By Cornelius Fortune and Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
FERNDALE – Local activists staged numerous protests last week after two former employees at Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center said racism played a part in their departure.
The first demonstration took place Oct. 11 outside Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak during a coming out day show sponsored by Affirmations, and protests continued later in the week outside the community center. "What we're wanting is a serious discussion and action plan and training on
issues of diversity, not just race, but all other issues – what I call true diversity," said Kimya Afi Ayodele, who was fired from her job as community outreach coordinator at Affirmationson Oct. 2. "I really need an apology and I need for my reputation and my name to be restored. I think it's also important to know this is not (just) a black and white issue."
About a half-dozen protestors were present at the protests.
"It was a friendly, peaceful protest," said Kat LaTosch, marketing and special events coordinator for Affirmations. "We didn't have any problems at all."
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Detroit Black Pride Society met with Affirmations leadership on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 "and had talks about how we can move forward," LaTosch said.
The protests and meetings were sparked by the departure of Kimya Ayodele and Vanessa Marr from their positions with the community center during the week of Oct. 2.
