Friday, September 22, 2000

FERNDALE - Affirmations LGBT Community Center announced earlier this week that they have received a $10,000 sponsorship from Ford Motor Company toward their Oct. 11 Come OUT & Laugh event. The event, a comedic program featuring Suzanne Westenhoefer and Bob Smith and timed to correspond with National Coming Out Day, will take place at mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak.

"We are thrilled with the continued support from corporate America," said Leslie Thompson, Affirmations' executive director. "The turn around in major corporate support this year has been a very positive sign for the lgbt community."

Earlier this year, Ford made national headlines when it joined with auto giants General Motors and DaimlerChrysler to announce domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples. Thompson said she shares the victory of this most recent gift with the members of Ford's lgbt employee group, Ford GLOBE.

"We had sent a letter asking for [Ford's] support on this event but hadn't heard anything back," said Thompson. "[Then] as soon as I sent an email to Alice McKeage of Ford GLOBE things started to happen."

©2000 Between the Lines, reprinted with permission