant Copy Chief Grant Forgues GrantF@dailywildcat.com
Science Editor Amit Syal science@dailywildcat.com
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The Daily Wildcat • 3
Thursday, October 8, 2020 â—? Special Edition
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4 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | ARTS & LIFE
Pride in a pandemic: Virtual parade held by Tucson Pride BY AMARIS ENCINAS @amarisencinas
During National Coming Out Month, the 43rd annual Tucson Pride Parade and Festival will kick off this year’s festivities a little bit differently with a virtual event hosted in place of a traditional parade and celebration on Saturday, Oct. 24, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, Tucson Pride was going to consider 2020 the “big breakout year for the physical festival,” according to Stephen Myers-Fulgham, Tucson Pride’s treasurer, so the decision to cancel the event was not an easy one. However, he said he has thoroughly enjoyed seeing the event come to life. Twitch will be the platform of choice for the event this year. The virtual festival will livestream on Twitch with a combination of pre-recorded performances and presentations in addition to livestreamed segments, according to Sam Cloud, president of the Tucson Pride governing board. Furthermore, the video content will be shared on various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and “may branch off to other segments or platforms to broadcast the signal far and wide with the potential for interactive dialogues, discussions/panels and Zoom links as well,” according to Cloud. The all-day event will be hosted by 2019 Tucson Pride royalty, Mrs. Tucson Pride, Lucinda Holliday, and Mr. Tucson Pride, Justin Deeper-Love. This year’s theme is tied to the presidential election year in addition to the 2020 Census. According to Stephen Myers-Fulgham, this year’s virtual festival’s theme is “Turn out,” as in turn out to Pride and turn out to vote. The reason for this year’s theme is directly tied to the work Tucson Pride has done this year with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the national LGBTQ+ task force, Queer the Census, to push and promote the idea of queerness in both the census and in the voting process, according to Cloud. Because Tucson Pride aims to educate as a means of fulfilling its mission, local nonprofits that serve the LQBTQ+ community will be invited to present resources and information to the community. Stephen Myers-Fulgham discussed how Tucson Pride will also launch their educational spots about programs that they launched like the Tucson Pride Veterans Project that serves and caters to the veteran population in the LGBTQ+ community. According to Jeff Myers-Fulgham, interim vice president of Tucson Pride, and Stephen Myers-Fulgham, the topics presented are resources that the community
LAUREN SALGADO | THE DAILY WILDCAT
FOURTH AVENUE PATRONS WALKING toward the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th, a SAAF place for LGBTQ+, while wearing masks in public on Historic Fourth Avenue in Tucson on Friday, Oct. 2.
might need. Topics for discussion range anywhere from adoption, mental health, HIV/AIDS and have extended an invitation to Black Lives Matter to discuss racism and white supremacy in the United States. Tucson Queerstory will be presenting material relevant to the history of the LGBTQ+ community and bringing on sponsors and vendors who are LGBTQ+ or are allies of the community to share their experiences, Jeff MyersFulgham said. In addition to the presentations and panel discussions, various performance types will be incorporated into the
event like drag performers, spoken word poetry, dancers and comedians, Cloud said. The performance lineup is truly one of a kind this year because, according to Cloud, “99% of the entertainment incorporated into the festival will be local and Tucson Pride is trying to showcase the intense amount of talent within our community.” While the lineup will be announced within the coming weeks, this event will be free of any entry fees to the community making this the first free-of-charge pride festival online, according to Cloud. The festival will have a few surprises to spruce up some excitement to engage with the audience throughout the event directly. An audience engagement activity that the virtual festival will have is a live raffle. Prizes will be donated by event sponsors and will be sold through Eventbrite. The raffle tickets will be sold up until the festival. Some of the big-ticket prize items include furniture and staycation packages at a sponsored hotel. What is most exciting about this virtual festival in particular other than the prizes and the lineup, at least in the eyes of Danny Opacich, the interim secretary at Tucson Pride, is the community’s opportunity to participate and take part in the event actively. “We have invited people to submit videos to be [shown] throughout the festival,” Opacich said. “[Individuals] can share their story, share their introduction, share what Pride means to them, advise somebody coming who may be coming out.” However, a whole village is required to work together to produce an event many Tucsonans wait in anticipation for every year. This village known as Tucson Pride is made up entirely of volunteers, and according to Cloud, “This organization would not exist if it were not a community organization and it truly is a community effort to do any of the things that we accomplish.” Cloud’s final note to the community is filled with hope for the Tucson Pride Parade and Festival future because this year, the virtual festival is “put on and created by the entire community,” she said. “I think the most important thing we want folks to know about this new format and the new year is that we can still come together as a community. We are still here to feature all the incredible pieces of our community. We hope that this year, even though we’re virtual, that folks turn out for Pride, and turn out to vote,” Cloud said. For more information on the virtual festival, you can visit tucsonpride.org and if you are interested in participating, partnering or performing you can send an email to festival@tucsonpride.org.
The Daily Wildcat • 5
Thursday, October 8, 2020 ● Special Edition
LGBTQ + PRIDE SPECIAL | EDITORIAL
BY DAILY WILDCAT OPINIONS BOARD @DailyWildcat
O
n behalf of the Daily Wildcat, we proudly affirm our dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. We here at the DW believe in the importance of listening to those who have been silenced by others. We recognize and stand with our many staff members who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to taking the time and putting in the effort to educate ourselves and others whenever we can on the many issues our society faces today, which is why we believe the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community cannot be ignored. Despite the fact that this community has arguably become more socially acceptable than ever before, LGBTQ+ individuals still face high rates of discrimination all around the world, especially here in the United States. According to True Colors United, a 2017 study from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago showed that LGBTQ+ youth “are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than nonLGBTQ youth.” The most common reasons for these cases of homelessness are family issues. This just scratches the surface of the sheer amount of violence and discrimination that the LGBTQ+ community faces every day. Just over the summer, the Trump Administration set a regulation that means — as The New York Times put it — “the federal government no longer recognizes gender identity as an
avenue for sex discrimination in health care.” In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this administration decided that transgender people do not deserve protections against discrimination in health care. We recognize that transgender people — especially non-white transgender women — are often the most targeted group of the LGBTQ+ community. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, “In just seven months, the number of transgender people murdered in 2020 has surpassed the total for all of 2019.” These are all disgraceful realities. We have zero tolerance for any and all marginalization of and discrimination against anyone due to their gender identity or sexuality as well as their religion, race, age or nationality. The Daily Wildcat is proud to be an inclusive workplace. The U.S. is a country that is supposedly a representation of freedom, but that has yet to be the case. As the women’s rights and civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer once said, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” Editorials are determined by the Daily Wildcat Opinions Board and are written by its members. They are Editor-in-Chief Sam Burdette, Opinions Editor Kayleigh Cook, Managing Editor Pascal Albright, Copy Chief JT Thorpe and Assistant Arts & Life Editor Ella McCarville
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6 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | SPORTS
LGBTQ+ culture in UA Athletics BY DIANA RAMOS @diana_sacaria
Playing college sports is the dream of many athletes. College athletics gives a platform for many studentathletes to perform and compete with some of the best of the United States and the world. Athletics departments have a responsibility to ensure that all student-athletes have a safe, inclusive and respectful environment where they can develop as students, athletes, people and members of society, regardless of their sexual orientation. Thomas Harris, assistant athletics director for diversity, inclusion and employee engagement at the University of Arizona, said that over the past years, there wasn’t any intentional resource for LGBTQ student-athletes, but in 2018, the introduction of the Inclusive Excellence Council launched, bringing up conversations and educational programs directed to the LGBTQ+ community. IEC has held a few “Lunch and Learns” dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion and has promoted the Tucson Pride Parade in the UA sport facilities. The Lunch and Learns provide opportunities for open communication and creating a supportive environment. Sofia Read, assistant director for the Commitment to an Athlete’s Total Success Life Skills program, added, “I think we are seeing positive movement of more conversations, recognition, and programming around supporting LGBTQ+ students and staff,” via email. Eric Correa, UA junior student-athlete who openly identifies as LGBTQ+, said “what is really beautiful about the athletic department is that they just want to see you succeed inside your sport and outside of your sport as well.” The UA athletic department works closely with the LGBTQ Resource Center on campus to learn and ask questions about how to better support LGBTQ studentathletes and staff. Through the year, Arizona Athletics offers educational programming for coaches and staff that help them learn how to better serve LGBTQ+ student-athletes. In October, the UA athletics department would be introducing a new source of support for LGBTQ+ student-athletes and coaches in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month. Read mentions the importance of creating a space where athletes with various orientations can be their authentic selves. “Sport is often referred to as the last closet, but I think (and hope) we are starting to see a shift in sport culture,” Read said. “It is cool to see so many more out and proud professional athletes that continue to normalize the presence of the LGBTQ+ community in sport and encourage acceptance.” Correa is part of the UA men’s diving team and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a co-chair of Diversity and Inclusion. With this title, Correa said he wants to work with the LGBTQ+ Resource Center on campus with the vision of creating and promoting new projects in the future.
COURTESY MIKE CHRISTY
ERIC CORREA PRACTICES AT the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center at the University of Arizona on Sept. 16. Dwight Dumais coaches Correa.
“Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and being a student-athlete is a blessing because I get to educate others through my experience,” Correa said. Harris mentioned how students should have candid conversations, visible alliances like social media posts, updates in policies and create an LGBTQ+ resource group to show student-athletes and staff the support by the UA athletic department. “We must stop assuming what our student-athletes need and actually have conversations and adjust accordingly,” Harris said in an email. The NCAA’s Office of Inclusion provides several resources. One of them is a guide that contains some of the best practices to develop and promote the inclusion of athletes identify as LGBTQ+ in college athletics. In order to make college sports inclusive and respectful for all participants, the NCAA encourages every athletic department to work in inclusiveness programs. The UA has the SafeZone training offered by the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. In this workshop, UA community members learn definitions related to sexual orientation and other important terminology. “Teammates can support each other by not using derogatory language, holding each other accountable, and being open minded and listening to one another,” Read
said in an email. The SafeZone training isn’t required, but it is highly encouraged for coaches to complete, according to Harris. “At some point, I would like for us to make Safe Zone training mandatory for all coaches and staff members who serve in a student-athlete support role,” Harris said via email. According to the NCAA Office of Inclusion guidelines, a respectful and inclusive environment brings benefits to everyone because even straight athletes can have family members or friends who are LGBTQ+. Therefore, the way the university addresses LGBTQ+ situations affects these straight athletes as well. The NCAA Office of Inclusion guidelines state, “Straight athletes who embrace respect and inclusion as personal values gain confidence in their ability to incorporate these values in their team, work and personal relationships.” Both Harris and Read recall the importance of teammate support. They both encourage teammates to denounce hateful behavior and language in order to build a safe environment. “Visibility, celebration, education, and representation are all very important elements to building an inclusive environment,” Read said.
Thursday, October 8, 2020 ● Special Edition
The Daily Wildcat • 7
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | ARTS & LIFE
Tucson Pride, its history and 2020 parade BY GABRIELLA COBIAN @gabriellacobian
Tucson Pride History Tucson Pride is an LGBTQ+ organization established in 1977, which began from an incident where a gay man named Richard Heakin walked out of Stonewall Tavern in 1976 and was murdered. Heakin was brutally beaten and died a few days later from his injuries, while the four young high school boys who beat him were given a light punishment. During this time where hate crimes were often not punished at all, these boys were only given probation. As a result, the pride community came together and had a picnic in Himmel Park. They came together to talk about advocacy for rights in the community and just punishment for the crimes against their community. Over the years, the picnics eventually grew into the Tucson Pride festivals that we have today. Tucson Pride is also the oldest LGBTQ+ organization in the state of Arizona. Sam Cloud, the president of the Tucson Pride Board of Directors, said the pride community advocacy led to some of the first anti-discrimination laws in Arizona. “Back in the ‘70s, there was really no knowledge about AIDS and HIV,” Cloud said. “Rights for the LGBTQ+ community were nearly unheard of, so the fight for equally back in that time was very strong DESIREE GUERRERO | THE DAILY WILDCAT and kind of on the forefront.” TUCSON PRIDE PARADE ATTENDEES drive down Country Club Road in a float waving during the Pride Parade on Sept. 27, 2019. The annual Cloud acknowledged how the New York City celabration will look different this year as festivities take on a more virtual setting. Stonewall Riots kick-started the fight for equality in 1969 on a national level. Cloud emphasized just Roberto Lopez and Jaime J at the local restaurant La how dangerous this time was and said years after Cocina. Stonewall, people in the community were still being The dance parties were started up again by local beat, stoned and discriminated against. LGBTQ+ community members who missed having “Last year was the 50th anniversary of the the safer, queer-inclusive space to dance and be Stonewall Riots,” Cloud said. “Fifteen some years involved in the queer community in 2017 and was after Stonewall, people were literally being assaulted, later given the name HeartBeats Queer Dance Party, sometimes beat to death.” Blu explained in an email. The history of LGBTQ+ in Tucson also incorporates “These events served a dual purpose and were the ideals of Two-Spirit, which is a term used by also community fundraisers to raise funds for local Indigenous people to describe their gender or sexual queer community members,” Blu said in an email. identity. “For the past couple of years (pre-pandemic) the The University of Arizona’s LGBTQ Affairs holds a parties became a larger local queer community Two-Spirit Tucson Meeting which is a Queer & Trans collaboration with Fluxx Productions, a QTBIPOC People of Color resource for indigenous people. led nonprofit organization. Fluxx is a long-standing community space and safe haven where LGBTQIA+ University of Arizona Pride history family could all go and be accepted while working The University of Arizona’s LGBTQ Resource to amplify LGBTQIA+ artists and activists in Tucson, HEATHER NEWBERRY | THE DAILY WILDCAT Center is home to LGBTQ Affairs, Pride Alliance Arizona.” A PARTICIPANT OF THE 2017 Tucson Pride Parade goes topless for and Safe Zone. After almost 20 years of advocacy, the procession on Fourth Avenue. People from all backgrounds and Tucson Pride also recently adopted the the Office of LGBTQ Affairs was established in 2007, communities celebrate with Tucson in the fall. “Queerstory” committee last year, which is a according to the LGBTQ Affairs website. program for preserving local history, according collect artifacts and they interview people telling Blu Lopez Au, graduate assistant for LGBTQ Affairs to Cloud. “Queerstory’s mission is to collect and their own experiences in the local community over at the UA mentioned how the community holds archive local LGBTQ+ history,” she said. “They the years.” queer dance parties that started decades ago by DJs
8 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | ARTS & LIFE
Creative and queer: Four Tucson LGB
Anaysa Strak, Frank Heightchew-Howard, Yasmine Grant and Daniel Gonzalez are all queer have used art to explore their own ident
BY TIA STEPH @tia_ste
YASMINE GRANT uses her art as a way to express herself and genderless and colorful portraits, which she wants people to b it.” Grant’s first art show in Tucson was part of an event for LGB the community my age, so like it was a learning experience … Grant said.
TOP LEFT: Frank Heightchew-Howard stares down at their mask. TOP RIGHT: Piranha handcrafted the mask and necklace out of found-objects and modeling clay. BOTTOM: Piranha lies atop a bench in full costume.
FRANK HEIGHTCHEWHOWARD, also known by their stage name Piranha, is a gender performance artist and a senior at City High School. According to Heightchew-Howard, the look above was inspired by a nightmare they had in which their mental health turned into a monster. “This look — it’s kind of like I killed the monster, it’s like … I’m wearing it as a costume because it’s something outside of me now,” they said.
ANAYSA STARK works as a painter, tattoo artist, Arizona Aids Foundation located at the Thornhil and crus
Thursday, October 8, 2020 ● Special Edition
The Daily Wildcat • 9
ARTS & LIFE | LGBTQ + PRIDE SPECIAL
BTQ+ artists express their individuality
creators in the 2020 Tucson art scene. These artists all share a deep passion for their craft and tities as part of the LGBTQ+ community
HAN ephens_
d inspire others to express themselves. She said most of her paintings are be able to look at and think “Wow ... I can do that in real life and people will love BTQ+ artists. “It was really cool and I was meeting a lot of other people within And from that, I grew, because I knew I could express myself through my art,” CENTER TOP LEFT: Yasmine Grant holds her piece entitled High Scream. ENTER: Candy girl by Yasmine Grant. CENTER TOP RIGHT:Pieces titled Aciedelic (right), Pieces (left) and Culture (bottom) are part of a series she painted while working through different emotions.
, clothing designer and drawer as well as a spectrum prevention navigator at the ll Lopez Center on 4th. Stark said that “as an artist, I strive to just crush barriers sh oppression and not let anyone put me in a box.” Stark aims to bring some creativity to safe sex in the queer community with her series of safe sex practice characters. “As a queer kid it wasn’t something that was taught to me because it was very stigmatized,” Stark said. She says that her art “sometimes teeters that line of making people mad, which is okay because if my art has a statement and it makes you think about things, that’s what I’m excited about.”
BOTTOM CENTER LEFT: Jayelle Harrison, Stark’s Girlfriend, wears a shirt from Stark’s original clothing line Art Mimics Life. BOTTOM CENTER: Artist Anaysa Stark Stands beside a piece commissioned by a member of the LGBTQ+ community. BOTTOM CENTER RIGHT: A series Stark worked on of safer sex practice characters.
TOP LEFT: Gonzalez’s altered plushy entitled Shmoop. TOP RIGHT: Baphne Templar in a look entitled Frankenstein Chic. MIDDLE:Baphne Templar lounges against a brick wall. BOTTOM: Zombunny by Daniel Gonzalez.
“I know to a lot of queer people, monsters, they kind of feel like home … I just kind of feel more at peace being a monster,” Gonzalez said. DANIEL GONZALEZ, also known by their drag name Baphne Templar, is a drag creature and visual artist. Gonzalez explained that much of their art explores feelings of being an outsider. They described their art as “monster-y and kind of gory” and said it “definitely reflects how I felt as a queer person in a cis, heteronormative world”.
10 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | NEWS
Dean of Students announces ‘Bias & Education Support Team’ BY KRISTIJAN BARNJAK @KBarnjak
The University of Arizona’s Dean of Students Office announced the creation of the “Bias & Education Support Team” Wednesday, which will monitor and respond to instances of discrimination and bias on campus. In emails sent out to the UA community, Provost Liesl Folks and Dean of Students Kendal Washington White explained that BEST will “provide appropriate care and support to impacted individuals,” “offer opportunities for all involved parties to engage in optional activities and dialogue that promote education, understanding, and healing” and “track bias reporting trends and utilize data to inform campus leadership of tangible ways to improve the campus climate.” The email clarified that BEST does not issue disciplinary sanctions or investigate claims of discrimination or bias. The team was created in response to “the need for a centralized place to report and respond to bias incidents was consistently expressed.” The BEST page, which can be found on the Dean of Students website, explains the role of the team, answers some frequently asked questions and displays a button where students can submit a BEST report. Students should submit a BEST report if they suspect that they encountered an incident of discrimination or bias on campus. “Based on the information provided in the BEST report,” the webpage stated, “if there is a reasonable basis to suspect that potential discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in violation of the university’s Nondiscrimination and Antiharassment Policy has occurred, the information will be sent to the appropriate UA office.” BEST is comprised of two subgroups: the core team and the advisory board. The BEST webpage described the core team as “a team of campus professionals with relevant subject matter expertise” who receive specialized training on First Amendment protections, Student Code of Conduct, harassment and discrimination, Title IX and more topics. The advisory board will be made up of students, faculty and staff who will have the responsibility to “review report data in aggregate form and provide strategic guidance on how to create an inclusive campus and uphold free speech.” Advisory board applications will be released in spring 2021. A second email from Folks regarding anti-Asian bias and hate crimes followed soon after the announcement of BEST. The email acknowledged an uptick in acts ranging from “verbal abuse to criminal physical assaults on members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community” that has “emerged nationally and globally during this COVID-19 pandemic.” Folks also urges victims of anti-Asian bias or hate crimes to file an incident report referral form with the Dean of Students Office and strongly encourages members of the Wildcat community to access the resources available to them. “Additionally, in cooperation with International Student
ILLUSTRATION BY PASCAL ALBRIGHT | THE DAILY WILDCAT
Services and colleagues in the Cultural and Resource Centers,” Folks said, “Initiatives for Organizational Inclusion has developed a resource and support website for people impacted by or interested in learning more about COVID-19 related anti-Asian harassment. If you haven’t had a chance to do so yet, I encourage you to visit our Asian Pacific American Student Affairs Student Resource Center. Currently, the center is providing student supports and information virtually and continuing efforts to build a warm, supportive Wildcat community for our Asian and Pacific American
students.” It is unclear whether the creation of BEST is due in part to the influx in anti-Asian bias and hate crimes. The UA was criticized over the summer by the Coalition of Black Students and Allies for their lack of response to racial bias and hate crime on campus, leading to them releasing a list of demands. The Daily Wildcat reached out to the Provost office and the Dean of Students but have not received a response yet.
Thursday, October 8, 2020 ● Special Edition
The Daily Wildcat • 11
LGBTQ + PRIDE SPECIAL | Arts & LIFE
Queer programs at the UA continue to grow BY KATIE BEAUFORD @beauuford
In 1993, a small group of graduate students and assistant professors started what would become the University of Arizona’s Institute for LGBT Studies. Almost 30 years later, the institute continues to work to provide resources, events and programs to LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff at the UA. When UA Film and Television professor Beverly Seckinger reflected on starting the Institute for LGBT Studies, which was, at the time, the Committee on LGB Studies, she described demanding the Office of the Provost establish the organization. “We stormed the Provost Office and demanded to be made a thing,” Seckinger said. “[We told them], ‘We need a queer thing at the UA! Because it’s happening at NYU and happening at SUNY, it’s happening in other places. So we need our thing, too.” Over the next 20 years, the “thing” would grow into the Committee on LGB Studies and then the Institute for ANA BELTRAN | THE DAILY WILDCAT LGBT Studies. But when it started, the THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Institute for LGBT Studies promotes LGBTQ+ research, curricula and public programming. The institute was founded as The Committee Committee on LGBT Studies was the “smallest thing” it could be, according on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Studies at the University of Arizona back in 1993. to Seckinger. “We got a committee, which is coursework. that in a transdisciplinary way,” said Z and host seminars and presentations, the smallest thing that existed, that “If the university really cares about Nicolazzo, who teaches in the College including a conference called Sex and was a formalized thing. An invisible creating queer and trans coursework, of Education. Scholarship. thing,” Seckinger said. “Invisible to the then they need to invest financially The Trans Studies Research Cluster “It’s a long history with a lot of homophobic legislature of the time. has developed many impactful projects in queer and trans people and queer amazing accomplishments,” Seckinger So not a budget line in the university’s and trans knowledge,” Nicolazzo said. over their short time, including a said. “Considering the beginnings budget, it was a smaller thing than “They need to create a climate that’s weekly symposium, a reading group of this little gang of powerless grad that.” conducive for queer and trans people, focused on trans and queer literature, students and assistant professors who The Committee for LGB Studies was not just to be recruited but to be and the hosting of postdocs at the UA, went into the Provost Office saying, granted a “teensy” budget and one retained here.” who are able to research and share ‘We want resources.’” course release for the committee head, There is still a lot of work to do in their work and knowledge. The committee became the institute so they could have time off of class to order for the UA to become the best Although the institute has been able in 2007 and is now comprised of do the work of the committee. to do a lot of great, impactful work over institution that it can be for lesbian, a staff of professors, graduate and A small start and few resources were the years, it’s facing a similar issue now gay, bisexual, transgender and queer undergraduate students. The Institute enough, however, for the committee faculty, staff and students. However, as it did 20 years ago: limited funding. for LGBT Studies hosts weekly events, to launch a few successful projects, “The institute is highly underfunded, according to Seckinger, there is research projects and initiatives, the first of which was a sapphic film evidence that positive change can which means that there’s a lack of including the Trans Studies Research series called “Lesbian Looks,” which happen, and happen quickly. ability for the institute to do what they Cluster. was hosted on Tuesday nights in the “[Seeing] this change in my lifetime could be doing,” Nicolazzo said. The Trans Studies Research Modern Languages building. The ... tells me that you can see social Improved funding isn’t the only Cluster is a group of professors at committee also was able to add an change happening in the space of, not thing that the UA can do to support the the UA working together to “support, interdisciplinary gen-ed LGBT studies even a lifetime,” Seckinger said. “Then encourage, and promote trans studies,” LGBT faculty and staff who are doing course that, according to Seckinger, “is that tells you, ‘Oh, wow, it really does this work. Nicolazzo stated that the as stated on the institute’s website. still on the books.” matter what I do. I could join forces UA should start providing transgender “Part of [our work] is about In the years following, the committee generating knowledge and thinking with people who want to make change.’ healthcare, hiring more trans and received funding to hire a director And actually, it will make change.” queer teachers and creating the about creating a particular hub for full time, bring scholars in residence infrastructure to develop more queer trans knowledge at the UA and to do
12 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 10, 2020
LGBTQ + PRIDE SPECIAL | OPINIONS
Topic of What pride means the Week: For Coming Out Month in Tucson, the writers on the opinions desk talk about what Pride means to them. It means being aware of privilege, discrimination, homophobia and, through fighting this, finding allyship, community, support, love, self-acceptance and freedom BY GERALDINE ESPINOSA @DailyWildcat
For me, pride is allyship. Being an ally is supporting those around me in their journey of navigating their sexuality, their gender or both. A good ally not only supports those in the LGBTQ+ community, but uplifts and supports the marginalized groups within the community: sex workers, transgender people of color, disabled folx, poor and undocumented people. To me, pride is about knowledge and
BY SELENA KUIKAHI @femcelforum
Pride, as it pertains to the LGBTQ+ community, is the seasonal rainbowcoated Listerine bottle and occasional queer-baiting in any given Netflix original series. It’s Kehlani’s stud phase. And, my personal favorite, those women on Tinder searching for a “third party” for their boyfriend’s birthday. Sorry, girl, get him a gift card. All jokes aside, the core of pride is radical self-acceptance. And love, of course, but the acceptance comes first. It’s
learning. Learning history and new ideas from those around me who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community is remarkably enriching. To me, pride is doing my part. Speaking up, making space and staying informed. Pride is important to me because my best friends are a part of the community and my way of showing my love for them is to authentically support them in this way. Pride is important to me because being an ally is the right thing to do. Let people love who they love and let people exist as who they truly are.
recognizing the fluidity of your self-image and validating your personhood through every experience, label and new rainbow accessory (because how else will people know that you’re … you know). Pride is putting yourself — your comfortability, safety and freedom — first. Realizing the authentic parts of yourself and honoring them is the essence of pride. Finding community, immersing yourself in the culture and listening to Arca will come as you continue to grow. It’s all about trusting yourself!
Share what Pride means to you on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the #WhatPrideMeans2me
to our staff
BY LAUREN BORELLI @DailyWildcat
What pride means to me, as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and movement, is giving my support. A world full of amazing and diverse people exists, and the reality of it is many people globally are still unable to be their true selves. In these rapidly changing times of rights and sexuality, in our own country as well as abroad, I, as an ally, can provide my support. I recognized the immense hardship countless people
BY AIDAN RHODES @aidanrhodes11
Being an ally means listening and actually hearing what those in the LGBTQ+ community are saying. It means catching myself when I don’t understand something and choosing to learn instead of avoiding. It means loving and supporting them unconditionally. It means treating them as I would any other human, because
BY ANDREA MORENO @DailyWildcat
Growing up in an extremely Hispanic town, being queer by any means was extremely taboo. I had seen people get bullied for it and kids being openly homophobic and proud. However, as I started getting older and media started influencing the kids around my age, the town had slowly started to become accepting. I have grown up with people who have come out as transgender, gay, asexual and it has been so wonderful to see everyone expressing who they really
must face in order to be themselves, and that our country, and our world, are greatly lacking desperately needed equality. I stand with everyone who believes in justice for all people, regardless of sexuality, race or gender. I am proud to live in a nation where the LGBTQ+ community has made amazing progress toward equality in the past few decades, though we still have more to accomplish. I am hopeful for a future where one day we will be able to stand side by side as unique and complex individuals all sharing the same freedoms.
being queer isn’t their identity any more than being straight is mine. Being an ally means being a teacher to those who don’t understand what it means to be gay or transgender or non-binary. It means actively opposing bigotry and discrimination in all its forms. It means never ignoring hurtful words, no matter who is saying them, because one person’s words can lead to another person’s violent actions. It means recognizing my privilege and helping others be aware of theirs.
are. After being able to experience what I have, I had come to realize this did not happen everywhere else. A lot of people do not ever get to come out, and if they do, they are usually scared of reactions. Not everyone has the same rights and the same experiences that I do and that is what I have come to realize. Pride is a word that describes a large population all over the world. To me, pride is a community where everyone takes care of one another. It means unity and the freedom to be yourself. It means love and acceptance. The people who are out openly do not only do it for themselves, but they do it to give hope to others who are not so lucky.
If you are interested in submitting a story or a guest letter, reach out to opinions@dailywildcat.com
Thursday, October 10, 2020 ● Special Edition
THE DAILY WILDCAT
The Daily Wildcat • 13
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14 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | SCIENCE
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognizes Banner Health hospitals for their commitment to LGBTQ+ health care BY ANDRES DIAZ @DailyWildcat
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. HRC engages with communities and politicians to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Their work touches all facets of society including political advocacy, support for disenfranchised LGBTQ+ communities, as well as activism against stigma and limited access to LGBTQ-aware health care. Most recently, the HRC awarded five Banner Health hospitals the “LGBTQ Health Care Equity Top Performer” designation. The standards for this achievement are outlined by the HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index. This national benchmark evaluates healthcare facilities on their capacity to adopt LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices for patients, visitors and employees. The Banner Health Hospitals that were awarded this designation include Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, Banner Desert Medical Center, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, Banner – University Medical Center South and Banner – University Medical Center Tucson. Nationally, the HEI assessed JACQUELINE CANETT | THE DAILY WILDCAT over 1,700 facilities, 765 of which BANNER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — TUCSON entrance sign with Banner hospital in the background. The HRC awarded five Banner Health hospitals the actively participated in the HEI 2020 “LGBTQ Health Care Equity Top Performer” designation. survey. From this group, 495 earned the “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Banner’s efforts come at a time when to have achieved “LGBTQ Health Care efforts, especially in the backdrop of Equality” recognition and 193 achieved the current COVID-19 pandemic. Equality Top Performer” designation limited access to health care and the the coveted designation of “LGBTQ at five of its hospitals; more so, we rise of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments have “The health care facilities Health Care Equity Top Performer.” are proud of our health care teams all been compounded by COVID-19. participating in the HRC Foundation’s Initiatives outlined by the HEI who work to ensure an inclusive The HRC designation underscores HEI are not only on the front lines of include the use of electronic health environment for all within their Banner’s commitment to issues the COVID-19 pandemic, but they records that facilitate an inclusive hospital walls,” said Jackie Hunter, the that have historically affected how are also making it clear from their collection of patient gender identities, senior director of diversity & inclusion the LGBTQ+ community engages participation in the HEI that they the formation of internal committees and talent pipeline at Banner Health. with the healthcare system. These stand on the side of fairness and are focused on LGBTQ+ healthcare For more information about The include the gender stigmatization, the committed to providing inclusive issues and offering transition-related Human Rights Campaign Foundation pathologizing of LGBTQ+ identities care to their LGBTQ+ patients. We healthcare coverage. and their work nationally and in and an absence of reproductive health commend all of the HEI participants HRC President Alphonso David Arizona, visit their website, hrc.org. services for the LGBTQ+ community. for their commitment to providing recognized the importance of these “Banner Health is extremely pleased inclusive care for all,” David said.
The Daily Wildcat • 15
Thursday, October 8, 2020 ● Special Edition
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | OPINION
We must normalize preferred pronouns BY GERALDINE ESPINOSA @DailyWildcat
T
he way a person presents themselves physically does not always reveal their gender identity. One’s gender identity is the “personal sense of one’s own gender,” whether masculine, feminine, both or neither. With that, a person with a beard is not always a man and a person wearing a dress is not always a woman. We as a society have been conditioned to correlate certain physical presentations and behaviors with a particular gender, which can be harmful to those who do not traditionally conform to the gender binary. A significant part of one’s gender identity is their preferred pronouns. A person’s pronouns are directly correlated with their gender identity and when you respect a person’s preferred pronouns, you’re respecting and validating their gender identity. We must unlearn ideas and behaviors in which we assume one’s gender and thus assume their pronouns. Everyone must normalize the idea and the use of a person’s preferred pronouns, but where do we start? One of the easiest ways to normalize preferred pronouns is
putting them in your social media bios and putting them in your email signature. In doing so, you are not only making your pronouns known, but also helping to create normalcy around the concept. Normalizing is vital and including your preferred pronouns in this area of your life shows their importance; it shows that pronouns are not something to ignore, even if your gender matches your sex. Other ways to include preferred pronouns in everyday interactions is when introducing yourself to include your preferred pronouns and asking the other person’s in return. When introducing yourself one-on-one or in a group setting, sharing your pronouns can be as easy as, “Hi, my name is Geraldine and I use the pronouns she/they.” You then open a window for other people to include their pronouns during their introduction. You can always ask people, too, if they don’t include them. Sometimes people can feel that asking a person’s pronouns can come off as awkward or even rude, but asking a person’s preferred pronouns is always better than assuming. When the conversation of gender identity and preferred pronouns is brought up, not many people are educated on the topic. With that, we must also normalize apologizing. If you accidentally misgender someone, you should apologize, learn their correct pronouns, and move forward. In a Gender and Sex Development pamphlet put together by the
Children’s Hospital of Chicago, they said the best apology for misgendering someone is “not doing it again,” and I couldn’t agree more. In addition to that, it is important to correct people who are actively misgendering someone. Whether accidental or not, the behavior must be addressed. To be a good ally to genderqueer, non-binary and trans folks in our community, we must protect them and one way to do that is by correcting someone when they are using the wrong pronouns. Normalizing the use of a person’s preferred pronouns is a substantial way of minimizing harm for those who are transgender, genderqueer and non-binary. According to WomenforWomen.org, members of the LGBTQ+ community can be found among some of the most vulnerable people in our community as they can be subjected to gender-based violence, which is defined as “physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation, whether occurring in public or private life.” Respecting a person’s preferred pronouns is a way to reduce harm against the LGTBQ+ community. — Geraldine is a junior majoring in journalism. She likes to bake and read in her free time
LGBTQ+ PRIDE SPECIAL | OPINION
Pride, stolz, fierté, orgulho, ponos, zìháo BY PASCAL ALBRIGHT @pascalloves
P
ride is a word with endless meanings that fits into many molds. For me, an openly gay man who heavily believes in glitter as a necessary accessory and ABBA Gold as their life soundtrack, pride is a five-letter word that gets lost in translation. In a world with such diversity, pride gets attached to so many subjects and causes, from things like LGBTQ+ pride to political pride. But for a moment, let us create our own translation and look at it as not a four-letter word but as a way of living. When boiling down this word, several things come to mind but one more powerful than the rest: self-confidence. When I think of pride, I think of being proud of not only who you are but also what you bring to this world. For myself, I am proud to be able to contribute to society through my associations. Whether it’s producing art for the world, being able to share my experiences with others or sharing a smile with someone, each is as valuable to this world
as the last. And while individual contributions to this world may seem small, you can think of the ant. They are very small creatures but provide major contributions to this world. And if they could talk in our dialect, they may first bitch a bit, but if asked I’m sure they would say they’d be proud or prideful to be themselves. That is the big take-away. Even the smallest creatures should share their pride with the world! We celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in Tucson in the fall, but why stop there? I listen to ABBA almost every day because I can, so let’s be proud of ourselves and every fiber that makes up that self — no matter what color of the rainbow we fit into. At the end of every day we should feel like a “Dancing Queen” when it comes to self-confidence and inner pride. I am proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community as an openly gay man who can contribute to social conversations/changes with my diverse ideas and background. Humans get so caught up about the negatives of differences when the celebration of diversity is what makes the world colorful. The world is better with a rainbow of colors shining as bright as each other. I’m not going to lie when I say the world can be a tough place to live in sometimes. Clouds of despair seem to be in our atmosphere sometimes, but I try to look at it from a different lens to help myself get through those days. The world is filled with bad days and that’s ok, many people go through them and
come out the other side. Don’t get hung up on how bad things are, think of the small things that are great, be proud of your contributions to society, you are amazing. Not everyone is a giant that can move boulders, even the small ant contributes to society and that is amazing. A world where diversity can be celebrated from the smallest ant to the biggest mountain is a world where the future shines bright. As a young person the struggle with self-identity and self-confidence can be tough but know that we each are our own rainbows made up of many colors and that is beautiful! If we are all the same, the world would be boring. Just the fact that you are who you are is amazing and you should celebrate that and we should celebrate that as a world! Now you know what pride means to me and I hope you can celebrate your individual pride with yourself and the world. In the words of ABBA I say “Thank you for the music,” and you are an amazing contribution to this world. Share your pride! — Pascal Albright is a fourth-year journalism and religious studies student. They are active in their community and looking forward to a brighter future for us all
16 • The Daily Wildcat
Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020
Election Day is November 3. You can vote early. You can vote by mail. You can vote on Election Day. Go to voteamerica.com/students
VoteAmerica.com
