Aut Bar

Uplift is hosting another \aut\ BAR reunion one week from today, Saturday January 3rd.

We're looking forward to seeing some of you then!

Happy New Year-
....,. Martin and Keith

The shooting in Colorado has weighed heavily on me all day. There are so many thoughts swirling around. Some are issue-oriented, e.g., the ease of access to weapons designed to kill people quickly. The shooter was apparently quickly subdued, but in that short time killed five people and injured (some seriously) many more. One victim escaped to a nearby 7-11 to call for help had 7 bullet wounds.

But mainly I am again stung by the hate that has become so prevalent in our world. Were there mental health issues? Probably. But that does not change the hate at the heart of an act like this.

Our community is attacked again. Whether the attack had something to do with the Transgender Day of Visibility (as has been widely reported) or an attack on the q***r community in general doesn't matter. Much like NATO's article 5, an attack on any part of our community is an attack on all of it.

My friend Dave Garcia, Executive Director of Affirmations, said in his initial reaction, "Today, our hearts are with the lives lost in Colorado and around the world. We are angry, sad, and many are justifiably scared. What we are NOT is defeated.

"And we never will be."

We have to mourn...again.

And then we must organize...again.

I am also frustrated that we have no place here in Ann Arbor to gather and mourn. I will not dwell on this point, but it does sting.

Affirmations will be holding a Community Gathering tomorrow, Monday, November 21 at 6pm.

Affirmations address is 290 W. 9 Mile Road, Ferndale. You can check their page for developing information.

We lost a giant last night.

Jim Toy passed away peacefully in his sleep last night at the age of 91.

If you are a member of the LGBT community in Michigan, you owe more to this man than you can imagine.

I first met Jim when I was a kid attending the University of Michigan. A friend of mine in Toledo Symphony pointed me to the "rap sessions" sponsored by the Human Sexuality Office. I had never heard of the office. I would later learn it was the first University sponsored gay and le***an organization in the U.S., and probably the world. It had been founded in 1971 by Jim Toy.
I did not get to know Jim well at the time. His role was to keep us talking and interacting. This was not a lecture. This was Jim Toy, Social Worker, at work.

Over the years I would get to know him well. When Jim Toy made a call for action, you responded. Not because he was a charismatic leader, but rather because he was a leader of principle and moral purpose.

Jim was a mentor by example. I can think of many times when strategizing a political or human rights issue when we would stop and ask, "WWJD. What would Jim Do?"

I learned that, although you should pick your fights wisely, you must NEVER compromise if the issue was an issue of human rights. Jim never wavered in this. Speak truth to power, no matter how powerful the force was. Every person had value, and every person was worth fighting for. The root of Jim's power was enormous faith. Faith in God. Faith in humanity. Faith in Truth. Faith in what was good and fair. If you had the privilege to work with Jim, you are a better person because of it.

But Jim's power went beyond his immediate circle. He led the fight for groundbreaking laws and representation in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, The State of Michigan, and the Episcopal Diocese. He was at the forefront of fighting the AIDS epidemic. Again, if you are a member of the LGBT community in Michigan, your life is better because of Jim Toy, whether you know him or not.

And you might not know him. He was not a self-promoter. The only dissenting vote to change the name of the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project to the Jim Toy Community Center was Jim Toy's vote.

I know I am a better person because of Jim Toy. I will miss him dearly.

Godspeed, Jim Toy
April 29, 1930 - January 1, 2022

This week is the 59th Ann Arbor Film Festival. More specifically (to this group) Thursday is the TWENTIETH Out Night of the Festival.

Here is a preview from Between The Lines. At the bottom of the article are instructions for attending Out Night. (Once again, the Festival is all virtual this year). Note that individual program tickets are available on a sliding scale from $2 to $15.

Martin and I have been supporters and underwriters of Out NIght for most of the 20 years.

Q***r Community Endures Onscreen During the 20th Anniversary of AAFF’s Out Night The Ann Arbor Film Festival is going online March 23-28 for its 59th edition showcasing experimental works. But 2021 also marks the 20th anniversary of its LGBTQ-focused program “Out Night," coming to you virtually on March 25. A home for the festival’s q***r programming since its inception (it ...

Friends.

I haven't posted here in a long time, but I wanted to share the news of the passing of David Curtis.

Younger folks will probably only remember him as the guy who came down to the courtyard in his wheelchair. He was disabled due to a tragic accident while he was riding his scooter some years ago.

But many of you older folks will remember him as a member of the community going back many years. I first met him in the early 80's at the old Flame Bar. One of the Flame traditions was the playing of "New York, New York" at closing time. The whole place would stop and sing along. The loudest voice always belonged to David.

David had a big personality and a big heart. He will be sorely missed.

He was active in music and theater. Though most of his work was with Ann Arbor Civic, I remember him doing a one-man Tom Lehrer review at the old Performance Network.

Because of the theater background he was often in amazing costumes for Halloween. Appropriate as it is the big gay holiday, and David was big, gay, and loved holidays. The classic was the group costume of the three women judges of SCOTUS (as of 2009); Dan Morrison as RBG, David Burkham as Sandra Day O'Connor, and David as Sonia Sotomayor.

David lost a battle to cancer last night. A small service is planned. I'm sure there will be a (larger) memorial gathering when we are allowed to gather again. For now, feel free to share memories below.

May his memory be a blessing.

It's Thursday, so that means it is time for TRIVIA WITH TERRY.

Tonight at 8:00 p.m. via ZOOM.

If you would like to join us, send me an email at [email protected] and I'll send you a zoom invite.