ONE Community, a statewide coalition of LGBT-inclusive organizations and individuals, celebrated this October’s LGBT History month with the eighth annual Spotlight on Success: Local Hero Award ceremony.
The ceremony, held at the Sheraton in downtown Phoenix Friday, honored the diverse LGBT community by awarding local LGBT allied businesses and individuals for their commitment to the organization’s Unity Pledge.
In 2013, ONE Community launched a pledge promoting equality in the workplace, housing and public accommodations in the nation. More than 2,700 businesses and 18,000 citizens have taken the Unity Pledge, according to the organization.
This year’s local hero awards honored John Graham, president and CEO of Sunbelt Holdings; Sylvia Moir, Tempe’s chief of police; Ed Zito, retired president of Alliance Bank of Arizona; Josh Nuñez, founder and owner of Nuñez & Associates; Tyler Conaway, policy leader at PayPal and chair of Paypal PRIDE; Robert Chevaleu, president of Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization; and Linda Lyon, president of Arizona School Boards Association.
“Talent is the cornerstone of economic development, inclusion and diversity is the key to attracting the right talent,” said Zito, one of the award winners in a pre-recorded video shown at the luncheon. “This requires all of us to step up and recognize the things that need to be accomplished, because it is the right thing to do.”
Carey Peña, an Emmy award-winning journalist and founder and CEO of Inspired Media, hosted the ceremony and luncheon.
“Maybe if we all get to know each other a little bit better, we can close the hate gap,” Peña said. “I would love to see nothing more for myself and for my children and that is why I’m here today, supporting ONE Community’s vision of a fully inclusive Arizona.”
In 2008, Angela Hughey and Sheri Owens co-founded the One Community Foundation, a nonprofit, member-based coalition of businesses, organizations and individuals who support diversity, inclusion and equality for all Arizona citizens, according to ONE Community.
In 2014, the organization launched its #OPENAZ campaign to fight against Arizona’s SB 1062, a bill giving exemptions to state law for individuals who feel their exercise of religion is being burdened. Many advocates saw the bill as targeting the LGBT community by allowing businesses to terminate, refuse service and deny public accommodations due to factors like a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill passed the legislature in 2014 but was vetoed by then-Governor Jan Brewer days later.
The ceremony closed with Hughey thanking attendees and honorees for their leadership and commitment to LGBT inclusion.
“Together we are defining the path forward in this great state and it is not a red or blue path or even a purple path, it’s Arizona’s path,” Hughey said during the ceremony. “We will continue encouraging the governor to update the state of Arizona employee non-discrimination policies to include gender identity, and what we are encouraging is nothing more than what more if not all businesses and organizations in this room have already done.”
Hughey also highlighted cities like Scottsdale, Mesa, Safford, Chandler and Gilbert, which all have LGBT inclusive employment policies.
A raffle was held for attendees, with 100 percent of the profits going toward the ONE Community Foundation.
Michael Martin, the executive vice president of Tempe Tourism said the ceremony was “enlightening because a lot of times you don’t know the story behind the story.”
“Whenever they actually show these videos and show the work that’s being done behind the scenes by people in the community, it’s inspiring because sometimes you … feel a little bit disheartened whenever things look negative in the public,” said Martin. “Then all of sudden you see these community leaders who are doing things that are positive and it gives you hope.”
Correction: A previous version of this article stated SB 1060 became law in 2014. The article has been updated to reflect the bill passed the legislature in 2014, but was vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer.
For questions, contact the reporter at jpbeltra@asu.edu.
