Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Latino/as can celebrate their sexuality and heritage through music, art, poetry, dance and film at the second annual Tucson Latin Gay Pride festival Sept. 30—Oct. 3.
Coordinated by Wingspan, the festival will highlight the theme Familia! (Family!). Events will include a Latin Dance Party, a local documentary, a community forum, a cultural showcase, a resource fair and a program for area youth. Wingspan is presenting these social and educational events in collaboration with the University of Arizona's Chicano Studies program and Pride Alliance, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, and Ain't Nobody's Bizness (The Biz) nightclub.
The festival, which falls at the end of National Hispanic Heritage Month and just before the beginning of Tucson Gay Pride celebrations, is designed to foster community and address concerns relevant to LGBT Latinos.
The events are meant to bring to the forefront issues specifically affecting LGBT Latino/as, such as disproportional HIV infection rates, domestic violence and immigration, said Oscar Jimenez, Wingspan Anti-Violence programs manager and Tucson Latin Gay Pride committee chairman. "It's also an opportunity for LGBT Latino/as to express themselves through culture sharing, art and music and for LGBT Latino/as to show that they have a voice in the LGBT rights movement," he said.
As part of the celebration, Tucson filmmaker Angela Soto will document the coming out stories of local Latino/as and premiere the short movie at the cultural showcase on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The events include:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
INTERSECTIONS OF LATINO/LGBT IDENTITIES FORUM
5 pm
Catalina room, Student Union at University of Arizona.
Free. Open to all ages.
Sponsored by UA Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
REUNION DE JOVENES: YOUTH GATHERING
5 pm
EON YOUTH CENTER 430 E. 7TH ST.
Free.
Open to those ages 13 to 23.
Sponsored by Wingspan.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009 LATIN DANCE PARTY!
9 pm until 2 am
The Biz Nightclub, 2900 E. Broadway Blvd.
Free.
Ages 21 and up.
Sponsored by the Biz. Resource fair in breezeway from 9 pm until 11 pm.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009
MSHAPE PICNIC IN THE PARK
3 pm to 6 pm
Reid Park.
Free.
All ages. Sponsored by SAAF.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009
CULTURAL SHOWCASE: ART FESTIVAL
FEATURING FILM, POETRY, DANCE AND MUSIC BY LOCAL LGBT LATINO ARTISTS
7 pm to 10 pm
Lost Barrio, 299 S. Park Ave.
Free.
All ages.
Sponsored by Wingspan and the Biz.
For more information, contact Oscar Jimenez at ojimenez@wingspan.org
