By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
FLINT – On Aug. 14, The Rowan Education Network and The Genesee County Chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays gathered at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Flint to celebrate the fifth anniversary of both organizations.
"It was inspiring," Antonio David Garcia, founding director of Rowan, said of the event.
Garcia said that he focused his talk during the event on the importance of straight allies.
"I concentrated on the importance of straight Americans really stepping up to the plate in the next five years," he said. "I said to them [that] in the same way that white America finally came around to marching beside Dr. King, I felt straight Americans really … need to come out of the closet as our allies. That middle majority really needs to do more."
Four Community Excellence Awards and a new scholarship, The Clinton McQueen IV Student Activist Scholarship, were given out at the celebration.
The Community Excellence Award winners were Mary Scholl, Excellence in Community Activism; Carman Ainsworth Community School's Superintendent Daniel Behm, Excellence in Education; State Representative Jack Minore, Excellence in Politics; and Flint Journal Staff Reporter Elizabeth Shaw, Professional Excellence.
The $1,000 The Clinton McQueen IV Student Activist Scholarship was awarded to Jackson Bartlett, a graduate of Coldwater High School who will be attending Northern Michigan University this fall.
Michigan LGBT community leaders hailed the work of both organizations and congratulated them on their success.
"Genesee County PFLAG and the Rowan Education Network are indispensable partners in working for a free, safe and equal Michigan," said Triangle Foundation Executive Director Jeffrey Montgomery. "Triangle Foundation remains very proud of its part in critical alliances that have been forged with these organizations on behalf of the GLBT community. Together we have brought Michigan closer to the day of full, unapologetic acceptance of GLBT people and their aspirations. The accomplishments and victories represented by those being honored at the 5th Anniversary celebration are further evidence of the good work of the two organizations."
"The Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project would like to express our appreciation and congratulations to The Rowan Education Network, PFLAG Genesee County, and all those who have worked so diligently to help make their corner of the world a better place for the lesbian and gay community," said WRAP President Jeremy Merklinger. "One person can make a difference; together we can make change."
The Rowan Education Network provides speakers and educational programs related to LGBT issues free of charge to schools and other interested organizations primarily throughout Genesee and Washtenaw Counties. The organization was founded by Garcia after he was forced to resign as the Swartz Creek school district's community services coordinator after coming out as gay in the Flint Journal.
In December of 2000 Garcia walked 60 miles from Swartz Creek to Lansing in order to bring attention to the rights of LGBT workers and youth in Michigan. (See "Activist hopes 60-mile walk helps end violence against LGBT students" at https://www.pridesource.com/oldarticle.shtml?article=3835833)
