The Alternative Association of Newsmedia recently released results of a diversity survey of most of it’s alternative newsweekly membership across the country. The results were interesting in that some alternative newsweeklies still struggle on how to have a more diverse staff, as well as cover diverse communities because they often don’t reflect the staff.

I think the Tucson Weekly is doing fairly well in this area, however, there are areas we can improve and we think of them often and the strategy needed to help us in our coverage.

When we plan certain issues, diversity is often part of the discussion. Trans Awareness Week 2015 kicks off in Tucson, organized by the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance and the UA office of LGBTQ Affairs. I can’t imagine an important part of our community deserving of our attention by us—readers and community members—actively celebrating, engaging and learning about the challenges facing our transgender neighbors.

There’s a kick-off party on Friday, Nov. 13 at Fluxx, and then after that mix of workshops and fun. Saturday, the UA Pride Law folks are doing a name/gender marker change clinic and on Sunday, a Trans 101 workshop at the First United Methodist Church (915 E. 4th St). Of course there’s more, lot’s more. For more information, recommend getting the entire schedule at sagatucson.org. Making sure everyone is at the table, in the end, isn’t about being politically correct (I hate that that term gets any kind of leverage to attack doing the right thing), it’s about recognizing the value of everyone in our city—everyone.

— Mari Herreras, mherreras@tucsonweekly.com

This article appears in Nov 12-18, 2015.

13 replies on “Editor’s Note”

  1. Here’s the complete schedule for this year’s Trans Awareness Week, the 10th annual. The best source for complete information is on this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AzTransAwarenessW….

    NOVEMBER 13-21
    WEDNESDAY, 11: “Transgender Tuesdays” Free Movie Screening. 2801 E. Broadway. 6pm
    FRIDAY, 13: 2nd Friday Queer Dance Party. La Cocina, 201 N Court Ave. 10pm-2am.
    SATURDAY, 14: Name Change Clinic with Pride Law. UA Rogers Law School. 10am-2pm.
    Trans-Health Focus Group. Living Out Loud, 3130 E Broadway. 3pm-4:30pm.
    Queeraoke. Bumsteads, 500 N 4th Ave. 10pm-2am.
    SUNDAY, 15: Trans 101. 1st United Methodist Church (UMC), 915 E 4th St. 11:30pm.
    “Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible” w/ Peterson Toscano. 1st UMC. 6pm.
    MONDAY, 16: Opening Ceremony and TAW Resource Fair. UA Mall. 10am-2pm.
    Showing Up White: Workshop with Jessica Pettitt. UA SUMC, Agave Room. 2pm-4pm.
    HIV and the Trans Community: Panel and Q&A. Living Out Loud, 3130 E Broadway. 4pm.
    Gender Outlawz Non-Binary Support Group. Fluxx, 414 E 9th St. 7pm-9pm.
    TUESDAY, 17: Ice Cream Social, hosted by Anchor Project. 2801 E Broadway. 5pm.
    “There’s Life After Transition” w/ Scotty Pignatella, hosted by oSTEM. Location TBA. 7pm.
    WEDNESDAY, 18: Health & Wellness Fair. Living Out Loud, 3130 E Broadway. 8am-3pm.
    Non-Binary Closed Space. UA LGBTQ Resource Center, 1301 E University. 12pm-1:30pm.
    Gender Expression & Fashion: Discussion w/ Dr. Galarte. UA LGBTQ Resource Center. 4pm.
    Youth Poetry Slam/Open Mic. Studio One, 197 E Toole Ave. 7pm.
    “Expressions Of Gender” Gallery Showing. Studio One, 197 E Toole Ave. All day.
    THURSDAY, 19: Trans-Health Focus Group. Living Out Loud, 3130 E Broadway. 11am-1pm.
    Made for Flight. UA LGBTQ Resource Center, 1301 E University. 3pm-5pm.
    Discussion on Trans Visibility. UA SUMC, Kiva Room, 1301 E University. 5pm-6:30pm.
    TransScripts & Q&A w/ ***********. Invisible Theater, 1400 N 1st Ave. 7:30pm.
    FRIDAY, 20: Bamby Salcedo Keynote. UA Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N Olive. 2pm.
    Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony. UA Old Main Fountain. 5:30pm.
    TransScripts. Invisible Theater, 1400 N 1st Ave. 8pm.
    SATURDAY, 21: Re-Construction: One Story at a Time w/ Boys R Us. Fluxx Studios. 8pm-2am.
    TransScripts. Invisible Theater, 1400 N 1st Ave. 7:30pm.

  2. Terrific! By the way, the TW staff might want to get caught up on the biggest news story of the week: the state courts have found the Tucson system of selecting council members and mayor UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Maybe not as important, but surely worth noting.

  3. They would rather not talk about it Rick. The Mayor is elected at large. The Court decision included him?

  5. That looks like it’s going to be a trick question.

    So…”at this point what difference does it make?”-Hillary Rodham Clinton

  10. Thanks Rat. Kathy Dunbar’s letter is a doozy (in a good way) and I expect there will ongoing attempts by the Council to brush aside the court ruling and proceed as if nothing important has occurred. Or perhaps take a page from the Trogs in the state legislature and actually spend our money with appeals as far as SCOTUS.

    Seems odd, no?, that the TW has ignored this story.

  11. With the court ruling it would be illegal to install the actual losers (elected at large), but I’m sure everybody is waiting to see the next move. Tucsonan’s would be outraged to have to pay for another election.

    Hey I know. Let’s try all those bonds and the red light cameras one more time. That would bring some awareness to our local mess.

  12. If you think this is not a culture war, you are blind.

    If you are a white, heterosexual male, these people HATE you. They want your imaginary power, and will do whatever it takes to gain an advantage over you economically, politically and socially.

    You don’t think that “White Guilt” and “White Privilege” happened organically, do you?

    Do you think these same people’s children who celebrate diversity, will be willing to cede any of their power to you children in the future via a Caucasian diversity program?

    Don’t accept this nonsense, no matter how many names they call you.

  13. Diversity and open borders killed 150 in France today. What are we doing?

    Condolences to the families. When will our President lead?

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