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| Photo:Eve |
| Some of the winners of this year's Pride Banquet awards. |
WARREN - The largest crowd ever packed the Ukrainian Cultural
Center in Warren for the16th Annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Banquet and Award
Ceremony, sponsored by Midwest AIDS Prevention Project, the Triangle Foundation
and Affirmations Gay and Lesbian Community Center.
A casino-themed reception and oversold dinner preceded the
two-hour award presentation that honored community volunteers, activists and
individuals for their commitment to and good works in Michigan's lgbt community.
This year's Community Service Awards went to Como's
Restaurant, Jerry Langdon, Peter Cooper, Nancy Unwin, Brett Scott, Milton Neuman,
David Kress, Kerry Moss, Kimberly Moon, Nickki Stevens, Erin Shipp, B.C.
Cabangbang, Andrea Wilson, and Michael Flores.
Maryann Mahaffey, President ProTem of the Detroit City
Council, presented Spirit of Detroit Awards to the Reverend Darlene Franklin,
pastor at Full Truth Church, Johnny Lee Jenkins, organizer of the Hotter Than
July pride event, Alice McKeage, and Kevin McAlpine of Triangle Foundation.
Karla F. Handley and Rick Wallace won the Political Award for
their work with the Royal Oak Association for Rights (ROAR). David Light of the
Triangle Foundation won the Rising Star Award.
Ron Coates, a retired school teacher, gave a moving
acceptance speech for his Volunteer Award, explaining how the AIDS death of a
former student spurred him to begin volunteering.
The Sports Award was shared by Kirsten Utley and Delia
Robbins for their work in creating and finding a permanent home for the Lesbian
Basketball League.
Cultural Awards went to Detroit-area rocker Barbara Payton
for her support of lgbt events, organizations and charities, and to Jay Sennett
for his work on a transgender-themed film documenting his life. Sennett also
delivered a poignant speech remembering past trans- activists who paved the way
for our current lgbt rights movement.
Business Awards went to A Woman's Prerogative bookstore in
Ferndale, Mich. and Tiffany Florist in Birmingham, Mich.
Ferndale's Mayor Chuck Goedart took home the MAPP Award for
his many years of political service to the community.
Sarah Mieras, staff reporter for Between the Lines received
the Media Award for her devotion to covering lgbt issues, both big and small,
across the state.
The Pride Award went to Tracey Dominiack , and the Unity
Award went to Ann Heler.
Taking top honors at the gala was Dr. Burt Fogelman, who was
awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Fogelman is currently the president of
the Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition in Southfield. He is also the former
president of the Motor City Business Forum and one of the people who helped form
the Forum Foundation, a non-profit spin-off of MCBF that has since evolved into
an annual scholarship project for young lgbt people. Fogelman and his partner of
11 years, Donald Crouse, are moving to Palm Springs in September. "I've
already got things lined up to do out there, though," said Fogelman.
©2001 Between the Lines, reprinted with permission