Visibility Matters
Lavina Tomer Retires as Executive Director of Southern Arizona Senior Pride
By Sarah Bahnson , LGBTQI+ Community Liaison
On-going events: Registration is required for attendance - soazseniorpride.org GBTQI+ Mens Loss Group ; weekly on Tuesday; 1:30–3pm; in-person Elder Discussion/Support Group ; second Saturday; 1:30–3pm; in-person Pride thrive; an endeavor that landed her AARP’s most prestigious award for volunteerism. Lavina will receive the 2022 AARP Arizona Andrus Award for Community Service for her “remarkable service, which has greatly benefited her community…” (AARP.org) As one of PCOA’s valued partners, Southern Arizona Senior Pride has adversely impacted police response, who frequently did not take reports seriously. Additionally, social service organizations were ill-prepared to offer proper security to a survivor of violence from a same-sex relationship. Lesbian and gay survivors of violence often felt law enforcement and social services were not options for them if they needed to leave an abusive relationship, exacerbating experiences with violence and isolation. Lavina’s work in anti-violence activism and education created programmatic culture shifts with law enforcement, victim’s advocacy groups, providers of sexual assault support, and domestic violence shelter and support, all of which have made efforts to improve outreach and services to LGBTQI+ survivors of violence. Lavina’s dedication to her community ensured that Southern Arizona Senior Pride survived the closure of Wingspan in 2014. In part, her tenacity helped Senior
Southern Arizona Senior Pride celebrating, supporting and uniting LGBTQI+ older adults 520-312-8923; info@soazseniorpride.org; soazseniorpride.org All in-person events require masks and vaccinations, bring your card. activists and social service providers. Most remarkable about Lavina’s work in domestic violence is that she generated cultural shifts at organizations involved in supporting survivors of violence. During that time in society, LGBTQ people were not seen as having relationships that were as valid as straight people. Myths about gay and lesbian intimate partner violence Award-winning community builder and activist, Lavina Tomer, has retired as Executive Director of Southern Arizona Senior Pride. A true lover of the desert southwest, Lavina has been a Tucson resident for most of the last 49 years. During that time, she became one of the driving forces behind local LGBTQI+ culture and in making Tucson an LGBTQI+-friendly city. Lavina founded Wingspan’s Domestic Violence Project in 1993; the project Lavina began at Wingspan (Tucson’s former LGBTQI+ Resource Center) continues today through Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. Over the years, those programs have helped thousands of survivors of intimate partner violence receive needed resources and inspired newer generations to become
Senior Pride Book Club ; third Wednesday; 2–3:30p; on Zoom Gathering in Himmel Park ; third Saturday; 10–11:30am; in-person Walk and Roll - Enjoy an outdoor activity with friendly people; third Tuesday; time will vary; in-person There are more events each month. Stay tuned in on the website. offered critical technical support in the development of “Visibility Matters,” our suite of trainings to educate community providers about the unique needs and concerns of LGBTQI+ older adults. Ideally, this suite of trainings is also generating a cultural shift across community providers to ensure better quality services and support to LGBTQI+ older people and their families. On a personal note, Lavina has been someone I respect and value as a human, as a fellow lover of the desert, and as a mentor and friend. Lavina has made a deep and lasting impact on me and on our Tucson community for the better. On behalf of PCOA, we wish her the very best in this next chapter. Happy Retirement, Lavina!
Page 24 | October 2022, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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