The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) announced it will host its annual LGBTQ+ softball tournament in Salt Lake City May 26-28, 2023, at the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex.
The top elite A and B division teams from NAGAAA organizations all over the United States and Canada will compete to determine the NAGAAA Cup Champions. The tournament also allows teams to qualify for the Gay Softball World Series. The games are open to the public and the entire community will be invited to cheer on the teams and join in a big party to bring the entire community together in support and unity.
Salt Lake was chosen by NAGAAA over other locations, not only for its natural beauty but because of the warm welcome extended by the entire culture. Salt Lake has an active and robust population that is excited to be involved in the event and organizers were impressed with how beautifully everyone here comes together.
“Salt Lake was the complete opposite of our expectations, we were so surprised at everyone’s friendliness, and their loving, welcoming attitude of acceptance.” said John Deffee, NAGAAA Commissioner. “This warm reception will be a big piece of our memory of our time here. With 45 years as an organization, we are built and founded on community. What started with a shared passion for softball turned into something much more profound. We change people’s lives and allow them a safe place to unapologetically be themselves. And that’s what we found in Salt Lake.”
With more than 80 percent of NAGAAA’s teams located on the West Coast, attendance is expected to be robust. With an estimated 1,100 attendees, NAGAAA is anticipated to have an estimated economic impact to the community of more than $1 million.
“We enjoy an open-minded, inclusive culture, where kind, open-hearted people embrace their differences and encourage new perspectives," said Clay Partain, managing director of Sports Salt Lake. “Hosting NAGAAA in Salt Lake is a perfect example of this. Here, progressive ideals, traditional roots and modern industries pull together to make a different, better way and we are excited to extend a warm welcome to them."
"We're proud to welcome the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance to the NAGAAA Softball Cup here in Salt Lake City," said Tanya Hawkins, Co-CEO at the Utah Pride Center. "LGBTQ+ representation in athletics is critical to creating a safe and welcoming place at sporting events. In welcoming NAGAAA, we hope that every participant enjoys the competition and camaraderie on the field and takes the opportunity to enjoy one of the most LGBTQ+ affirming cities in America."
2023 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance Cup coming to Salt Lake City youtu.be
Bringing NAGAAA here has required a team effort from the community. Partners include: Visit Salt Lake, the Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah, Salt Lake Pride League, Utah Sports Commission, SLC Stonewall, LGBTQ Chamber, and Communify.me.
About NAGAAA
NAGAAA has provided a fun, safe, and competitive environment for LGBT athletes for 45 years. The organization is the governing body over all 47 member leagues across the United States and Canada. Over 125,000 athletes have participated in the NAGAAA World Series and NAGAAA Cups. Major League Baseball recently partnered with NAGAAA to highlight the intersection between major sports and LGBT athletes.
About Visit Salt Lake
Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. In partnership with Salt Lake County, Visit Salt Lake improves the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors with a strong commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the area’s natural environment. Through its sales and marketing programs, Visit Salt Lake’s impact on Salt Lake’s annual $4.5 billion visitor economy equates to $1,166 in tax relief for each household within Salt Lake County. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.
onePULSE Foundation, the not-for-profit established following the June 12, 2016 tragedy to honor and preserve the legacy of those killed and to create a sanctuary of hope, has announced its free virtual film screening of The Transgender Experience, which is being held Wednesday, February 16 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The film screening and panel discussion called Conversation Starters, is part of a broader Conversation Series, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Central Florida Foundation, Lockheed Martin, Orlando Utilities Commission, and Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Conversation Series is part of Foundation’s onePULSE Academy, which is committed to positively impact change at the individual, group and community levels“The three films allow the audience to see the humanity of trans people,” said Dr. Earl Mowatt, vice president of education for onePULSE Foundation. “Whether you are straight, gay lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, or anywhere in between, this presentation is a great opportunity for you to learn more about a community who is often misunderstood.”
Mowatt is co-facilitating the panel discussion with Nikole Parker, director of transgender equality for Equality Florida. The panelists include: Angela Denk, mom of a transgender son and former partner of a transgender woman; Angelica Jones/Sanchez, LGBTQ+ advocate, entertainer and Pulse survivor; Brita Jackson, president/owner of Arquette Model Agency; and Jaime Jara, high school educator and mom of a transgender daughter.
To RSVP for The Transgender Experience, please select this link: Conversation Series - The Transgender Experience
About onePULSE Foundation
onePULSE Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated to manage the design and construction of the permanent national memorial and museum dedicated to the PULSE tragedy.
onePULSE’s mission is to create and support a national memorial that opens hearts, a museum that opens minds, educational programs that open eyes and legacy scholarships that open doors. Its vision is to establish a sanctuary of healing and a beacon of hope by memorializing the lives taken, the lives saved, and all the lives affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy of June 12, 2016 – ensuring Pulse’s legacy of love lives on forever. For more information, visit https://onePULSEfoundation.org/.
Fans of Four Peaks beer may be familiar with the Tempe brewery’s popular “Kilt Chaser” event. For the past decade, Four Peaks Brewing Co. has organized the fun run that attracts hundreds of people who compete in the race while wearing kilts.
This year, for Four Peaks’ 25th Anniversary, the event has a new venue and a new twist: The 2022 Four Peaks Kilt Chaser Fun Run will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 2 at Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, in Tempe. Runners will donate their denim and receive a kilt prior to running in the race.
Tempe-based FABRIC, a nonprofit sustainable fashion incubator and design studio, will repurpose and recycle the donated denim and host a fashion show at Tempe Marketplace on Earth Day, Friday, April 22. Four Peaks is also partnering with StartLine Racing and Bar Louie to host the Kilt Chaser event.
The first 300 kilt-donning runners to complete the 1K race will receive a medal. Prizes will also be awarded to first, second and third-place male and female winners as well as fun categories, such as “Who Wore It Best” and “Best Style.” After the race, Four Peaks will host a big party at Bar Louie, a popular gastrobar in Tempe Marketplace that serves delicious food and Four Peaks’ flagship Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale.
Four Peaks’ Culture Brand Manager Erin Schultz said the brewery has always been passionate about protecting the environment. It’s a key reason the brewery adopted the Four Peaks Wilderness area and organizes revegetation and trail-cleaning events throughout the state.
“This year, we saw a great opportunity to educate the public about the environmental impact of denim,” Schultz said. “Many people don’t realize that the production of jeans and the dyes used to create them are polluting our waterways. There’s also a lot of waste. One pair of jeans could require up to eight gallons of water, which is the equivalent of three days of water usage for an average household.”
Four Peaks decided to enlist the help of FABRIC Tempe, a nonprofit that provides apparel entrepreneurs with training, guidance, innovative industry resources, and access to no-minimum and on-demand manufacturing, so they can build sustainable fashion businesses domestically.
“Our hope with this year’s Kilt Chaser Fun Run is to educate the public about denim pollution and provide options for more sustainable apparel. For example, some companies are modifying their productions of jeans, using organic cotton, natural dyes, and natural or recycled materials for buttons and rivets,” Shultz said.
The registration fee is $30, with a portion of proceeds benefitting FABRIC Tempe.For more information or to register, visit www.fourpeaks.com.
Four Peaks has been a great ally to the LGBTQ community of Arizona.
Who: Four Peaks Brewery and FABRIC Tempe, with supporting sponsors StartLine Racing and Bar Louie
What: 2022 Four Peaks Kilt Chaser Fun Run (1K)-Participants will donate their denim for a kilt before running the race. FABRIC Tempe will repurpose and recycle the donated denim and host a fashion show on Earth Day (April 22) at Tempe Marketplace.
Where: Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, in Tempe
When: Saturday, April 2 at 10 a.m.Four Peaks and Bar Louie will host an after-race party starting at 11 a.m.
Why: To celebrate Four Peaks’ 25th Anniversary and bring attention to how denim adversely impacts the environment.
Registration: $30 fee; a portion of proceeds with benefit the nonprofit FABRIC Tempe.
Contact: www.fourpeaks.com or email Kasey@fourpeaks.com.
About Four Peaks Brewing Co.
Based in Tempe, Arizona, Four Peaks Brewing Co. has helped define craft beer in the Southwest since its founding in 1996. Four Peaks’ hometown pride and heritage are at the heart of their pubs in Tempe and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Their brewers are committed to creating exceptional beers meant to be shared and have 24 combined medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup to show for it. Anchored by the flagship Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale, Four Peaks brands are currently available in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii, Texas, California, Colorado, and Utah. Visit www.fourpeaks.com for more details.
AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Fun Run, the largest gathering in Arizona to support people living with HIV and raise community awareness, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.
AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Fun RunRSVP Photography
Quick Facts:
- AIDS Walk registration tent, presented by Gilead, highlighting their product, Bitkarvy, and the vendor village open at 1 p.m.
- The walk and run will start at 3 p.m.
- Information and registration forms can be found at www.aidswalkaz.org.
- Registration fees are $20 for students, $35 for individual walkers, $35 for virtual walkers and $45 for runners. Fees include an AIDS Walk shirt and sponsor swag.
- Registration for PAWS for the Cause, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Vodka for Dog People, for walkers bringing their dogs, is $10 and includes a PAWS for the Cause bandana.
- KIDS for the Cause (12 and under) can participate for free, but registration is required and they must be accompanied by an adult. Registration includes and AIDS Walk shirt and Kids for the Cause swag from the AIDS Walk vendor village.
Regina Gazelle Wells, who overcame serious struggles with substance abuse to become a committed trans activist and advocate for trans individuals affected by homelessness, substance abuse and HIV, and Elijah Palles, whose drag stage name is Eddie Broadway and is Mr. Trans USA 2020, are the AIDS Walk Arizona & 5K Fun Run co-chairs.
RSVP Photography
AIDS Walk Arizona has already raised nearly $130,000 toward its $200,000 goal. All proceeds benefit Aunt Rita’s Foundation’s 14 community partner agencies providing critical HIV services including testing, treatment, behavioral health, housing and prevention, among others.
Participants interested in creating a team or individuals interested in supporting a fundraiser or a participating team, can find details, instructions and information on the website.
For more information about AIDS Walk Arizona and 5K Fun Run, visit www.aidswalkaz.org. For more information about Aunt Rita’s Foundation, visit www.auntritas.org.
About Aunt Rita’s Foundation
In our mission to end HIV in Arizona, that quietly began 35 years ago with our first fundraising bake sale, Aunt Rita’s Foundation has granted more than $2 million to 14 partner agencies and continues developing innovative gap-filling educational and HIV prevention and testing programs that complement and support existing critical community-based resources. Partner agencies include The Bill Holt Clinic at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, CAN Community Health, Chicanos Por La Causa Luces Program, Ebony House, HEAL International, HIV Care Directions, Joshua Tree Feeding Program, McDowell Healthcare Clinic, Native Health, one n ten, Southwest Behavioral Health Services, Southwest Center and Terros Health. Aunt Rita’s distributes free Home HIV Test Kits through GetTestedAz.org and provides vouchers for confidential HIV and syphilis tests at 100 Safeway stores and Sonora Quest locations statewide. Aunt Rita’s also created the HIV and Aging Initiative to provide the rapidly aging HIV-positive community with specialized support. Aunt Rita’s signature fund-raising events are AIDS Walk Arizona, Picnic in the Park and RED is the Night. Aunt Rita’s Foundation also works to increase awareness and education about HIV/AIDS statewide through HIVAZ.ORG. For more information, visit www.auntritas.org or call (602) 882-8675.