By BTL Staff
The Jim Toy Community Center will host OUTfest, their 22nd annual pride celebration of the LGBT community and its accomplishments, Aug. 5-7 in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown District and Braun Court.
This three-day event honors National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11 when people literally come out into a community that already supports and affirms who they are.
Coming out still matters. Every person who speaks up changes more hearts and minds, and creates new advocates for equality, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
JTCC will offer an array of activities spread out over Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the LGBT and allied communities. The celebration includes music, dancing, entertainers, food (vendors and Braun Court restaurants), a beer tent, the Grassroots stage with local musicians, speakers, a children's play area, raffles and a NECTO-sponsored Dance Pavilion with DJ's Jace and Mark. The weekend will conclude with the annual Washtenaw County Pride Picnic at Wheeler Park from 12-4 p.m.
During one of the most important elections of our time, representatives of political campaigns, including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and her husband, former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, State Reps. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), will be in attendance in support of the LGBT community. Attorney Eli Savit from the Citizen Education Law Clinic will speak about Civil Rights and Equal Protection with a nonexclusive focus on LGBTQ identities on Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. at The Bar on 327 Court St.
All OUTFest proceeds benefit the JTCC, a nonprofit, to provide information, education, social events and advocacy for and by the LGBT and allied residents of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and greater Washtenaw County. JTCC envisions an inclusive community where people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity are visible and live together in equality, respect and happiness. JTCC is located at 319 Braun Court in Ann Arbor. Contact the Center at 734-995-9867 or visit them online at http://www.jimtoycenter.org.
For information about the weekend events visit http://www.a2outfest.com.
