From education to the arts to every choice of lifestyle, Tempe is the Valley's center of expression. It comes as no surprise that Tempe is the leader in progressive thought, policies and action in Arizona.

• LGBT nondiscrimination policies have been adopted by Arizona State University and the City of Tempe.
• Tempe Police and Fire Departments actively recruit members of the gay and lesbian community.
• Tempe hosted the 2004 Out and Equal Workplace Summit at the Wyndham Buttes Resort (currently The Buttes, A Marriott Resort).
• The Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau has been honored as the Community Ally of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
• The Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau's LGBT promotions have received awards from the Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and at the Arizona Governor's Tourism Conference.
• From 1996 through 2003, Tempe was America's largest city with an openly gay mayor, Neil Giuliano.  Neil was also the Executive Director of GLAAD and recently ended his tenure there in 2009. 
• Arizona State University in Tempe is the first university nationwide to officially recognize both a gay fraternity, Sigma Phi Beta, and lesbian sorority, Gamma Rho Lambda.