Rainbow Build

An LGBT family in Tucson will benefit from a Habitat for Humanity project.

By Laura Latzko

LGBT family will benefit from Habitat for Humanity project in Tucson

A Habitat for Humanity project will bring together members of the LGBT community to build a house for one of their own in Tucson.

Rainbow Build II will be raising funds for the project in January with construction planned for February, according to Michael McDonald, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Tucson.

The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation is a leading organization in the project that's expected to involve LGBT community members, religious leaders, military personnel and people from the University of Arizona.

During the first Rainbow Build in 2005, LGBT community members helped to build a house for a straight Mexican-American couple with a hearing-impaired daughter. For Rainbow Build II, the house will go to an LGBT family.

McDonald said the project is meant to challenge people's pre-conceived assumptions and stereotypes.

"It strikes people that we can find a common ground and address needs during these tough times," McDonald said. "We are a diverse community. Let's be neighbors, celebrating that diversity and helping people from all walks of life."

Rainbow Build II will receive $2,000 from the Alliance Fund, one of 13 projects to be awarded grants to help to promote diversity in the community or that work to build greater networks for LGBT youth in rural communities.

"What we are trying to solve is a queer kid in a rural community who thinks he or she is the only one and doesn't know what to do or where to turn or who to talk to," said Doug Noffsinger, chairman of the Alliance Fund.

Noffsinger, who helped with the first Rainbow Build house, said although there were initially concerns about people from different backgrounds being able to work together, the project allowed people to build relationships. It also pushed many LGBT people to participate in their first Habitat project, he said.

McDonald said that families are chosen for Habitat for Humanity houses because of their living situations, their incomes and their willingness to complete volunteer hours and training.

Other Alliance Fund grant recipients include the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation's health program for homeless youth and suicide prevention training program, Wingspan's "warm line" for LGBT youth and leadership and transgender programs, New ARTiculations Dance Theatre's LGBT dance project, the Tucson Jewish Community Center's LGBT film series and the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault's anti-harassment and public safety project.

The Alliance Fund grant awards presentation will be at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Casa Feliz at Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road, Tucson. -E