ProFuture Faith
8 week series of DVD & Discussion
by Michael Dowd
“Ecology is the heart of theology.”
Sunday, June 16th
Week 1
Un-Trivializing God:
Reality as Thou
10:30 am in the Celebration Center
We can re-imagine our relationship to the divine and to our environment by seeing God as primary reality, not a separate being, not magical but imbued in all of Nature.
Dare to Care
Tucson Community Coalition
Our Speakers
at the Community Leader Event
Community leaders discussed the local and statewide challenges
for our LGBTQIA+ kids and our LGBTQIA+ care providers.
Abby Louise Jensen (Legal Director SAGA)
Abby Louise Jensen is a graduate of Stanford University (1975) and UC Berkeley School of Law (1982), a trans woman and an LGBTQ+ rights activist. She is the Legal Director of the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, and a member of the Board of Directors and General Counsel for the ACLU of Arizona. In 2021, Abby retired from her 25-year career as an appellate attorney for indigent criminal defendants, including the last nine years as an appellate attorney for the Pima County Public Defender's Office.
Rev. Sandy Johnson (Mom, Clergy, Ally)
Rev. Sandy Johnson began her journey with LGBTQIA advocacy in 2017 while serving at Boulder City UMC. She was a member of the conference RMN team and started a PFLAG chapter in Boulder City. About a year later her youngest let Sandy know that she was transgender, and they have been supporting her ever since. "It has been heart wrenching to navigate hostile waters, working to be her best ally and get what she needs from the school, health and mental health community and give her the courage and confidence to live authentically." Sandy has learned a lot and hope to share support with other families who are walking the same journey. Read More...
Dr. Alex Karaman (Educator)
Alex Karaman has been an educator in Gender and Women's Studies at U of A, a local activist, and a counselor. He currently works for TUSD helping support students towards their college and career aspirations. His work has focused on LGBTQ issues, anti-racism, and student success. Read More...
Dr. Tracey Kurtzman (Pediatrician)
Dr. Tracey Kurtzman is a staff physician at El Rio Community Health Center where she cares for young patients as a general pediatrician. A native Arizonan, Dr. Kurtzman attended the University of Arizona for her undergraduate degree and medical school, and did her pediatric residency training at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kurtzman has been a strong ally to the LGBTQ+ community for more than 3 decades. Since 2015, she has specialized in gender affirming care of transgender youth, and she teaches medical students and residents from the University of Arizona and Tucson Medical Center. Dr. Kurtzman is happily married with two great kids and three barky mutts. She is proud to live in Tucson surrounded by the beauty of the Sonoran desert.
Rev. Louis J. Mitchell (UCC Minister)
Rev. Louis J. Mitchell is an "intentional man". An activist for over three decades, his focus is the fight for health and healing, self determination and respect, focusing on mental wellness, recovery, and disability access. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Rincon United Church of Christ in Tucson Arizona. He believes in the restorative power of truth telling in the voices of those whose stories
are often told about them rather than with them. Read More...
Lizette Trujillo (Parent Advocate)
Lizette Trujillo is a Tucson small business owner and community advocate for transgender youth and families. She spends much of her time volunteering for the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, where she and her spouse facilitate a local support group for families of transgender, gender creative/non-conforming youth called Families Transformed. She also co-facilites a support group for Latinx/Spanish speaking families for the national organization TransFamilies.org, which is part of Gender Diversity. Her local efforts have brought her national attention and she has served as a member of the Human Rights Campaign Parents for Transgender Equality National Council for the last four years. Read More...
Andi Young, LMSW
Andi Young is the co-chair of the GLSEN Arizona Board of Directors, a licensed social worker working with LGBTQ+ adolescent and adults, and a parent of a transgender adolescent. In her role at GLSEN Arizona, Andi works to ensure every student has access to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education by building supportive educators, empowering and supporting students, providing inclusive curriculum and library resources, and advocating for comprehensive policies that protect LGBTQ+ youth. As a social worker, Andi understands how not being affirmed, accepted, and supported for who you can have detrimental effects on mental health. Finally, as a mom, Andi has seen first-hand the regular stigmatization experienced by transgender youth and the resulting challenges and struggles they face.
Resources
Tucson Affirming Businesses
Let your voice be heard!
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
Chat rooms for youth that are being moderated from 4pm-7pm for 19 years and younger
Trevor Project
We provide information & support to LGBTQ
young people 24/7, all year round.
Text 678-678
Call: 1-866-488-7386
Or Chat online: thetrevorproject.org/get-help
GLBT National Youth Talk Line
for youth 25 and younger (it also serves parents)
1-800-246-7743
https://www.lgbthotline.org/talkline.html
M-F 1pm-9pm PST and Sat 9am-2pm PST
E-mail for peer-support at: help@LGBThotline.org