In this week's newsletter: How the state's abortion law could affect the community; Republicans accidentally leak a plan for abortion; A full week of queer events; And a brand new Out of the Closet to win free swag.
CELEBRATE YOURSELF
Every week, we highlight the lives of our readers by showing off what queer joy looks like to them. Show off your life by replying back to this email with a photo, or tagging us on Instagram@lookoutphx.
A LOOKOUT sighting at the March Madness Music Festival.
LGBTQ+ ABORTIONS: If you think that abortion law only affects cisgender straight women, you'd be very wrong.
Data released by the Human Rights Campaign in 2022 shows that LGBTQ+ communities, specifically bisexuals and lesbians, are more likely to need abortion care than their straight counterparts—and not by a small amount.
Citing statistics from the federal 2017-2019 National Survey for Family Growth, the report said 22.8% of lesbian women and 27.2% of bisexual women reported needing an abortion. That is in comparison to 15.4% of exclusively heterosexual women who needed to terminate a pregnancy. Read our full story here.
WHAT WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON: The study cites that abusive relationships and forced sexual encounters are often to blame for unwanted pregnancies among lesbians and bisexual cisgender women.
But there's also access to contraception, and sex education. For those who have been keeping up with our reporting, we've been deeply looking into how the state's poor sex education has an effect on the queer community. Increased HIV and syphilis diagnoses have been two issues we highlighted earlier this year. And last month, we reported on how outdated regulations could push youth into more risky behavior.
We want to know about your experiences in this realm, and our reporter Shelby Rae Wills is ready to take your call and hear your story. You can reach them at rae@lookoutphx.org.
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Finding news you can trust to cover your community is difficult, especially when more local newspapers are bought by mega-millionaires or people out-of-touch with your needs. At LOOKOUT, we are independently funded exclusively by readers like yourself. If you enjoy the work we do, click here to become a monthly or annual donor.
🌵 LOCAL NEWS
OOPS!:
The Republican strategy to undercut voters this November in the event of a yes vote for abortion access was leaked on accident by a member of the House.
LOOKOUT
FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS:
LOOKOUT is a finalist in the Glen Nelson Center's Next Challenge for Media & Journalism. Ten out of 200 startup news outlets were chosen. If we win, we have a chance at up to $60,000 in grant funds.
Next Challenge
ABORTION BAN CONTINUES:
After the Senate successfully voted to introduce a bill banning the 1864 territorial-era law banning abortions, the House for the second time shut it down.
AZ Mirror
🇺🇸 NATIONAL NEWS
FUTURE RELIEF?:
More transgender Americans are facing stressful encounters in their everyday lives. Could November's election change that?
The 19th*
SHOOTINGS:
After a mass shooting, online agitators such as Libs of TikTok and Elon Musk have used the opportunity to say the perpetrators are trans. That hasn't been true, but it's part of a long history of portraying trans people as violent.
them.
REPEALING LANGUAGE:
A coalition has been staffed to try and repeal anti-LGBTQ+ language from Hawaii's constitution.
Hawaii News Now
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Have a community event coming up you want LOOKOUT to highlight? Email us.
Fri. April 19 - Bawker Bawker Cider House is hosting a queer speed dating night in Tucson. Info
Sat. April 20 - Join Phoenix Pride and Southwest Center in learning how to address mental health treatment and stigma. Info
Sun. April 21 - Go grab some brunch with the Queer AF crowd at Hotel Congress. Info
Sun. April 22 - Join Sassy DeMornay during a Drag Story Hour online. Info
Tues. April 23 - YumBar is hosting an “Unstable Unicorns” game night with the crew from Phoenix Takeover. Info
Tues. April 23 - Boycott Bar is screening "The Lesbian Bar Project: FLINTA." FLINTA is a German acronym for marginalized genders. Info
Fri. April 26 - Black Phoenix Organizing Collective is selling wares from disabled artists and merchants at Palabras Bookstore. Info
Fri. April 26 - Friends of the Pima County Public Library are having a Community Used Book Sale. Info
Sat. May 18 - Get all dressed up for the Sparkle Glitter GLSEN prom. Info
OUT OF THE CLOSET
Without the LGBTQ+ community, there’s less meaning. Guess the word below with only the support of the letters L, G, B, T, Q, I, A and submit your answer to be entered into our monthly drawing for exclusive LOOKOUT swag. The more times you play, the more chances you get to win! The next drawing will be April 30.
_LI_TA
Hint: The German acronym for marginalized genders. (Another hint: scroll up.)
From Proud Boys showing up at charity shows, to Kris Mayes' proposed rules to end a ban on gay male blood donation... here are the stories LOOKOUT published in April.
LOOKOUT did a lot last month, from radio spots to our first collab with another news outlet. In case you missed all of that, we compiled it all below for you.
Hobbs spoke at a gala this weekend for LGBTQ+ youth: "With me as your governor, you have not just an ally, but a champion."... A new "Eyes on the State"... and our next Listening Session is March 30.
