The Rainbow Reserve Project is a nonprofit charity organization driven to construct the first saguaro cactus memorial forest that honors and protects our queer community beyond death, all while conserving land and propagating saguaros, iconic symbols of the Southwest.

Although giant old saguaros can be extremely resilient and live over a century, like those in the Saguaro National Forest, baby saguaros are taking the hardest hit with climate change. The team uses saguaros, sourced from local nurseries, as natural headstones to provide a peaceful resting place for queer souls in harmony with nature. These eco-burials, which utilizes the loved one’s ashes, are completely free to those in the queer community.

The team chose Salome, AZ in the stunning Sonoran Desert for the Reserve’s home, as saguaro cacti are only found in the region from central Arizona down into Sonora, Mexico. Additionally, these sacred plants are protected by Arizona state law, which prevents their theft or destruction, and are considered a state treasure which cannot be moved without special permits. This provides additional peace of mind should we encounter any outside issues in the future.

Let’s continue our impact on this world and sustain the Rainbow Reserve in order to:

• Honor and respect our loved ones in the LGBTQIA2S+ community

• Conserve and propagate the sacred saguaro in the Sonoran Desert

• Spread the impact and voice of the queer community beyond death

• Disrupt the death industry’s status quo by reimagining burial grounds

Thank you for helping us root queer legacy among the saguaros.