We Partner with Others to Become Unified
About Unify Sedona
Unify Sedona came about as a result of a need in Northern Arizona for dialogue and mutual understanding between and among our rural communities. The Arizona Community Foundation contacted a few of us and we met with their offer to facilitate open discussion. We then invited other interested individuals to join us in creating the four pillars that are the foundation of our organization: Non-discrimination, Youth and Education, Health and Aging and Transgender Issues.. The development of a non-profit, charitable organization followed and we organized as Unify Sedona...a rainbow alliance in September of 2018. We had our "Coming Out Party" on October 7, 2018 at the Mary D Fisher Theatre and have grown into a solid force in our local community through networking, hosting and co-sponsoring events and charitable giving. Our donors sustain our all-volunteer organization and we are grateful. We have facilitated films, depicting LGBTQ+ issues, with presentations, panel discussions and question/answer sessions. Some other issues of importance to the LGBTQ and minority communities that we have addressed head-on are book banning in schools and libraries, the growth of hate groups, and other social justice and human rights issues. We hold a Transgender Day of Remembrance annually each November to increase awareness of the senseless violence that takes too many lives each year. We embrace uniqueness, value the strength of togetherness, and work to build bridges that "Unify Sedona" and surrounding communities.
Non-discrimination
In many states, LGBTQ people can still be terminated from their jobs, denied housing, and denied services based solely on sexual orientation or gender identity. We want to advance same-sex and interracial marriage, equal opportunity housing and workplace equality and equal treatment for LGBTQ individuals in Arizona. We provide opportunities for community members to gather with us as we share our goal to be recognized as contributing members of our society, deserving of basic human rights and to be free just to live our lives. |
Youth and Education
We support organizations that address the direct needs of LGBTQ youth, who often face homelessness and bullying and drop out of school at much higher rates than their non-LGBTQ peers. We offer resources for youth and families and make referrals to other agencies, depending on individual and family need. Our donations to local schools, food banks and shelters have included PPE during the pandemic and we partner with PFLAG to offer scholarships to deserving LGBTQ+IA students. Donations of books and additional literature have been made to some of the local school and community libraries and we have provided speakers for teachers and students. |
Transgender Issues
Transgender individuals need a voice in Arizona and need to be not only understood, but included, ensuring that they can live without fear of physical and emotional harm. We held our first Transgender Summit in 2019, uniting transgender people, their families and all who want to understand and support them in a free, day long Summit. Since then, we have held an annual Transgender Day of Remembrance in November, marking that day for not only educating about transgender issues, but to remember those lost to violence in our annual candlelight vigil. |
Health and Aging
Discrimination continues to be an issue for the LGBTQ community in healthcare communities across this nation. Many providers of physical and mental health care services either haven’t had training or do not want to serve marginalized groups. This fear causes many LGBTQ persons to avoid seeking care. We want to support the lives of our aging communities from all walks of life. Our board is dedicated and is in process of planning a health care summit, bringing together health care providers from near and far to teach and learn from each other to improve services for all of our local and regional communities. |