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Local news briefs

ComedyFest comes our way

DEARBORN – The 7th Annual Michigan Lesbian & Gay ComedyFest comes to Dearborn, Saturday, April 12, with shows at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Last year both shows sold out, with over 1,700 people attending. This year's line up includes five national comedians: Michele Balan from New York, Miss Richfield from Minneapolis, Diane Amos "The Pinesol Lady" from San Francisco, Mark Davis from Los Angeles and Shann Carr from Palm Springs.
This is an ASL-interpreted event. Early seating is also available for individuals with special needs.
Both performances will be at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Centre, 15801 Michigan Avenue (just east of Southfield Road) in Dearborn.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door (if available).
They may be purchased online at http://www.tri.org/comedyfest.html or by calling (313) 537-3323 during business hours, or at three bookstores: A Woman's Prerogative in Ferndale, Chosen Books in Royal Oak, or Common Language Bookstore in Ann Arbor.

NOW congratulates PFLAG dad

SOUTHGATE – Mike Neubecker of Brownstown Township will receive an achievement award from the Downriver chapter of the National Organization of Women.
This year is the first that the chapter has accepted men as nominees.
Neubecker will be honored for his work with PFLAG. He is Vice-President of the Downriver Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. He and his wife Jan formed the chapter in
1996 after their son, Lee, came out and became active in rights issues.
Neubecker also serves as chairperson of the Michigan PFLAG State Council.
Other honorees are Michele Babcock of Grosse Ile, Steve Walker, of Detroit, and Tom Wilson, of Wyandotte.
The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 10 in the Southgate Veteran's Library, 14680 Dix-Toledo Rd. It is open to the public. For more information contact Will at (734) 671-1230 or [email protected].

Poetry slamming away

GRAND RAPIDS – The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts announces monthly poetry slams with Slam Master Greg Bliss on Saturday, April 26 and May 24 at 8 p.m.
The Institute is located at 41 Sheldon S.E., in downtown Grand Rapids. The cost is $2 for non-members and free for UICA members.
Each poetry slam event will feature performances by invited poets as well as an open mike session.
For more information about Poetry Slams, call (616)459-5994, ext. 11 or visit http://www.uica.org.

Make some NOISE

DETROIT – NOISE – a coalition committed to ending harassment and discrimination against lgbt students, staff and faculty in Detroit and Highland Park public school systems – will hold a rally on at 4 p.m. on April 9 outside the Detroit School Center building, 5057 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.
The rally is organized by the Neighborhood Organizations Initiating Safe Education (NOISE) as part of the Break the Silence day.
The event is nationally sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, A.L.O.R.D.E. Collective, Detroit Black Gay Pride, Inc., and many other local organizations.

Help fight domestic violence

PLYMOUTH – The Western Wayne County Project on Domestic and Sexual Violence needs volunteers to assist with support groups, 24-hour help-line workers, court advocacy, on-call assault responses, and the providing ofservices and support in the family emergency shelter.
New volunteers will be trained on April 13. The training is for women and men ages 18 and over. For more information, call (734)416-1111, ext. 202.

Gilmour honored in international business

PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – Allan Gilmour, vice chairman and CFO of Ford Motor Company, will receive Equality Forum's first International Business Leadership Award at a dinner scheduled for Saturday, May 3 in Independence National Historical Park.
The Equality Forum, which runs from April 28 to May 4 in Philadelphia, is the premier lgbt global forum.
Gilmour will be given the award during the International Business Colloquium. Tickets to the colloquium and dinner are available at www.equalityforum.com.
Gilmour is on the board of directors of Prudential Financial, DTE Energy and Whirlpool and he is the founding member of Equality Forum's National Board of Governors.

Ladyfest Lansing returns

LANSING – After a successful first year, ladies have made it clear they want another Ladyfest Lansing, and organizers have planned a second event for April 10-13.
Confirmed acts include Alix Olson, who will perform on April 13 at the closing party.
This year, Ladyfest is expanding their singer/songwriter showcase into three nights, from April 10-12 at the Creole Gallery.
Spiral and Mac's Bar, located at 2700 E. Michigan Ave., will host bands including: Heaven's Burning from LA; S&M from Santa Cruz, Calif.; Kite Club from Chicago; Urban Folk Collective from Detroit; Loraxx from Chicago; Ditz from Milwaukee and Lansing bands Millenary and The Tease.
Weekend passes are available for $25 at local businesses and on the Ladyfest Lansing website at http://www.ladyfestlansing.com. Without a weekend pass, entry prices will range from $5 to $10 for each event.
For more information, visit the website or email [email protected].

Lavender grads recognized

ANN ARBOR – Are you graduating in April? Are you an lgbt student or an lgbt ally? If so, we invite you to participate in Lavender Graduation, a celebration that will recognize the accomplishments of queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies.
If you are not graduating, we invite you to come and show your support for our graduating students.
This event is open to all undergraduates, graduate students and professional students receiving any type of degree.
The celebration will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, April 24, in the Kuenzel Room of the Michigan Union. Participants will be presented with a certificate from the Office of LGBT Affairs and a rainbow tassle. You are welcome to invite your parents, friends & family. Hors d'oeuvres and cake will be provided.
To participate in Lavender Graduation email Kelly Garrett at [email protected]. Please include your name (as you wish it to appear on the certificate), the degree you are receiving, the school you are graduating from and a brief description of yourself and your accomplishments. If you have any questions you can email Kelly or call (734)763-4186.
The deadline to sign up is April 18.

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