G3 Tucson

WHERE IS THE MONEY?

Producing events is a legitimate business. Performers getting paid is fine, promoters and producers and venues making money is fine. After all, you expect to pay to go to a concert or a ballgame or even a drag show.

What isn't fine is when an event is promoted as a fundraiser or non-profit community event or non profit organization but doesn't come clean about who is handling the money, accounting for the money and reposting to the community how much was spent and on what and then who got the "proceeds."

For over a decade I warned the community about the lack of transparency at Tucson Pride as they failed to abide by the law, failed to file taxes and failed to provide any accountability --- ending up as we know with embezzlement, fraud and ultimately bankruptcy.

We, as a community, should have learned our lesson and need to demand better.
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This past weekend saw "OUTWEST," an event touted as an event for the community at Old Tucson Studios. That's a great idea and anything that brings the community together is a positive in my book and I want to support it.

But here is where I have a problem with it: On Facebook "OUTwest" is listed as a "non profit orgnanization" with every piece of marketing touting it as a community celebration with funds benefiting the community. It touted a plethora of "sponsoring organizations" in town, including SAAF, Fluxx Studios, Tucson Q***r Story, the gay chamber and the Alliance Fund. It gave vague reference to an organization called "C.A.R.E." being behind it and even said an event called "Pride on the Avenue" was helping to underwrite discounted tickets (which is Interesting since that event was also produced by this supposed CARE organization and meant to benefit the community).

Unless someone can prove otherwise, "C.A.R.E." does not exist and is not legit. It is Michael Kern (a.k.a the drag performer Jessica Michaels) who, according to a friend who contacted him about this, said he was not putting his name on anything because "it is about and for the community, not me."
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It all sounds magnanimous and Michael might have had genuinely good intentions...but I am calling bu****it and demanding both an explanation and a detailed accounting.

Why? Because yesterday an article appeared in The Tucson Sentinel quoting Michael as saying that Bisbee Pride was the "non profit fiduciary" behind both CARE and the event, which is curious since nowhere in all of the promotional materials and write ups is Bisbee Pride ever mentioned or does their logo ever appear.

I spoke to a friend of mine who is a boardmember of Bisbee Pride and asked him about it. It seemed strange to me because last year I was contacted by Bisbee Pride asking if I knew anything about a group in Tucson calling itself "C.A.R.E." which was asking them to act as a fiduciary. I was told the board had turned the request down. My friend checked his notes and confirmed to me that the board met on April 20, 2025 and did in fact vote the idea down. To make sure, he called another board member who was at the same meeting and she confirmed it as well.

So something does not smell right here.

Bisbee Pride has a record of terrible mismanagement and financial recklessness so it could be that the President of Bisbee Pride went behind the back of his own board or it could be that the Treasurer of Bisbee Pride is doing something shady ---- or Michael Kern is trying to appear as a non-profit when in fact he is not.

This is what seems to be clear however:

• no online ticket sales or cash went through the Bisbee Pride account or the Old Tucson ticketing operation
• the Bisbee Pride Board did not approve of or know anything about the event
• no one from Bisbee Pride was even at the event
• Bisbee pride has provided no governance or oversight

So who counted cash sales at the door go and how many tickets were sold (Michael claims in the article that 600 attended meaning $15,00-$20,000 in gross receipts), where did all this sponsor money from local nonprofit groups and vendors go?

Who exactly are we supposed to be trusting to insure that funds are not misused or even stolen? And, if the money did not go through the Bisbee Pride books, then how can this in anyway whatsoever be considered a non-profit (tax deductible) enterprise?
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I am sick and tired of promoters and organizations in our community wrapping themselves in the rainbow flag, saying things benefit the community, and then never being transparent about who is watching the money and never reporting the results.

Our community deserves some answers and I am calling on both Michael Kern and Bisbee Pride President/CEO Ramon Garcia to come clean and clear this up NOW.

Just a reminder that there is no G3 in April .

G3 WILL NO LONGER BE HOSTING MONTHLY HAPPY HOURS AT PLAYGROUND

New executive management is implementing changes at the club, integrating it more as part of The Hub Restaurant with the downstairs bar becoming a private dining room called “the Library” and the outdoor patio “cinema” being used for al fresco dining.

They are also making changes to their event partnerships. Instead of monthly events we are working with them on the idea of going 2-3 big G3s (like our recent pink party) —- which we think could be great!

For over ten years we have held events at Playground and look forward to more. While we regroup we would like to take the opportunity to express our appreciation to the owners, managers and staff, especially to Leah for her tireless support.

Most of all we want to thank the community for “Hanging Out With Us” these past two years at Playground. It has been fun throwing our theme parties.

THERE WILL BE NO G3 EVENT IN MARCH but are not going away.

There are big exciting changes on the horizon……

—- Pete and the G3 Team

G3 is more than just a happy hour.

While we encourage everyone to “Hang Out With Us” at our mixers, our motto is “Building Tucson’s LGBT+ Community One Good Time at a Time” because we believe there is value in getting diverse groups of people together and in the visability and exposure our events bring to the larger community, hosting events in more than 50 different venues across Southern Arizona.

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We believe our happy hours alone serve a need in our community but over the years we have also helped organizations grow and have responded to community needs as best we can.

Like the time we organized the community response to the 2014 anti-gay initiative of Governor Brewer SB1062 plastering VETO signs all over downtown and 4th Avenue, like the time we organized the “Arizona for All” block party the night the Supreme Court approved same-sex marriage, or like the many times we have helped SAAF; throwing a huge volunteer appreciation/afterparty after their fashion show, organizing their jello wrestling kick off and their Festival of Life morning after auction. Plus we organize our communitiy’s largest food drives (as well as the occasional brunch or pool party.)

We have lent a hand supporting groups get off the ground like rainbow habitat for humanity and Rainbow Rotary and have recognized individuals with our “Human of the Year” awards and just this past week celebrated over 100 community leaders at our Pink Party Appreciation Reception. We value our growing relationships with organuzations like Desert Voices and are especially proud of our support for the Tucson Inferno Gay Softball league.

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We have now been doing events for the past 14 years, contiuously trying to provide quality experiences and adapt to changing times.

In the aftermath of Tucson Pride collapsing we are gonna take a moment and evaluate how best to serve our community moving forward. But one thing we can announce is our commitment to help host the ASANA Womens World Series happening in October and will be actively recruiting volunteers (especially men) to “pitch in” and help.

So, on behalf of the men and women who have helped G3 over these past 14 years, thank you to the venues, sponsors, volunteers, and most of all our many thousands of guests for making G3 the most popular LGBT+ events in town

Great things are on the horizon….

Pete King

LAST NIGHT WAS AMAZING.

We had a huge turnout and there was a fantastic energy in the air, diverse and full of good intention. And it's all because the community came "out" in a way we have not experienced before.

It has us thinking what we can do to keep this momentum going. How can we expand participation, create even better events and do more to support our community.

So we're working on a bold new vision for G3.

Get ready Tucson. Some big exciting changes are on the horizon!

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We welcome your thoughts.

Last night was incredible! THANK YOU TUCSON for turning out.

I want to thank our cast of performers from the Miss Gay Tucson America Pageant --- best of luck tonight! Want to thank our DJs pretty sluck and nghtfvr and Rick Small and Shannon Roberts for underwriting our leadership appreciation reception downstairs at the beginning. I want to thank the crew at playground and I want to thank The G3 Team: Bryan, Curt, Scott, Rolland and Noe plus Sheryl and Barb from the gay softball league for "pitching in" as well.

It was our pleasure to bring the community together for such a memorable and joyous celebration.

Pete King
Producer of G3 Events

The pink lights are going up…

"You're turning violet, violet"...representing in fabulous purple we are thrilled to have Dave Wetstein who as "Aviva Diamond" was crowned the very first Miss Gay Tucson in 1986!

Performing at The Pink Party in an homage to both the Rainbow Flag and the 1980s Ballroom Scene in New York that gave rise to Madonna and vogue, we are pleased to present a POSE-style runway performance called "The Rainbow Vogue Parade"

Presented by The Miss Gay Tucson America Pageant, it features six guest performers representing the six colors of the original Rainbow Flag.

Lady singing the blues is Vendetta VIxen, Miss Gay Tucson America 2025!

Performing at The Pink Party in an homage to both the Rainbow Flag and the 1980s Ballroom Scene in New York that gave rise to Madonna and vogue, we are pleased to present a POSE-style runway performance called "The Rainbow Vogue Parade"

Presented by The Miss Gay Tucson America Pageant, it features six guest performers representing the six colors of the original Rainbow Flag.