Tucson Gay Pride is known as “Pride in the Desert” and was held at Reid Park on October 9, 2010. Check out over 100 photos of Tucson Pride’s GLBT community celebrating pride below.
Tucson Pride on Parade 2015
Before I dive into the review, I would like to take a moment to thank all the great parade participants whom worked hard and dressed up and displayed the true diversity in Tucson. I would also like to especially thank the fun and welcoming crowd which hooted and hollered and came together to celebrate our diversity.
Pride on Parade 2015 was probably the most active and well-attended Tucson Pride Parade I have ever been to. The floats were elaborate and colorful and the costumes and makeup were absolutely fabulous! It was perfectly staged on the busiest downtown avenue and the weather gave us a vintage Tucson Fall evening, with cool temperatures and an amazing sunset backdrop.
Grand Marshall’d by the inimitable Tempest DuJour (looking fantastic as always), the floats and parade entrants really stole the show. From the hilariously under-costumed Old Lesbians Organizing for Change to the full-blown costumes worn by the Rocky Horror Picture Show cast, you could easily identify with each of them. Then the rolling party that is the SAAF long-bed float crawls past and you can’t help but smile as you catch candy and Mardi Gras beads affixed with condoms. I can finally write this: “The event truly offered something for everyone” 🙂
The Tucson Pride on Parade couldn’t have been any better planned or executed. It was a wonderful time for the entire family to come out and honor the common differences that provide spice and excitement to our community. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next time!
Wingspan Dinner
Moving Forward
The Wingspan Annual Benefit Dinner
September 20, 2008
Wingspan’s Benefit Dinner – 20 years on September 20th
This years event was very well done. The silent auction was well organized and a great time to catch up and socialize. The appetizers (cheese, fruits and veggies) looked beautiful and there were plenty of bars so very small lines if any.
The dinner tables looked great (see photos below) and so did the room. The centerpieces were beautiful and in hindsight I wish I had bought one.
Jason Cianciotto, the new Executive Director of Wingspan, gave a strong and meaningful speech. I took a photo of him on the big screen (see below). I have had the pleasure of meeting Jason several times before the dinner and I am definitely impressed and excited to see what changes he will bring. Personally, I think Jason is just what Wingspan needs to move forward.
The dinner tables looked great (see photos below) and so did the room. The centerpieces were beautiful and in hindsight I wish I had bought one.
Jason Cianciotto, the new Executive Director of Wingspan, gave a strong and meaningful speech. I took a photo of him on the big screen (see below). I have had the pleasure of meeting Jason several times before the dinner and I am definitely impressed and excited to see what changes he will bring. Personally, I think Jason is just what Wingspan needs to move forward.
Tony Ray
Turnabout
Turnabout!
Turnabout for TIHAN is always a blast! Tucson’s LGBTQ, gay-friendly businesses, and non-profits all come together and put on a show for the community to help those in need living with HIV and Aids. Tempest Dujour and Janee Starr usually host the event and will have you laughing til your socks come off.
If you would like to contribute, you can be a sponsor for the Turnabout event. We try and sponsor a table ever year!
Remember, even if you miss this event, TIHAN always accepts donations throughout the year. These donations help to continue providing services in support of those living with HIV and AIDS. Also, not all donations to TIHAN need to be in the form of money. Donations of time, expertise, or materials will work just as fine.
Have a great day!
Tony Ray
SAAF Jello Wrestling
SAAF Jello Wrestling has grown to become one of Tucson’s most anticipated yearly events! From the glamorous costumes to the hilarious personas, you’re going to love the pageantry and air of theatre that pervades the entire event.
However, once the competitors are in the green ooze, then you truly see the captivating spectacle for what it is. It’s friends and lovers, in the spirit of teamwork and competition, locked in intense combat. It’s that raw, animalistic spirit that animates the entire event and makes SAAF’s Jello Wrestling such a wonderful thing to do in Tucson!
How Jello Wrestling Came to Tucson
This is the tale of Reno Gannon. In 1987, while tending bar at a local watering hole entitled “Rumor Hazzitt”, he went on vacation to Mexico and came back with a fantastic fundraising event. Wrestling in vats of Jell-O! Together with the owner of Rumor Hazzitt, they pulled together the first such event! It was a fundraiser for Shanti, an early AIDS Service Organization that merged with other local agencies to form Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. The tale of Reno has a tragic end, however, as this wonderful, loving man was cut down at the precocious age of 23 by the scourge of AIDS. To this day, the Jello Wrestling event remains a memorial to his legacy.What Happens at SAAF Jello Wrestling?
SAAF Jello Wrestling is a team sport. Each team of wrestlers raises funds to wrestle during a pit of Jell-O, typically with extraordinary costumes and characters. Between wrestling matches, the Drag Diva Hostesses will run a live auction that includes a wide range of fantastic items to titillate the crowd. Funds raised through Jell-O Wrestling assist SAAF with their awesome mission of cultivating a healthy & stigma-free society through transformative action.How Can I Help?
Wrestling in the SAAF Jello Wrestling event is an awesome way to support the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). All wrestlers should raise a minimum of $500 in sponsorships. With the addition of online giving through the SAAF website, raising sponsorships can be done with an email! Find Out More Here:Wrestle/Sponsor a WrestlerNot the wrestling type? Don’t worry, there are tons of volunteer opportunities at SAAF Jello Wrestling! Visit this page to choose what you’d like to do and when!
VolunteerHave a great day, Tony Ray 🙂
