SAAF celebrates nine years of Out Brunch on March 15
The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation will host its annual Out Brunch at Tohono Chul, honoring LGBTQ+ leaders and allies while demonstrating the community's resilience in the face of federal challenges.
The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation is bringing together the Tucson community for its ninth annual Out Brunch, a celebration of LGBTQ+ leadership and resilience in southern Arizona.
The event is Sunday, March 15 at Tohono Chul from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Tickets are available on the SAAF website, and those unable to attend can also donate to the event.
Out Brunch's purpose is to honor those in the community who uplift and support the LGBTQ+ community and to bring people together and create joy, said SAAF CEO Carlos Hernandez.
"It's a celebration of pride. It's a celebration of leadership, all the individuals that created the organization, and all the board and staff that continue to move its mission forward," Hernandez said.
Hernandez acknowledged the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community at the federal level, but said he prefers to focus on the positive.
"There's always been challenges … in the community that we serve," Hernandez said. "But this event is going to be a good thing for us. It's going to be a positive thing."
Among the challenges SAAF has faced this past year are federal restrictions on the language the organization can use if it wants to continue receiving government funding.
"They tell us what language we can use on a daily basis. Whether we can use terms like DEI and social justice and gender-affirming care and that poses significant challenges for us, because it puts us in a position to have to decide, are we going to comply with those requirements or are we not?" Hernandez said.
It hasn't come to that yet, Hernandez said, adding that he hopes that day will never come.
Hernandez hopes this event can be an opportunity to demonstrate the resilience of not just SAAF, but the entire LGBTQ+ community.
"We're there to celebrate all the good things that the organization has done, and we are going to demonstrate that celebration that we are here to stay, and we will continue to thrive," Hernandez said.
Erik Simonson, executive leadership liaison for SAAF, said there will always be strength in numbers, and this event is a great way to show the community how many people around them care for and support one another.
Simonson said he's been impressed with the number of people who have reached out wanting to support the event.
"We've had so much response to this year's Out Brunch from community partners, folks who've attended last year and the years past and other organizations have really stepped up to say, 'Hey, we want to be there and support you as well,'" Simonson said.
Hernandez and his team are also excited about a donation from the Buehler Family Foundation, which will match every dollar raised at the SAAF event, up to $100,000.
"For over 15 years, the Buehler Family Foundation has been a dedicated partner in healthcare, and we are proud to expand that legacy into the vital field of public health with SAAF," Vice President Pam Varner said in a statement. "Our goal is to strengthen the support systems that our community relies on — from SAAF's mobile medical unit that brings care directly to our neighbors, to the clinic and Lopez Center kitchen as resources for community wellness."
Olivia Krupp
Four awards will be presented at the brunch, including the Godat Award, the Dr. Jean Baker Community Ally Award, the Steve Hall Award and the Richard Elías Public Servant Award.
The Godat Award recognizes long-term contributions by an individual in southern Arizona who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. This year's award will be presented to Dr. Jamie Lee, an associate dean of faculty affairs at the University of Arizona.
The Dr. Jean Baker Award is given to a heterosexual ally in southern Arizona who has helped advance the freedom, safety and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. This year's recipient is Dr. Sudha Nagalingham, a primary care physician at El Rio Health.
The Steve Hall Award honors a dedicated volunteer who supports SAAF's mission. Recipient Susan Delaney has been a longtime supporter and volunteer of the organization, as well as a major supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Richard Elías Public Servant Award recognizes a public official who champions equality, equity, health and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community in southern Arizona. This year's recipient is newly elected state House representative Adelita Grijalva.
While SAAF's focus has historically been on the LGBTQ+ community and HIV/AIDS, the organization emphasizes that its services are open to anyone in need.
SAAF provides critical services to people living with HIV/AIDS, including medication, housing and additional support, as well as general critical care to people who have limited access to healthcare services.
SAAF also provides community education on healthcare issues and support for those dealing with stigma or mental health challenges related to illness.
"There are a lot of people living with those illnesses in our community. And so a threat to this organization and its existence is also a threat to that part of the work that we do, the healthcare, critical healthcare services we provide," Hernandez said.
Emma LaPointe is a journalism, political science and German Studies major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at emma.m.lapointe@gmail.com.
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