About Wingspan

Wingspan is Southern Arizona’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community center. Wingspan is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves Tucson and Southern Arizona. Gifts to Wingspan are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by the IRS.

Newly redecorated lounge

Wingspan’s mission is to promote the freedom, equality, safety and well-being of LGBT people.

Wingspan envisions a community in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people:

  • are treated with dignity and respect.
  • live in a community free from violence and abuse.
  • live full, healthy, and interconnected lives.
  • are free to live openly with pride.
  • are celebrated in their full diversity.
  • feel part of an organized, supportive, and active LGBT community.
  • are empowered to participate fully as active citizens.

Wingspan’s values include a commitment to serve the community in accordance of these principles:

  • To actively value diversity within and among our communities, including diversity of opinions, beliefs, and values.
  • To work toward the elimination of homophobia, heterosexism, racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression in our communities and our lives.
  • To work toward the eradication of violence in our communities and our lives.
  • To ensure that the Community Center is a sober and alcohol-free space.
  • To strengthen and build the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
  • To promote the empowerment of marginalized groups within the LGBT communities such as youth, seniors, and people with disabilities.
  • To engage the community in our work through the promotion of volunteerism.
  • To keep the community informed of our actions and decisions.
  • To promote social change within and beyond our organization.
  • To seek collaboration that furthers our mission with like-minded organizations and individuals, including those that are not specifically lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender.
  • To align ourselves with other social justice related causes, including, but not limited to, the anti-violence, civil rights, feminist, and anti-racist movements

Wingspan provides an array of social and community services including:

  • Information and Referral Services phone line: information about local community resources, groups, activities and events.
  • InfoLink database: Listings of businesses, agencies, providers and services that are LGBT friendly
  • Anti-Violence Programs: crisis intervention and support services to victims of violence and education to the community about these issues.
  • 24-Hour Bilingual Crisis Line: 24 hour access to an Anti-Violence Programs Advocate who can assist in crisis situations and answer questions about LGBT issues.
  • Youth and Families Programs: programs that support seniors (Senior Pride), families (Rainbow Families) and youth (Eon).
  • Eon Youth Programs: emotional support, social and educational activities, substance abuse prevention, homeless services, and leadership training to youth ages 13-23.  A drop in Youth Center is open M-F from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
  • Homeless Youth Project: support and crisis intervention to homeless and near-homeless LGBTQ and straight-allied youth, including street outreach, referrals to social service agencies, and advocacy. Food, bus passes, clothing and hygiene supplies are also available Monday through Friday to youth through this resource.
  • iTEAM (Treatment Empowerment for Adolescents on the Move): culturally responsive services to youth ages 15 to 23, who identify with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and straight ally (LGBTQA) communities. iTEAM is a collaboration of CODAC Behavioral Health Services, Open Inn, Our Family Services, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), the University of Arizona, and Wingspan at the Eon “Lounge” Youth Center
  • Senior Pride:  peer-support and social and recreational opportunities for LGBT seniors while also educating service providers about the specific needs of this population.
  • Rainbow Families: volunteer-run activites where LGBT families can socialize and share resources.
  • Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA): information, support services and social opportunities for transgender people while educating businesses and health and human services providers about transgender issues.
  • Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors): social and outreach programming that promotes positive awareness for Latino LGBT people.
  • The Wingspan Community Center:  a free lending library and computer center open from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm M-F.