The group thems. started out as a weekend market and has since exploded by using poetry and other art to build up the community.
Sharon Benson is named in a lawsuit for allegedly defaming a teacher she is set to have power over.
A last-minute appearance by Dr. Jill Biden at this year’s Flagstaff Pride left community members to lash out against their local Pride organization.
Happy Friday, LOOKOUT readers!
I hope your Juneteenth holiday was restful and you had some time to celebrate with friends and family—or just take a day to do nothing!
I spent the holiday (and the whole week, really) driving all around Arizona, so much so that I've logged roughly the length of the United States in mileage on my car. I've been doing this for two reasons:
1- We can't always afford a photographer to take photos for our stories, and instead of paying someone less than what they're worth (a common practice in newsrooms) we simply do it ourselves. I've been photographing people from a forthcoming story that we can't wait for you to read in mid-July.
2- If you remember last week, we mentioned that our third edition of LOOKOUT Magazine is available. Because we have a limited budget, we try to be strategic with where we place our zines that are free to the public. We scout out coffee shops, music venues, tea rooms, libraries, or medical offices in rural and suburban places where we know LGBTQ+ people and their allies visit, and where they feel safe to read about their community. Jake and I have been dropping stacks of magazines in locations just like those in our travels across the state.
Why do we do this? Because Arizona is pretty damn gay. We have the fourth largest trans adult population and the the 14th largest LGBTQ+ population. We exist everywhere around here, and we want to make sure news for our community isn't concentrated in just Phoenix and Tucson.
Do you know of a place where I should put our magazines? Respond back to this email and let me know!
-Joseph Darius Jaafari
Have a community event coming up you want LOOKOUT to highlight? Email us.
Same thing as our "Out of the Closet" game, just with a new name! Play "The Weekly Kiki" every week to be entered into our monthly drawing for exclusive LOOKOUT swag. The more times you play, the more chances you get to win! The next drawing will be May 30. Rules: Without the LGBTQ+ community, there’s less meaning. Guess the word below with only the support of the letters L, G, B, T, Q, I, A and submit your answer
I_T_ _ _ _ _
*Hint: This group of people have been added to the Progress Pride flag in the form of a yellow patch with a purple circle. They're also the "I" in LGBTQIA.
The Arizona Corporation Commission race could affect the LGBTQ+ community in ways you may not have thought about.
Interviews with 24 people show consistent concerns about Phoenix Pride.
If a small rural city can find common ground, maybe we all can.
A private web meeting last week showed how a far-right religious organization is trying to teach families to challenge schools, causing a chilling a chilling effect.
If you like independent and accountability-driven queer news, then you'll love LOOKOUT's weekly newsletter.
LOOKOUT Publications is a federally recognized nonprofit news outlet. EIN Number:92-3129757
