1990's

On February 16, 1990 James (Jim) O'Malley (see... In Memoriam...page #2) the former co-owner of Jim's bar (see... In Memoriam...page #2) (see 1960's) bar located at 23 W. University Boulevard in Tucson from 1962 to 1967 (that would later become The Graduate bar) and the co-owner of the Sir James (see...In Memoriam...page #2) bar located at 4423 N. Oracle Road north of the city in Pima County (see 1960's) (see 1970's) died of a heart attack at his Palm Springs property, the People With Aids Coalition Of Tucson  (P.A.C.T.) (actually the Troy Stephenson Foundation DBA People With Aids Coalition... see... Balance Sheet... page #12) (see ad... page #11) (see... LETTERS...page #4) located at 151 S. Tucson Boulevard in Suite # 282 assisted those of the community with AIDS testing and monitoring, counseling, food bags, household items, and some medical supplies as well as cash at times (in January of 1992 located at 2579 N. 1st Avenue... see ad... page #6) (see article... PACT Receives Vital Grants... page #11).  Another organization in the same building at Suite# 252, the Tucson Aids Project (T.A.P.) (see Weekly Meetings page #12 - see Notices page #15) also assisted with various support services and programs (see ad page #16) for those with AIDS (see... Commentary... page #11).

Also around Tucson (see... What's Up Doc... page #6), the Wingspan Community Center (see... Notices... page #15) at 240 N. Court Street #A after a dormant period put out a call for help through its financial crunch (see article... page #5) (see ad...Wingspan... page #2) to the Gay Community in October that it could not pay its November 1, 1991 rent ( see article... page #5) and the community responded quickly. The group then continued some of its core community services, events, and continued to expand into new ones which included plans to move (see ad... Wingspan... page #2). On May 10, 1992, the Wingspan  (see article... Wingspan ...page #15) group had completed their move to a new space at 422 N. 4th Avenue (see article... Wingspan Moves... page #10) (see article... Wingspan Seeks...page #7) and  was soon hosting (see article... Wingspan... page #15) an ever growing number of local LGBT organizations being formed (see... Notices... page #19) throughout the 1990's (see article.... Jan. 17 Benefit for Wingspan... page #2) (see article... Wingspan... page #14) who sought a meeting space as Wingspan like many other organizations and groups scrambled for funds (see ad... page #8). 

1992-93  Miss Gay Tucson Pageant

1992  1st  Saguaro Regional Rodeo Tucson

1992  Pride Picnic

1992 4th Annual Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling & Auction

   After a 2 year crackdown-selective enforcement (see articles... pages #1,3,13) (see... LETTERS... page #5) (see article... Ad Hoc Group Meets To Discuss Park Harassment... page #1) (see articles... page #1) in Tucson that arrested 300 Gay men in local parks (see articles... pages #1, 3, 13) (see ad... Beware! Sex+Parks=Arrest... page #15) including one (1) man being charged with attempted murder by local officials because he had AIDS (see articles... page #1, 4) (see... As I See It... page #2) (see article... Charges Dismissed...page #2) the Police Chief Peter Ronstadt (see articles.... pages #1,3,13) was quoted in an Arizona Daily Star newspaper article "We don't keep complaints in that category & the bulk of complaints come from Parks & Recreation."  However, the Parks Director Jim Ronstadt (see articles... page #1, 3, 13) stated to the press his office had only received 1/2 dozen (6ea) complaints, "Two (2) to three (3) years ago." (see articles... page #1, 3, 13) (see article...Himmel Park Kiss In... article page #2) (see... Guest Editorial... page #3) (see... LETTERS... page #7) (see article... Kiss In Draws Over 100... page #2). In January of 1992 local Arizona Daily Star reporter M. Scot Skinner  (see article... Cops In Parks Again... page #1, 5) told the Old Pueblo Business and Professional Association (see article... Cops In Parks Again... page #1, 5) that the Tucson Police Department was once again scouting the city's parks and bookstores, entrapping & arresting Gay men, and that the Police Chief Peter Rondstat had decided to basically withhold police reports from the press by making access rules for police reports virtually impossible (see article... Cops In Parks Again... page #1, 5).

1992 University of Arizona Tucson

1992 University of Arizona Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Picnic

1990 University of Arizona Tucson

 In the ensuing controversy Police Chief Peter Rondstat resigned (see article... New Police Chief...page #1) (see article.... Tucson City Manager Addresses .... pages #1, 4) and was replaced with 47 year old Assistant Police Chief Elaine S. Hedtke (see article... Woman Named New Tucson Police Chief... page #1) (see article-photo... Chief Hedtke Presents Positive Image... pages #1, 7) as the 2nd woman ever appointed to a major U.S. city's post of police chief on May 3, 1992.  Six (6) months later Chief Elaine Hedke (a.k.a. known as Chief Headache by some officers) resigned Monday November 15, 1993 to take over as assistant Police Chief in charge of the Human Resources Division and to be head of the city's Annexation Committee. At the campus of the Pima Community College (see article... Gay Flap At Pima Community College... page #12) students there began organizing the Pima Pride Club (see article... Gay Flap At Pima Community College... page #12) in February of 1992 despite some public resistance (see article... Gay Flap At Pima Community College... page #12).  By 1993 the group PACT For Life (P.A.C.T.) (see articles... pages 4, 9 - see ...ad page #10 - see...Notices... page #19) had moved to 801 W. Congress Street (see article-photo's... page #6). The P.A.C.T. (see ad-article... News From P.A.C.T. ...page #17) organization held the AIDS Walk '95 (see article-photo... pages #1, 20) ( see ad... AIDSWALK 95... page #2) on October 15, 1995 (see ad... page #17) within just days of co-founder in 1987 (see 1980's) & director of the group the popular Jerome Beillard  (see article... pages #1,15) (see article... Public Access HIV-TV... page #2) having resigned his post as director on Monday October 2, 1995 and then passing from AIDS on Wednesday October 18, 1995 (see article... Adieu Jerome... page #6) (see... <PACT News>... page #6) (see... As I See It.... page #6) (see... LETERS.... page #2). A wake was held for Jerome Beillard (see article... Your Pima County AIDS Program... page #4) in the Gold Room (see article... News From P.A.C.T. ...page #15) at the Quality Hotel (see article... News From P.A.C.T. ...page #15) located at 475 N. Granada Avenue (formerly the Ramada Inn site of many Gay Community events) at 4pm on Friday November 3, 1995 (see article... Beillard Memorial... page #2) and a Festival For Life event (see article...Jerome Beillard 'Festival For...page #2) was also held at the end of the decade on Sunday November 19, 1999, which became an annual event.

In the 1990's the Long Distance competition between carriers and their resellers (see article...Gays Attract Stiff....page #1, 20) heated up in sometimes fraudulently attracting and later Phone Slamming of their service  without permission with Gays targeted (see article...Gays Attract Stiff....page #1, 20) by sales pitches and taking their phone numbers and home addresses off of marketing lists (see article...Gays Attract Stiff....page #1, 20). Attempts in the 1990's to set back the Gay Rights & Progress (see article... IT'S NEWS TO....page #9) that so many had fought so hard for were made such as Banning Gay Groups in schools & Banning Laws Protecting Gays (see article... IT'S NEWS TO....page #9) were made by the Traditional Values Coalition's (see article... IT'S NEWS TO....page #9) and its Arizona representative & Anti-Gay Crusader Frank Meliti (see article... IT'S NEWS TO....page #9) however the movement lost its following along the way and could not gather enough financial support. The 1990's regularly saw members of Tucson Knight Owls (simply called T.K.O.) (see article...TKO City of Rocks...page #20) regularly meeting at the Graduate bar, having their monthly Beer Busts (see ad... Graduate... page #3), sponsoring their annual Mini-Tacky Ball (see article... What's Up Doc... page #5), and supporting the Make-A-Wish Program (see... Letters ...page #6) (see article-photo ...WHAT's UP DOC...page #4) among their many other fundraising events , while the Desert Leathermen (see ad... Venture N...page #6) (see... Letters...DEAR TUCSON COMMUNITY FRIEND... page #7, 12) founded on October 2, 1985 (see 1980's) were actively sponsoring variety and other shows at various bars around town (see article... What's Up Doc... page #15).  Gay Skating Parties were the rage (see ad... page #7) and often held at Skate Country (see ad... page #7) (see ad...Skate For Shanti... page #10) located at 2700 N. Stone Avenue. Nationally the Madonna Fan Club (see article.. Madonna... page #14) was going strong and inviting new members to join.

Wooing the show crowds all around town, and raising lots of money for Tucson's local AIDS (see... Perspective... page #5) and other programs were to name just a few: Candy Plastique, Raven (see ad ...NEON MOON...page #5) (see ad... page #5), Rhonda, Lucinda Holiday (a.k.a. Larry Moore) (see article... Miss Gay ArizonaTitle Won By... page #1) (see... Non-Bar Calendar Saturday March 7) (see article... MPS Roast... page #1) (see... business card ad...page #12) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Lissett, Vanna (see ad... Club 2520... page #3) (see article-photo... Vanna White Flips...page #2) (see...AS I SEE IT...page #4), Adrienne Alexander (see article...FYI...page #19) (see... LETTERS...page #20),  Penny Peters, Gina Who (also known as George John Placencio) (see... In Memoriam... page #2),  Madame X (see article... Madame X Crowned... page #1) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Alotta Whoremones (see ad.... page #3) (see article...FYI...page #19), Connie Lingus ( a.k.a. Paul ...see ad page #3), Jessica Blake, Dani Reid a.k.a. Daniel E. Reid (see ad... page #6) (see... In Memoriam...page #2), Christina de Alexis (see ad... Rumorz... page #7), Deora Le Blanc, Mama Reyna (see article...Review- A Drag Night...page #18) (see ad...page #13), Bunny FuFu (see ad... NEON MOON ...page #5) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Margo Leigh (a.k.a. Lee Thompson - see article-photo... Margo Leigh Sweeps), Gilda Fatale (a.k.a. Rodney Shanks...see...LETTERS...page #18) (see LETTERS ...page  #17) (see ad... page #3) (see article...Review- A Drag...page #5) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Ms. Candice Doolittle (see article... Pride Picnic Biggest...page #1) (see business card ad...page #14) whose favorite line was "Charmed I'm Sure",  Felice Reynard (a.k.a. Marshall Eric Taylor...see... LETTERS...page #4)  (see LETTERS...page #18) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Barry De Bone(a.k.a. .Beth Riddell...see ...LETTERS...page #8),  Aviva Diamond a.k.a. David Wetstein (see ad-photo... Graduate... page #7), Miss Victoria DuPuis (see... LETTERS ...page #4) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Ajia Simone (see... LETTERS ...page  #17) (see ad... page #3) (see article...Review- A Drag...page #5) (see article-photo...page #1) (see...LETTERS....page #16), Vannity, Tiffany St. Thomas (see ad ...NEON MOON...page #5), Marpessa, Miss Jade, Truly Fabu (see ad... page #3) (see article...Review- A Drag...page #5) (see... LETTERS...page #4), Kimberly, Namoni Knight, and many many more. 

An explosion of 1-900  Hotlines (charging rates from .99 cents upward to $4.99+ per minute) could be found everywhere from Dial A Hunk & The Meet Mart to Psychic Hotlines to  information about Puerto Peñasco that was often actually originating from real estate agents-brokers located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Meantime, at the Tropicana- a Warbux Production (see ad... page #12) located at 617 W. Miracle Mile one could visit their adult arcade, buy an adult magazine, and or rent a hotel room for 2 hours for  $13.00  plus tax. Tucson's, Lambda Democratic Caucus (see article... page #1, 3, 14) was regularly  involved in local & national issues (see ad... page #5) (see listing... Non-Bar Calendar... THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7) and conducted voter registration drives in the local gay bars and other venues. Tucson's  Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (A.G.R.A.) chapter began forming on July 21, 1991 (see article... Bit Of The Old South... page #5) at Hours (see ad... page #3) bar out on the patio located at 3455 E. Grant Road with organizers Michael Butrynoticz-Bill Darnell-Mark Miller (see article page #2). Tucson was officially granted its satellite Arizona Gay Rodeo Chapter (see article... page #2) (see ad... page #5) status on Sunday August 11, 1991 (see... Home On The Range... page #7), elected officers in February of 1992 (see article... Officers Elected By AGRA... page #2) (see ad... page #2) and held the first Gay Rodeo in Tucson called the Saguaro Regional Rodeo on May 8-10, 1992 (see article.... pages #1, 5) (see ads... pages #3, 4, 6, 20) (see article-photos...  AGRA 1992 Rodeo Complete Success... page #1) (see... Letters... pages #5, 14) (see ad... Club 2520... page #5) (see photo's... pages #8, 9) at the Old Tucson Studios (see listings... Non-Bar Calendar Saturday May 9 & Sunday May 10) located at 201 S. Kinney Road with Natalie Perry as the events Grand Marshall (see article... page #3). 

 

The next year AGRA Tucson Rodeo winners of the events (see article... Home On The Range... page #9) were posted (see article... Home On The Range... page #9) and all attending the celebration dance held in town had a truly memorable time. On Sunday October 22, 1995 the AGRA-Tucson group met in two meetings at Ain't Nobody's Business (see ad... page #7) (see ad... Grand Opening... page #3) bar (under the ownership of Melinda Brown since Thursday August 18, 1994... see article-photos... page #1) located at 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard Suite #118 to become its own chapter and no longer be a satellite chapter of the Phoenix AGRA group (see article... Home On The Range... page #16). By early 1992 the Community Awards Of Tucson (C.A.T.) Committee (see... Non-Bar Calendar Saturday February 8... page #12) was floundering due to public and members apathy finally suspending the awards that year (see article... Apathy Threatens CAT Awards... page #1) at their meeting on Saturday February 8 at which out of thirty two (32) members only four (4) showed up (see article... Apathy Threatens CAT Awards... page #1) to plan its annual event. Formed locally in February of 1993 (see article... Cronies Reorganize... page #2) and affiliated with the group Cronies (see article... Cronies Reorganize... page #2) (see... Non-Bar Calendar Thursday August 18.. page #16) until separating August 14, 1994 the local chapter of the national group Prime Timers World Wide started up as Tucson Prime Timers (see... Non-Bar Calendar Sunday August 28... page #16) under leadership of Chairman George D. Kaplan (see ad... You Are Invited... page #13) meeting on the 4th and later the 3rd Sunday of each month at Wingspan's location 422 N. 4th Avenue. The group offered and extended an invitation (see ad... You Are Invited... page #13) to older Gay & Bisexual seniors and the ones who appreciate them to enrich their lives with many weekly lunch and dinner events, activities, along with both in & out of town outings. 

At the Rumorz Hazzit (see ad... page #3) bar in the mid 1990's on Thursday's one could get draft beer at .50 cents a glass. The Cornerstone Fellowship Church (see ad-article.... A View From The Rock.... page #10) welcomed the LGBT community at 3333 E. Grant Road.  On 4th Avenue at 616 N.  It's 'Bout Time (I.B.T.'s) (see ad page #5) (see ad Oktoberfest...page #4) (see ad page #16) (see ad ...page #5) the home bar of the group Partners (see ad Partners Beer Bust page #3) group who were active in fundraisers with events like Beer Busts (see ad... Partners Beer Bust... page #3) &  Bowl-A-Thons for Tucson's AIDS groups (see article... Teovs Named To Head AIDS Walk '93... page #1), and the Copper City Squares (see article... Copper City Squares Planning...page #2) (see ad... page #5) group met regularly at I.B.T.'s  bar (see ad... page #5) with long neck beers priced at .75 cents on Thursday nights, while the T-Squares western square dancing group (see article... T-Squares... page #16) met at Club 2520 (see article... T-Squares... page #16).  I.B.T.'s bar also continued its tradition of presenting a yearly scholarship on Sunday February 12, 1995 to winner Jaime Ball (see article-photo... page #1).

 

1994 Gay Pride Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival  Free Beer  Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival  Free  Beer ID Bracelet Tent  Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

Other groups such as the Tucson Arizona Levi Leathermen (T.A.L.L.) (see... Calendar of upcoming events... Saturday October 23... page #12) sponsored many activities including their very successful Beer Busts (see ad... Graduate... page #9), the Sisters Of Sonora (S.O.S.) (see... LETTERS... page #4) which had all started as just an inside joke phrase (see article... What In The H_ _ _ Is SOS?... page #5) at the Graduate bar (see article... What In The H_ _ _ Is SOS?... page #5) in 1984 (see 1980's) and was known for its charitable works and famous for their Hoedowns at rodeo time & many other fundraisers officially disbanded the club (see... LETTERS... page #4) at their meeting on Sunday January 5, 1992 at Hours bar (see ad page #5),  Fiesta de Mayo (see article... Rules & Guidelines... page #5) (see article... Fiesta de Mayo Pride Week...page #13) (see article... page #1) raised funds (see ad... page #6) for the annual Pride Picnic (see article... Rules & Guidelines... page #5), Salud es Poder - Latino Men's Health Project (see ads... page #20) which sponsored both the annual Miss Gay Hispanidad and Mr. Gay Latino Pageants in order to promote AIDS/HIV (see article-photo... page #1) awareness with Latino men who have sex with men was also involved in many related events & activities throughs (see ads page #20).

September 24, 1994 Mr. Venture-N Contest in Tucson, Arizona

September 24, 1994 Mr. Venture-N Contest in Tucson, Arizona

September 24, 1994 Mr. Venture-N Contest in Tucson, Arizona

September 24, 1994 Mr. Venture-N Contest in Tucson, Arizona

  Desert Voices (see ad... page #2) (see article... Review...page #4) choir (who changed their name from Tucson Metropolitian Community Chorus...see article page #2) (see article... TMCC Changes name... page #2) and their musical concerts were a local hit with James Gall as Musical Director (see article... New... Musical Director page #2), the men's social group Cronies (see... Non-Bar Calendar... Saturday February 29... page #10)  (see article... Cronies Holiday Trip...page #2) for those men over 40 met at various locations for private events including video movies nights (see listing... Non-Bar Calendar... Wednesday October 12... page #14), Uncircumcised Men's Group (see listing... Notices... page #15) a social & support group that was part of a national group met locally each week, Lambda Car Club Grand Canyon Region (see listing... Notices... page #19) (see... Non-Bar Calendar Saturday September 25... page #12) regularly had socials at various bars (see listing... Non-Bar Calendar Sunday October 2... page #14) and went on tours of car museums along with participating in sponsored car rallies (see article... Lambda Car Club Holds....page #2),  UofA Gay/Lesbian Alliance (see... Weekly Meetings... page #12) (see... Non-Bar Calendar WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14...  page #12) later re-named itself Lesbians, Bisexuals & Gays United (see article... Campus News... page #3) and again later re-named itself BGALA (see article... BGALA National Coming...page #2)  (see article...GYM - GAY YOUNG MEN'S....page #10) met on Monday nights at the Student Union 2nd floor in room #250, the Paragon Night Club (see ad...page #3) (see ad...page #7) located at 144 W. Lester Street opened on Wednesday March 15, 1995 calling itself Arizona's Largest Gay Entertainment Club (see ad ...page #3), Parents And Friends Of Lesbians And Gays (P.F.L.A.G.) (see listing... Notices... page #15) (see ad... Celebrating Real Family values....page #24) (see ad... This Week's Cookout...page #2) remained very active with support and assistance around the community.

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

  

 Sorority (see... Notices... page #19) (see article... Viewpoint 'A Single Step'... page #6) a group for male & female Transsexuals-Transvestites-Gay Cross dressers  (see... Notices... page #19) met bi-monthly using meeting space at Wingspan (see article... Viewpoint 'A Single Step'... page #6) (see ad... COME AND HONOR...page #6),  Front Runners Of Tucson offered numerous weekend non-competitive runs,  Old Pueblo Business & Professional Association (O.P.B.P.A.) (see ad... AIDS UPDATE ...page #12) hosted numerous events and guest speakers (see article... page #1,14) paving the way for the group that would come later in the decade the Community Business Association (C.B.A.) (see listing... NOTICES... page #23) (see ad...page#17), the 40's & Better (see listing... Non-Bar Calendar... page #12) group for women offered members many social events including picnics & hikes in the local area, in the later 1990's the youth groups Gay Young Men's Project  (see...LETTERS...page #5) (see article....Gay Young Men's First Workshop....page #2) (see article...GYM - GAY YOUNG MEN'S....page #10) (see article...IT'S NEWS TO....page #17) (see article....GYM...page #12) and Queer Voice (see article...GYM - GAY YOUNG MEN'S....page #10) (see ad...Cafe Chats... page #12) were very active locally and beyond often meeting at the Rainbow Planet Coffee House (see ad ...page #7) and other venues, offering dances-cyber cafe chats (see ad page #12) (see ad page #2)-condom distributions and the Gay Positive Mural Project (see ad...with drawing....Cafe Chats...page #12) (see article...GYM - GAY YOUNG MEN'S....page #10) in 1996 created by Corby Baker & the Queer Voice (see article...GYM - GAY YOUNG MEN'S....page #10) group on the east side wall of the Graduate bar (see article...GYM - GAY YOUNG MEN'S....page #10).

The Gay Asian/Oriental Club (see listing... Notices... page #15) members met regularly for social-educational-cultural exchange and met at different venues around Tucson. Arizona/Sonora Proyecto S.I.D.A. (see listing... Notices... page #11) an AIDS assistance and prevention group was located at 801 W. Congress Street, the group Wingspan (see listing Notices page #15) and its Wingspan Youth Support Group (see listing Notices...Young & Gay?... page #15) was located at  422 N. 4th Avenue offering the LGBT community support sessions, a welcome reception desk and visitor sign in book during the daytime depending on 1 or 2 volunteers, free coffee and often donated snacks-sodas, special weekly Men's & Womyn's (see listing... Notices... page #15) nights, hosting meetings of many groups including the Lesbian Avengers (see listing... Non-Bar Calendar... MONDAY, OCTOBER 10 ...page #14) (see article...Lesbian Avengers In...page #20),  At Ease Again Men's Discussion Group (see ad... page #24) and  American Gay & Lesbian Atheists (see listing... Non-Bar Calendar... SATURDAY, APRIL 7...page #12) groups and many others, a gay themed library section, a telephone hotline, and a monthly newsletter all from and in its large one room store front space on 4th Avenue. Around Tucson, 1993 saw 4 bedroom houses for $89,000 (see ad... page #8) and nationally the enactment of the Don't Ask - Don't Tell federal law after very heated debates in both the House and Senate that led to the overruling of then President (1993-2001) William Jefferson Clinton and became military policy.

1994 Gay Pride Festival  Free  Beer ID Bracelet Tent  Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (T.I.H.A.N.) announced to the Gay Community on July 5, 1995 that two (2) CareTeams (see article... Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS....page #6) were available as a combined part of the local Gay friendly religious communities under the leadership of the Saint Francis In the Foothills United Methodist Church (see article... Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS....page #6) with its church member Scott Blades as the coordinator (see article... Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS....page #6) providing non-medical support and fundraising for those with AIDS/HIV (see article... Interfaith HIV Network Seeks Director... page #3). One of its programs, the very popular POZ CAFE (see article...Poz Cafe Lunch...pages #2, 20) (see ad...page #14) offered a great meal, socializing, and acceptance  (see article...POZ Cafe Lunch....page #5) for many of those suffering with AIDS/HIV (see article... They Are All Priorities...page #6). Think Positive Project (see... R.U. READY ...page #4) (see... R.U. Ready...page #17) (see ad... GOOD NEWS ABOUT...page #6) a program of the Shanti Foundation (see... 1995 Statement...page #9) (see article... THINK Positive...page #5) (see article....The Shanti Corner....page #6) was very popular with locals putting the AIDS prevention message into timely comic strip format's. Tucson's first all Gay men's chorus, Reveille Gay Men's Chorus (see article... page #4) (see photo's... page #13, see article Desert Voices Brings...page #1) (see article...Reveille Chorus To...page #2) began forming in February of 1995 (see ad...ANNOUNCING...page #13) and presented its first public debut concert performance (see article.... page # 1, 14) on Friday June 2, 1995 at 8pm in the Southwest Center for Music (see article... page # 1, 14) located at 2175 N. 6th Avenue with director James Gali along with its 22 founding singing members (see article... page #4).

Monday May 22,1995 Tucson's Mayor and City Council voted unanimously (see article... page #1) passing a Hate Crimes Ordinance (see article... page #1) within the city's limits. Project TEAM/COPE (see article... page #1) (see article...Cope Community...page #2) (see...LETTERS...page #15) opened a HIV/AIDS Community Center (see article... page #1) amidst some criticism (see article...Cope Community Center...Director Responds To...page #4), with project director Edgar Rivera (see article-photo...page #1) located at 732 N. Stone Avenue on July 3, 1995  with its Grand Opening held on August 20, 1995  (see article-photos...COPE Center Celebrates...page #1, 20) providing a part time space for social-recreational-and some educational activities (see article page #1) (see photos....page #20). The Frensdorff House (see listing... Notices... page #19) (see article....Frensdorff House opens...page #8) which had opened on September 10, 1989 (see article....Frensdorff House opens...page #8) continued to offer accommodations for up to six (6) PWA's featuring shared kitchens for those living with AIDS/HIV (see listing... Notices... page #19) and rent on a sliding scale depending on a persons income. The Gay Men’s Health Project (G.M.H.P.) (see ad... page #12) (see ad... page #20) began in 1996 as only a one (1) year research project, but was later given state grants to continue as a resource for AIDS Prevention (see ad... page #20) for men who frequented Tucson's gay bars. The Community Business Association formed on February 15, 1996 (see article...Community Business Association Formed...page #2) with founders Brad Sensenbach & Greg Hollman (see article...Community Business Association Formed...page #2) to fill the gap left by the passing of the Old Pueblo Business And Professional Association (O.P.B.A.P.A.) (see article...page #2) (see 1980's) which had shut down. 

1997  Boom-Booms Bar  Tucson

1997  Boom-Booms Bar  Tucson

1997  Boom-Booms Bar  Tucson

On Sunday  May 14, 1995   Wingspan's (see article... page #9) executive committee notified its board members and soon after the Gay Community of the embezzlement of $1,425.00 of the groups funds by Wingspan's board member Werner Wijnant (see article... page #9) and then quickly moved on to its core mission (see ad... page #17) (see ad... page #13) again. During June downtown at Wingspan (see article page #4) located at 422 N. 4th Avenue, the center featured local photographer Danny (Moose) Pagel's (see article-photo... Vanna White Flips...page #2) gallery show Men Of Moose (see article... page #4) along with its other activities. Wingspan expanded its community involvement in August of 1995 (see article...Wingspan Further....page #17) and by the end of the 1990's in 1997  Wingspan had expanded its operations, funds, and services relocating to 300 E. Sixth Street with its first paid staff employees in 1998 working along with some of its original unpaid volunteers. Groups such as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Veterans Of America had a local chapter form locally in the 1990's, and the Gay Lesbian Straight Educators Network (G.L.S.E.N.) that first began organizing on October 14, 1998 and formed in a meeting at the Wingspan Community Center (see article... First GLSEN Chapter...page #2) at 300 E. 6th Street, Wingspan (see article ...Wingspan/Domestic ....page #2) (see article... IN FLIGHT...page #7, 16, 20) (see article... IN FLIGHT....page #15) on Thursday May 28, 1998 (see article... IN FLIGHT ..page #7, 16, 20) held their Grand Opening of the Wingspan Domestic Violence Project  (see article... IN FLIGHT ..page #7, 16, 20) (see ad...DOMESTIC...page #15) to the local LGBT community and announced having an Art Curator  (see article...Wingspan Has New....page #13) for their group, the drug Viagra (see article... What's Up with Viagra?...page #7, 9) and its use became mainstream, the Men's group Bears Of The Old Pueblo   (B.O.A.) (see.. LETTERS... page #2) (see listing... Notices... page #15) (see... As I See It...page #4) originally began organizing on September 8, 1992 with the leadership of Steven Zepp (see.. LETTERS... page #2) holding its Kickoff Party (see ad... page #5) on Saturday September 19, 1992 at the Venture-N (see ad... page #5) bar out on the patio until well after midnight (see article... BEARS of the Old Pueblo....page #11) and staying very active during the decade (see article... BEAR SCRATCHINGS...page #5) (see ad...page #4).

Bringing Spanish speaking readers in the LGBT community up the latest medical information  Dr. Eleazar Garcia M.D. (observar articulo... COLUMNA ABIERTO ...pagina #14) regularly wrote his weekly sexual health related articles in Español (observar articulo... COLUMNA ABIERTO ...pagina #14) , the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation (S.A.A.F.) ( see article... Tucson ASO Merger...page #1) (see article... SAAF Seeking...page #2) (see article... SAAF Board Approves Budget...page #1, 2) (see article... SAAF Opens It's....page #1) (see article... SAAF Seeks...page #2) located at 151 S. Tucson Boulevard Suite #211 was legally born on Tuesday July 1, 1997  under the leadership of Anne Maley (see article... SAAF Board Approves Budget...page #1, 2) (see... AS I SEE IT ...page #4) (see article... Viewpoint... page #9) (see article... Viewpoint... page #9) (see article... NEWS FROM SAAF ...page #16) (see...AS I SEE IT...page #6) being formed in the merger of the Tucson Shanti Foundation (see ad... SΛλF...page #4), People With Aids Coalition Of Tucson (P.A.C.T) (see ad-announcement... SΛλF... page #4), Tucson Aids Project (T.A.P.) (see ad-announcement... page #15) (see ad... Best Wishes...page #2)  and its successful Salud es Poder - Latino Men's Health Project (see ads... page #20) (observar articulo... pagina #14) (see ad... page #8) (see article... Mr. Gay Latino...page #4) group (see ad... Boom-Booms page #6) (see ad... page #8), and the Tucson Shanti Foundation (see ad... page # 2) which had been located at 602 N. 4th Avenue.

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

 

The consolidation move of merging the AIDS Service Organizations together ensured the preservation of AIDS services in the future (see article... SAAF Board Approves Budget...page #1) (see ad... SΛλF... page #2). SAAF's (see ad... page #2) fundraising quickly took many innovative formats including the SΛλF Investment Program (see ad.. page #6) and special government grants (see article...SAAF Receives $373,000...page #1) (see ad ...Positions Available...page #2) with many of the grants soon reduced or later eliminated as governments cut their grant spending.  Also on July 1, 1997 for the first time the employees of the City of Tucson (see article... A View From The ...page #17) (also see listing... TEGLO... Non-Bar Calendar ...THURSDAY, JULY 10) were offered health insurance coverage for their Domestic Partners (see article... A View From The ...page #17). Pima County Employees received Domestic Partner benefits effective on April 26, 1998 (see article... Pima County Employees....page #1) (see... LETTERS... page #9) (see article...Supervisors Vote...page #1, 20) (see article...POLITICS 1997...page #6), while also in April of that year Tucson's bars were lovingly invaded (see ad...Condom Brigade....page #5) by the highly successful Condom Brigade Program (see article...Condom Brigade Coming....page #4) .

After winning the presidential election on November 3, 1993,  President William Jefferson Clinton pushed through the enactment of a Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy for gays serving in the U.S. military. Unfortunately, the policy only ended up further silencing all of those military Gays and Lesbians that were serving. Throughout the 1990's a constant back and forth battle was waged in the very liberal state of Hawaii for the government recognition of Same Sex Marriage under the existing governments system of marriage, divorce, and property settlement laws. The effort resulted in gay marriage being legal for just one day there before it was overturned by judges. 1993 saw the Hollywood movie Tombstone filmed out at Old Tucson Studios and some of the Tucson LGBT community answered the call for movie extras, and found work on the film.

Local Gay and Lesbian union and non-union movie and stage techicians were also called out on the production. In 1994 the highly advertised Pride Tour of Puerto Peñasco (see... LETTERS...page #19) that was set for the weekend of September 10, 1994 (see... LETTERS...page #19) turned into a class action lawsuit when promoters claimed (see... LETTERS...page #19) not enough tickets were sold however did not refund back the monies paid to them by individuals and groups (see... LETTERS...page #19). The Tucson Greater Softball Association (T.G.S.A.) (see article-photo ...Tucson Gay Softball...page #4) (see ad-announcement... SOFTBALL IS BACK....page #17) held its First Opening Day Ceremony on June 26, 1994 (see article-photo... Opening Ceremonies...page # 1) offering both players and fans plenty of action packed fun (see article...TGSA Looking for...page #2) (see article...TUCSON GREATER....page #15) filled ball games and other activities but later in the decade cancelled the 1998 season for lack of interest (see article...Spring/Summer Softball....page #2) by the community. In November of 1998 the City of Tucson formed the  Tucson Commission On GLBT Issues by order of  Mayor George Miller as a task force which then began meeting regularly.

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

1994 Gay Pride Festival Tucson

By the close of the decade in 1999, Tucson's LGBT community would see numerous changes, consolidations, closures, new faces that had moved in from other states, and new startups. The Gay Pride Picnic had become more of a Festival and had been moved from its original place of  Himmel Park held in June and changed to a new time and place of October at Gene Reid Park for the cooler weather, larger space & to coincide with National Coming Out Day (see article... Perspective...page #19) which had quickly gained in popularity, while the organization and production of the event had been formally taken over by the Tucson Lesbian/Gay Alliance (T.G.L.A.) group. On April 7, 1993 the (T.G.L.A.)  group announced they did not charge for booth spaces (see article... Important Information... page #14) but that the city and county officials had revised the rules on booths in parks wanting to get their share of the events money (see article... Important Information... page #14) and that their fee would be minor (see article... Important Information... page #14). 

 The Sunday June 20, 1993 Gay & Lesbian Pride Picnic XVI (16) (see article... Controversy Surrounds ...photos pages #1, 20)  at the N/E corner of Himmel Park (see article... Controversy Surrounds ...photos pages #1, 20)  was highly successful (see photos page #20), despite the last minute attempts by the Tucson Police Department & The Arizona State Liquor Board  (see article... Controversy Surrounds ...photos pages #1, 20) (and who and or what group had influenced them to do so) to deny the permit to be there in the park just before the events opening. The possibility of being denied a Pride Picnic that early morning caused a near riot as those waiting for the event to open began picking up rocks-sticks-bottles-cans and anything to throw at the government officials as they listened to the events Co-Chair Jack Stockslager (see article-photo... page #1) make the announcement and only began dropping the items when Stockslager announced the event would be held.

The next year's 17th Annual 1994 Pride Picnic with its record setting 18,000+ attendance  (see article... pages #1, 22)  (see article-photos...page #1) (see photo's page #8) (see article... FYI...page #10, 15) (see photo's pages #12, 13) held for the first time (see article... page #1) on October 8, 1994 (see ad... page #24) and for the first time (see article... page #1) at the larger with more available parking Reid Park  (see map... page #19) under a change in leadership as the previous leaders of T.L.G.A. stepped aside and fresh faces took over the event (see article....17th Annual....page #1, 22) . Under the leadership of T.L.G.A.'s President & event Co-Chairman John R. (Big John) Haase (see article-photo...TLGA Elects...page #3) and Sandra Lightner (see article-photo...TLGA Elects...page #3).

Curiously, both of Tucson's largest newspapers the Arizona Daily Star & Tucson Citizen failed to cover the event both prior or during the event (see... LETTERS...page #11). At the 1994 event the admission and beer was still free  (see article... page #1, 2) or attendees could bring their own beer only in aluminum cans (see article... page #1, 2) with no hard alcohol allowed due to state laws, security was provided by trained volunteers from within the LGBT Community & a few Tucson Police Officers paid at Police Union Scale who for the first time had a recruiting booth at the event & had no arrests or problems that day (see article... page #1, 2) (see article... TLGA Seeks...page #2) (see article-photos...page #1) , and attendees tents were allowed to be set up along the outer perimeters (see article... page #1).

1990s  Around LGBT Tucson®

1990s  Around LGBT Tucson®

  

One spin off from the 1994 event  (see article...FYI...page #19) was the separation of the Annual Fiesta de Mayo Pride Picnic Fundraiser, the major Gay Pride Week fundraiser, as no longer being a Tucson Lesbian & Gay Alliance event (see article...FYI...page #19) (see article....Fiesta de Mayo....page #1, 24....see ad page #7) but instead became soley owned by Minnie Minerva (see article...FYI...page #19) a.k.a Martin Gastelum (see ad...TO THE TUCSON GAY....page #4). Later in 1996 (see article...TLGA Elects New....page #7) (see article...OUTlines...page #9) the event  would for the first time no longer include free beer & soda's (the 1994 event had seen 1,500 attendees consume 48 beer kegs ...that's 7,970  twelve (12) ounce glasses of beer... see article FYI...page #10, 15) as the events funding structure was changed away from the various LGBT community fundraisers held throughout the year in the past. Soon locals saw the events management and others riding around on golf carts, chain link fences placed around the event, and ever increasing admission, booth, park & permit fees to help cover the events ever rising costs to produce.

 The days of the event when attendees could bring in their own favorite home cooked foods or their water, be misted with a fire hose's fine mist spray compliments of Michael Bennett Co-Owner of the Club 2520 (see.. In Memoriam... page #3), or play on the wet Slip & Slide in their swim suits or short pants sliding down the hill (see article) (a.k.a. the Mud Bog...see LETTERS...page #20) in the encompassing heat of Tucson's late June weather (see... LETTERS....OPEN LETTER TO TLGA...page #20), or having a BBQ with their friends (see...In Memoriam...page #2) as the event had originally started out in 1977 (see 1970's) had passed. However, it was no longer 1977 (see 1970's) as each new year seemed to bring new added Government & Parks Department Regulations as well as new increased Fees while at the same time there was always new excitement, new faces, new events, new shows, and new experiences as an ever growing and ever changing Tucson LGBTQ Community and the world marched into the future. New ideas for events, and fundraisers were held as what had once been a one day Pride Picnic evolved into more than a week of activities including for the first time the immensely popular Gay West  (see article....Nearly 2,000 Attend...pages #1, 24) Pride Week Fundraising Event held out at Old Tucson Studios for the first time on Saturday June 26, 1997 beginning at 6pm. 

On February 15, 1996 (see article...Surfing with Cyber-Queers....page #7) after twelve (12) years (see 1980's) as a printed weekly publication bringing local, state, national, and international Gay related news to Tucson, the Southern Arizona LGBT communities, and beyond the The Weekly Observer (see article...Surfing with Cyber-Queers....page #7) (see ad...ASTOUNDING....page #8) (see ad...Observer On-Line On World...page #23) (see article....Surfing with....page #5) (see...WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?...page #20) came out  online to the world. Within days the Observer website (see article....Electronic Observer Hit By....page #1, 20) had been Hacked into and had to be switched to a different host bringing it soon right back online. The first web page to be hosted by the Observer for another LGBT business in Tucson (see article....Surfing with...page #7) became the It's 'Bout Time bar (see article....Surfing with...page #7) a.k.a. I.B.T.'s on March 2, 1996 (see article....Surfing with...page #7). In the entertainment world, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres made headline news by being the first major television star to come out as a Lesbian, both on the screen and off in her own personal life. Ironically, DeGeneres talk show simply called Ellen was canceled a year after her character's coming out.

1995 Tucson Gay Rodeo Grand Marshal

1995 Tucson Gay Rodeo

1995 Tucson Gay  Rodeo

Toward the end of the decade, Valentina's Cocktail Lounge (see ad...page #7) (see ad...page #6) located at 3455 E. Grant Road opened at 11am... on Wednesday November 3, 1999 (see ad-announcement...page #7) providing patrons a welcome cocktail lounge styled atmosphere with lively shows, the Stars (see ad..page #5) bar located at 536 N. 4th Avenue calling itself  A Place For Romance (see ad....page #5) provided live entertainment for a time but on November 27, 1999 no longer welcomed LGBT customers (see...Bar Calendar...NOTICE: Stars has closed as a Gay....page #18). The Ain't Nobody's Bizness bar (see ad...page #4) located at 2900 E. Broadway Boulevard Suite #118 and the Woody's bar (see ad....page #6) (see ad page #4) (see ad...page #2) (see photos...page #6) located at 3710 N. Oracle Road which opened on Monday November 8, 1999 and had its Grand Opening (see ad...page #9) later on November 20-21-22, 1999 (see... Bar Calendar of Upcoming Events...page #18) under the ownership of  Post-Graduate, Incorporated with its principal officers Frank Schepis & David Huff (see photos-ad....page #7) were the new gay bars in town toward the end of the decade. World AIDS Day 1995 (see article... Tucson To Observe World AIDS Day... page #1, 20) (see article World AIDS Day Online ...page #2) (see article...World AIDS Day commemorated...page #4) was observed on December 1, 1995 with six (6) local agencies taking part in planning the various activities (see article... Tucson To Observe World AIDS Day... page #1, 20) along with various others held each year during the decade of the 1990's (see article....World Aids Day 1999...page #6).

1992  A.G.R.A. 1st Tucson Gay Rodeo Button

1997  Graduate Bar  Queer Voice Youth Group Mural  Project Tucson

1995  Graduate Bar  Tucson

1997  I.B.T.'s Bar  Tucson

1997  I.B.T.'s Bar  Tucson

1997  I.B.T.'s Bar  Tucson

 The highly successful men's group Men's Social Network (a.k.a. M.S.N.) (see... founding photos...1, 2) began as the idea of Ray Evans who served as the first chairperson & represented men in the 50's age group, along with Gerald (Jerry) Curl who handled the public relations, and Les Elliot who wrote the newsletters (see exhibit of first Newsletter) (see...MSN Celebrates..page #5) (see...Tucson Men's Social....page #7) as a purely social group with an informal structure (see...Tucson Men's Social....page #7) along with friends organized and held its first start up meeting at 7pm March 4, 1995 with forty nine (49) men in attendance (see article...New Men's...page #2) at the Cornerstone Church Fellowship Hall (see article....New Tucson Men's...page #2) (see listings...Non-Bar CALENDAR...page #16) .  M.S.N. (see article...New Men's...page #2) quickly began putting out a Monthly Newsletter (see article....New Tucson Men's...page #2) and started offering many varied alcohol free events in private homes, public venues, hiking & recreational areas, along with monthly potluck dinners (see article....New Tucson Men's...page #2) held first at the Cornerstone Church Fellowship Hall and later down in the somewhat castle like fun atmosphere of the basement at the old downtown Masonic Hall/Scottish Rite Temple located at 160 S. Scott Avenue.

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

 

Nationally, on October 6, 1998 and into the next morning a 21 year old Gay student attending the University of Wyoming as a political science major,  Matthew Shephard was lured out of a Gay bar by two (2) young men posing as Gays who then robbed, beat, pistol whipped,  tortured and murdered  Matthew Shepard (see article... Openly Gay Wyoming University...page #1, 5, 10) (see article...Shepard...page #7) leaving him out in a rural area tied up to a rancher's wooden fence. The incident sent shock waves internationally and led to a push for passing more hate crime legislation (see article) on both the state and federal levels. Well over 800 people in the Tucson community attended a Memorial Candlelight Vigil for Matthew Shepard at the west end of the University of Arizona Mall (see article... Over 800 Attended...page #6) (see... LETTERS...DEAR OBSERVER...page #7) (see...AS I SEE IT...page #8) starting at 6pm the evening of Thursday October 15, 1998 (see article... National Coming Out Day A Sad....page #8) (see article... Over 800 Attended...page #6).  Locally in Tucson, a May 1998 robbery that according to reports started with the theft of a VCR and TV then ended with the murder of a mentally retarded and cerebral palsy physically disabled (see article) local Gay man, Mark Truesdell, 29, who was viciously stabbed to death 26 times in the chest in his North Campbell Avenue apartment by Ronnie Gene Sartin Jr., 30, who was tried and later convicted on a first-degree murder charge sent shockwaves through Tucson's Gay community.

1998 Matthew Shepard Murdered Only Because He Was Gay

1990s  Around Gay Tucson®

1998 Convicted Murderer's Of Matthew Shepard

The public access channel show THE "G" WORD (see ad-article...."G WORD" Update...page #20) (see article...THE G WORD....page #12) hosted by local graphics artist with the Weekly Observer Gary Neil Clark (see masthead....page #2) along with his guests provided the LGBT Community with comedy-news-hijinks-and more (see ad-article...."G WORD" Update...page #20) each week on Thursday nights at 8pm, the first Gay & Lesbian Awareness Class taught at the Tucson Police Academy (see article....First Class Taught....page #7) began at 8am on the Thursday morning of February 16, 1995 with a very lively group of police students, Dignity (see ad... page #8) (see 1970's) a group for Lesbian & Gay Catholics and their friends met regularly for services and socials, MCC Church (see article....MCC To Celebrate....page #15) which had been using the phrase A Lighthouse In The Desert (see ad page #13) (see article... LIGHT from the LIGHTHOUSE ...page #15) had instead later replaced it with the phrase Water Of Life (see article.... A Taste Of....also see ad page #13) added to the front of its name, the Cornerstone Fellowship Church, (see ad-article page #11) which had started up in 1986 (see 1980's) after some members had split off from the MCC in time located their church services to 2902 N. Geronimo Avenue. In the latter 1990's a Tucson chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans (see article PERSPECTIVE...page #19) (see article....Harsh Rebuff....pages #1, 4) (see article...Bush Bombs....page #16) (see article...Log Cabin Support Of McCain....page #1) was formed holding its first meetings at Wingspan's offices at 300 E. 6th Avenue.

October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park	October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park	October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park	October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park
October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park	October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park	October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park	October 17, 1998  OUToberFEST Pride Event At Reid Park

The AIDS assistance groups P.A.C.T. (see article... NEWS FROM P.A.C.T. ...page #13) (see LETTERS...THANKS TO...page #17) , T.A.P. (see article... TIPS FROM T.A.P.... page #4), Tucson Shanti Foundation (see ad... page #2) (see ad... WHATS UP... page #6) were gone forever and together reborn as S.A.A.F . A number of Tucson's Gay bars were also gone on December 31, 1999 at 12:01 including the The French Quarter bar (see ad... page #12) which had been sold by its original owners, Colette's West (see ad... page #12) bar, FineLine bar (see article...Fineline Dance Club...page #16), Rumors Hazzit (see ad... page #9) bar closed April 7, 1994 (see... Letters... page #10) (see article... WHAT'S UP DOC... page #9), Hours (see article-photo...page #17) bar which closed on Sunday September 26, 1999 (see article-photo...page #17), Club 2520 (see article... Club 2520 Sets Opening date... page #2) bar which had later closed after the death of its co-owner Michael Bennett (see... In Memoriam ...page #3), the PLUG Tucson (see ad...page #3) bar- Boom-Booms (see ad...page #7) bar-FineLine (see article...Fineline Dance Club...page #16) bar all at the same address as Club 2520 (see map...page #11) and all had shut down only lasting a short time due to financial, management, and or permit problems, the Graduate Bar along with its plastic air separation curtain at the entrance affectionally known to some as the "Shower Curtain" at the entrance was gone forever when it closed on Sunday June 6, 1999 after its lease had not been renewed,and held an auction of its memorabilia before being demolished to build an apartment complex development for college students, along with the The Rainbow Room (see ad... page #16) bar had all closed their doors forever. With it, they had all taken their very special unique Tucson atmospheres, their countless hosted Gay community events, and even some of their colorful patrons and employees with them into history. But, in the minds of many who paid their dues back during those times, who had come together so very closely for their common defense against the sometimes rampant homophobia (see article....POLITICS 1999...page #7), the memories were etched very deeply forever into their minds.    

1995 It's 'Bout Time (I.B.T.s) Bar Tucson

1995 It's 'Bout Time (I.B.T.s) Bar

1995 Around Tucson

Nationally, even though the case for same sex marriages in Hawaii (see article... Historic Same-Sex Marriage Ruling... page #1, 7) was later lost in 1999, there were several of the important benefits that were retained for those couples. In another U.S. state, gay marriage won a resounding victory in 1999 in Vermont, with the winning the right to Civil Unions that conferred virtually all of the same rights, benefits, divorce, and property settlement laws being accorded to the government regulated heterosexual marriages. In Tucson, during the 1990's the Observer newspaper (a.k.a. Tucson Observer) the staff included Editor/Publisher Robert (Bob) Ellis, Art & Graphics Gary Neal Clark (see masthead page #2) assisting Gary in the early 1990's was the very talented graphic artist Lance Penny (see masthead page #2) (see... In Memoriam... page #2) (see article... page #1) (see article... page #3) (see article... page #1) (see article... page #1), and a host of contributors/columnists/staff writers (see masthead page #2) including photographer Danny (Moose) Pagel (also a bartender at I.B.T.S.-see article... C.A.T. Awards...Bartender of the Year (MALE)... page #1) provided weekly articles including the popular and in depth POLITICS column by writer Mark Kerr (see article... POLITICS '93...  page #9) (see article... POLITICS '95...page #9) (see article... I Use Ponds! So Does A Duck! ...page #6) winner of the 1996 Arizona Press Club Award (see article... Observer Reporter Wins...page # 1) who later in the 2000's (see 2000's) went on to become the publications managing editor.

1995 P.F.L.A.G.  Tucson

1995 Around Gay Tucson

1996 Miss Gay Tucson

1990's Popular Button  In Tucson

 At the end of the 1990's gone were Ryan Wayne White a teenager from Kokomo, Indiana who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from his middle school because as a hemophiliac he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment later dying of  AIDS on  April 8, 1990 just one month from graduating from his high school, openly Gay actor Thomas (Tom) Louis Villard (see article... page #24) who died of AIDS complications on November 14, 1994, also early pioneer Tucson Gay bar - private club owner and newspaper publisher George E. Rederus (see... In Memoriam... page #6) died peacefully in his sleep on the night of Monday November 13, 1995, Activist and founder in the 1980's of the Tucson Shanti Foundation Michael Griffin (see... In Memoriam... page #5) (see 1980's) died on Monday December 30, 1995, early technology pioneer & P.A.C.T Wellness Program collaborator Jeff R. Glasser (see... In Memoriam...pages #2, 20) made his transition peacefully on February 23, 1996 (see... In Memoriam...pages #2, 20) in the arms of his partner, longtime Gay & Lesbian Civil Rights Activist Bella Abzug (see article... Rights Pioneer Bella.....page #1, 5)  the first Jewish Congresswomen in U.S. history died March 31, 1998 , Tish Tanner a.k.a. Garry Magnum (see.... In Memoriam...page #2) (see... AS I SEE IT....page #4) prominent Arizona Female Impersonator (see... In Memoriam...page #2) who entertained literally thousands including shows in Tucson (see... In Memoriam...page #2) died in his sleep at home the night of November 7, 1999, openly Gay storyteller & writer of the highly popular book The Naked Civil Servant  Quentin Crisp (see...AS I SEE IT...page #16) died on November 25, 1999, the founder of the Washington D.C. chapter of Act Up (a.k.a. AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power)  Steve Michael (see article... AIDS Activist...page #13) died  11:12 am Monday May 25, 1998, local Tucson Gay clubs favorite D.J.  & computer whiz Jeffery A. Strickler died on April 4, 1996 (see... In Memoriam...page #2), comedian-singer & actor George Burns born as Nathan Birnbaum half of the comedy team Burns & Allen died of heart failure on March 9, 1996 at age 100 at his home (see... AS I SEE IT...page #6) as Hollywood lost many of its royalty during the decade.

1999 New Year's

1999 New Year's

1999 New Year's

The Information Age (see article...The Cyber Year....page #1, 16) of the 1990's in Tucson had opened up with a population of 402,155 living within its then 157.5 square mile city boundaries making it the 33rd largest city in the United States at the time, and by midnight  December 31, 1999 had reached 475,451 people within the expanded 194.3 square mile city limits from annexation of additional Pima County land areas. For Tucson, the 1000's millennium was ending, and the new 2000's  millennium (see ad...page #9) was soon to be right on everyone's doorstep.

Many thought that with the new dependence on computers that were the systems everywhere in homes, stores, government, banks, etcetera, that the computers would not switch over to the year 2000 (see 2000's) and leave everything instanly in chaos in Y2K (see ad... Y2 What??....page #3) (see article...A Y2 Hangover?....page #4) (see....AS I SEE IT...page #8).       

1990 Tucson	1990  Around Gay Tucson®	1991  Nirvana	1990  Around Gay Tucson®
1992  K.D. Lang	1991 UofA Coming Out Day	1991  Around LGBTQ Tucson®	1991  Around LGBTQ Tucson®
1991  Around Gay Tucson®	1993 Mrs. Doubtfire	1991  Around LGBTQ Tucson®	1992 Absolutely Fabulous
1998 Britany Spears	1994 Showtime In Tucson	1994 Show Crowd Tucson	1994  Around Tucson®
1994  Showtime In Tucson	1994  Around Tucson®	1997  I.B.T.s	1998  Madonna
1997  Around Tucson®	1993 Tombstone Filmed  At Old Tucson Studios	1999  The Graduate Bar Tucson	1999 The Graduate Bar

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This Museum is dedicated to all those of the Tucson LGBT Community that have come before, are here now, and will take our places in the future of Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. 

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