Community Resource Directory
"Come Out" for Lesbian & Gay Men's Pride Awareness and Commitment Week!
Lesbian and Gay Men's PAC (Pride-Awareness-Committment) Week, scheduled for October 5-1 2 is a series of University-wide programs designed to raise public awareness of the existence, needs, and concerns of the lesbian and gay men's communities at the U-M and throughout Ann Arbor and its environs. The sponsoring office, the Lesbian-Gay Male Programs Office, hopes to: Include, portray, make visible and celebrate the variety of lesbian and gay men's experiences; Educate the community about the destructive effects of homophobia and heterosexism; Provide opportunities for lesbians and gay men to come together to learn from each other and to build a sense of community and common purpose; Acclaim the achievements of lesbians and gay men in all facets of life; Encourage the formation of a broad-based coalition of people and organizations willing to work toward ending oppression in all its forms.
Please note that all events are free, open to the public and held in accessible facilities, unless otherwise noted. Events are subject to change. For up-to-the-minute recorded information call the PACIine at (313) 936-6250. For other concerns call 763-4186. For times and locations of events, consult the AGENDA Calendar.
"The PAC Week Gala Recognition Program and Reception" on Fri. Oct. 5 will recognize our friends and supporters from the University and the surrounding area who have worked to further the establishment and security of lesbian and gay men's civil rights.
"Wimmin's Night: Performances by Wimmin for Wimmin" on Sat. Oct. 6 will feature Repercussions, an Afro-Cuban, Latin, and African rhythms percussion ensemble with dancer Julia Bayha, singer/songwriter Lizette Chevalier, jazz violinist Ami Robinson, feminist comedienne Connie Webb and Matriarch of Ceremonies, M.C. Flash a.k.a. Felicia French. That same evening the "Gay Men's Coffee House" will offer performances by local artists including The Love Bees, a gay men's trio.
"Not Business as Usual: Exploring Lesbian and Gay Men's Lives" on Sun. Oct. 7 will offer a series of workshops on issues affecting the lives of lesbians and gay men such as: legal concerns, relationships, safer sex, and health care.
African American poet and activist Craig Harris will read from his works on Tues. Oct. 9 as part of an evening devoted to literature and the arts. Also featured will be Allison Bechdel, creator of the popular cartoon strip "Dykes to Watch Out For." Bechdel will address such topics as the traditional representation of female cartoon characters and drawing as therapy, and will speak about the development of her cartoon characters.
At "Reading Night at Common Language" on Wed. Oct. 10 lesbian authors Sarah Shulman and Renee Hansen will read from their works. Shulman will read from "People in Trouble" and Hansen from "Take Me to the Underground."
"U-M Jeans Day" is an Awareness Week tradition. On Thursday, Oct. 11 wear your denim to show support for our civil rights or stop by the PAC Week table on the Diag and pin on a denim square or pink triangle. Also, today is the "National Coming Out Day and March" celebrating Coming Out Day and protesting hate-related crimes against lesbians and gay men. Keynote speakers will be Urvashi Vaid, Exec. Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Craig Harris. After the rally, marchers will take to the streets to demonstrate against homophobic activities and practices at various Ann Arbor landmarks.
Urvashi Vaid, on Fri. Oct. 12, will offer "A Skills Workshop: Lesbians, Gay Men and the Media" discussing the relationship between our civil rights movement and the media as well as the effective use of the media. Later that night be sure to come celebrate at our grand finale for PAC Week - the and chemical-free "One Night Dance Club."
We hope to see our readers at all or at least many of these events, which are created by members of our community for our community.
Gay Liberation's Purpose is to provide information, counseling, and related social services for people concerned about sexual orientation. We maintain a hotline for crisis intervention, peer counseling and referral. We help provide factual information to offset prejudice and misinformation about lesbians and gay men. We work to obtain human and civil rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. We help lesbian and gay men's groups organize. And we are a link to other community groups.
Community Services include: a Hotline for crisis intervention, peer counseling, referral. Education: workshops and conferences on lesbian and gay male concerns, with an emphasis on how people in the "helping professions" and "teaching professions" can work positively with lesbian and gay male cliente, patiënte, & students. Speakers Bureau: phone for information. Human & Civil Rights: information and referral to help people who are being discriminated against because of their actual or presumed sexual orientation or because of their presumed "cross-gender" characteristics; lobbying for human and civil rights. Community Organizing: information and assistance in organizing groups, setting goals, addressing conflict, linking with other groups and resources.
Gay Liberation Meetings vary according to purpose; we do most of our work in subcommittees (counseling, groupwork, education, civil rights). Call for time and place. Gay Liberation includes U-M students, staff, and faculty, and people from the larger community. We have a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. We're a registered non-profit organization.
Gay Liberation, co 4117 Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109; 763-4186.