By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
FERNDALE – At the end of April, Dignity Detroit, the metro Detroit organization for LGBT Catholics, donated $7,500 to Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center's efforts to construct a new center in downtown Ferndale.
"Obviously, Cardinal Maida doesn't speak for every Catholic in Michigan," said Leslie Ann Thompson, Affirmations' executive director, of the gift.
According to Frank D'Amore, president of Dignity Detroit, the gift was made in honor of late Dignity member John Cook during the organization's quarterly meeting. Dignity Detroit members voted to donate the funds to Affirmations from a bequest made by Cook to Dignity after George Westerman spoke about the Affirmations capitol campaign at the meeting.
"John was in his early 80's, had cerebral palsy, and drove himself to church every Sunday," said D'Amore.
Cook was also involved with Affirmations, which is currently housed in a building that is not handicap accessible, said D'Amore.
"We asked that [the donation] be used to help make the building handicapped accessible, and asked that some appropriate signage be placed in memory of John," he added.
The Affirmations donation isn't the only contribution that Dignity Detroit makes to both the LGBT and the larger communities. Every Friday, Dignity Detroit members volunteer at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. And by offering a weekly Mass at Marygrove College, Dignity creates a safe place for LGBT Catholics to worship during a time when many Catholic churches, and the church hierarchy itself, is decidedly unfriendly to LGBTs.
While expressing gratitude for Dignity Detroit's gift to her organization, Thompson complimented the organization on its wider community work.
"Dignity Detroit does a wonderful job of providing a safe sanctuary for gay Catholics in a time when the church has so been so vehemently anti-gay," she said, "and they recognize that Affirmations' new building will also be a safe sanctuary. I am so grateful for their support and their desire to be a part of it."
Celebrating thirty-one years
On Saturday, May 14, Dignity Detroit will celebrate thirty-one years of community service with its annual dinner/dance. The 6:30 p.m. event will take place in Dearborn with cocktails. Tickets for the event are $40 and must be purchased in advance by calling 313-278-4786.
The organization's thirty-first Anniversary Liturgy will be celebrated on Sunday, May 15, at 6 p.m. in Marygrove College's Sacred Heart Chapel.
Founded in 1974, Dignity Detroit is affiliated with DignityUSA, located in Washington, D.C. Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel.
