The Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) envisions a society where transgender and transsexual people are ensured of their basic rights and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.
To achieve this goal, SAGA offers support, social, and discussion groups that reflect the various aspects of gender and society. We also provide educational forums and trainings for businesses, service providers, and community members to learn more about the issues facing transgender, transsexual, intersex, and gender-variant people and their significant others, friends, families, and allies, and we provide information on how our allies can be supportive and inclusive.
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SAGA member Amanda Simpson has been appointed by the Obama Administration to be a Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce. She'll be working in the Bureau of Industry and Security.
"I'm truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me. And at the same time, as one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others."
The U.S. Department of Justice has joined a landmark federal lawsuit on behalf of a gender non-conforming middle school student who faced a two-year ordeal of harassment and abuse because of his gender expression. The Department's action last week marks the first time in a decade the US government has gone to court to combat discrimination based on gender expression.
Much to the disappointment of many, SAGA's good friend and companion, Sr. Luisa Derouen has announced that she will will be retiring from active ministry this spring, and leaving Tucson for her mothership in Kentucky. We all miss Sr. Luisa, but want to celebrate this achievement with her and wish her godspeed with the remainder of her journey.
One person's transition is a transition for everyone. As the partner, spouse, parent, ally or close friend of a transgender or transsexual person, you may feel betrayed, angry, confused -or delighted - by the all consuming nature of transition and the complexities of life, love and intimacy that accompany the journey. Desert Partnerz was formed to help gain a better understanding of the ways gender diversity can impact relationships. Share your feelings, concerns, and experiences.
Meetings of Dezert Partnerz will take place on the third Thursday of each month from, 6:00 - 8:00pm at Wingspan/Eon. All are welcome. For more information, click here...
Recently SAGA member Stephanie Baldwin returned from a trip to India, where she visited with the hijras, participated in Pride of Bangalore, and generally experienced life on the other side of the world. We've posted some pictures from Stephanie's trip in our Photo Album.
On October 30, 2009, our community suffered the enormous and irreplaceable loss of Ms. Michele Renee deLaFreniere. Michele was a prominent figure spanning the LGBT communities, as well as Scottsdale city government and local media.
The National Center for Transgender Equality has recently developed an interactive map, showing the policies for gender change on Drivers' Licenses in the various 50 states.
According to this map, in Arizona "A customer must request that the gender noted on the record be changed. To accomplish this change, the customer must apply for a new license (duplicate). It is not necessary for the customer to have completed the surgical gender-change procedure. A signed statement from a licensed physician is required. The signed statement must: include a statement to the effect that the customer is irrevocably committed to the gender-change process; include the physician's license number; and, be presented within three months from the date the statement was signed by the physician.
There are several issues and some flaws in our communities' ways of working through our own very difficult and often confusing journeys. I've heard several respected therapists who work with transgender people suggest treating us for PTSD or severe grief reactions. I'm not sure that is called for with all of us but I do think we (trans folk) often minimize the challenges and losses we face.
A new series of web sites has opened, providing mentoring support to newly actualized transgender people. From the site's portal:
There are so many questions when you are just starting out with transitioning, and finding answers isn't always easy when scattered all over the internet world. We all needed answers and support when we began our transitions.
TransMentors International gives individuals a means of communicating with and meeting with local transgender men, women and teens who are willing to support and encourage you in your respective journeys.
The Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara has released the findings of a survey, conducted by Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA), that shows that transgender veterans are being turned away and being mistreated in high numbers by Veterans Administration medical facilities. The survey of 827 U.S. military veterans and active-duty personnel mark the first major empirical findings on transgender people in the military. This represents a strong sampling from what is estimated to be approximately 300,000 veterans in the US who identify as being transgender.
Pima Community Access Program (PCAP) offers an affordable health insurance option for individuals and employers. Pima County residents who can't afford health insurance or work where health benefits are not offered may be eligible if they earn too much to qualify for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Under the income guidelines, a family of four can earn up to $51,625 a year.
We've instituted a new area on the SAGA web site, where we will be publishing (or linking to) extraordinary essays and rants by members of the organization.
To visit our new Blog section, select "Blogs" from the menu on the right, or alternatively, click here.
If you have an essay or article you would like to submit for consideration, mail it to
We surveyed the procedures for making name and gender changes to birth certificates, in each of the U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Go to "Resources" and press "Birth Certificate Changes" or click here for a thorough analysis of what it takes to change your birth certificate in each state and province.
The Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) envisions a society where transgender and transsexual people are ensured of their basic rights and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.
by the Obama Administration to be a Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce. She'll be working in the Bureau of Industry and Security.
has announced that she will will be retiring from active ministry this spring, and leaving Tucson for her mothership in Kentucky. We all miss Sr. Luisa, but want to celebrate this achievement with her and wish her godspeed with the remainder of her journey. 
For more information...