OUTFest 2012

The 18th OUTFest returns to Ann Arbor’s history Kerrytown District Saturday, September 29 with a multiplicity of activities and entertainment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied community of Washtenaw.

This annual celebration begins in the evening at Braun Court, across from the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market. This year’s event will spill into both the Braun Court parking lot as well as the block of N. Fourth Ave. between Catherine St. and E. Kingsley.

OUTFest is a longstanding tradition of Braun Court, in honor of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.

“National Coming Out Day is so important because it encourages people, young and old, to come out as LGBT, ally, queer or questioning” explains OUTFest Committee Co-Chair Ashley Schwedt. “But what is most vital about celebrations like OUTfest is that people are literally coming out into a community that already supports and affirms who they are.”

The celebration includes music, dancing, entertainers, food (vendors and Braun Court restaurants), a beer tent, the Grassroots stage with local musicians, speakers, representatives of political campaigns, a children’s play area, raffles and a NECTO-sponsored Dance Pavilion with DJ Mark Johnson.

OUTFest began as a project of Jim Toy Community Center (Previously the Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project) in 1995. The Jim Toy Community Center is a resource for the LGBT residents of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and greater Washtenaw County seeking to provide information, education, social events and advocacy for the community.

Since it’s conception, JTCC’s OUTFest has been hosted and produced with the assistance – and at times leadership – of \aut\Bar co-owners Martin Contreras and Keith Orr, large supporters of the center. This year, OUTFest has been organized by a number of JTCC volunteers working in collaboration with the center’s board of directors.

OUTFest 2012 is 5 p.m. to midnight, September 29 at Braun Court, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. This event is free and open to the public, though a small fee is necessary for access to the celebration’s beer tent. For more information go to www.JimToyCenter.org or search Facebook for “Jim Toy Community Center”.

OUTFest 2012 Sponsors

Necto

Between The Lines Newspaper

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MillerCoors

Trillium Real Estate

Google

Get Out and Live!

Out Post Magazine

For sponsorship information, email Terry McGinn at TerryM@JimToyCenter.org or call 734-834-0598.

Volunteer with JTCC

With just a little over a month to finish planning OUTFest, the Jim Toy Community Center is in need of more volunteers! We’ve got a lot done but there’s still plenty to do!

Join the JTCC on Aug. 26th at 1 p.m. in Braun Court to discuss donations, sponsorships, volunteers and entertainment!

For more information about volunteering of the 26th’s meeting, contact Ashley Schwedt at Aschwedt@umich.edu.

It’s rough being Queer in Michigan, so let’s work together to change that!

We are taking a stand against all the anti-gay and anti-transgender issues that have been proposed and enacted in the past couple of years and making sure we don’t lose any more of the rights we have left. Over the next few months leading up to the November election, the Jim Toy Community Center will be working to identify, engage and mobilize pro-equality voters in Washtenaw County. The Center received a $10,000 grant from Michigan Voice to join with other LGBT organizations across the State in this effort.

We don’t need to tell you how important this work is, but we can’t do it without your help! We need to activate scores of volunteers to engage throughout the community. Even if you can spare just a little bit of time, we need you. Find a time to help and sign up (as a volunteer) today!

Please contact Sandi Smith or Arthur Endsley for more information.

Monday, June 25, 2012
Cocktails: 6:00 PM, Dinner: 7:00 PM
Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College

Award-winning CNN and ESPN online gay journalist LZ Granderson will keynote the Jim Toy Community Center’s Pride Dinner on Monday, June 25, at the Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College, with cocktails at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm.

Granderson was named 2011 Journalist of the Year by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, as well as 2009 GLAAD Award winner for digital journalism . He is a CNN weekly opinion correspondent and senior writer at ESPN. Granderson is an openly gay, African American journalist who tackles topics of race, sexuality and gender in society and sports. Many of his recent commentaries are archived here

The event will also honor the career of Dr. Sandra Cole, noted sexologist and longtime champion of equality for transgender individuals, who will receive the Jim Toy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Rev. Gail Geisenhainer of the Ann Arbor Unitarian Universalist Church will serve as the evening’s MC.

Tickets are $85 per person or $150 for two. They may be purchased on this website using PayPal, at Common Language Bookstore, or by sending a check to: Jim Toy Center, 319 Braun Ct., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (indicate if vegetarian entrée is preferred.)

Washtenaw Community College is located at 4800 East Huron River Drive in Ann Arbor. For more information contact Terry McGinn at 734.834.0598 or by e-mail.

Tickets

Mysterious, Marvelous Monday is the metamorphosis of Wild Wednesday.

Come join us each Monday if you are age 13-18

Are you interested in hanging out with other kind and supportive people?
Are you interested in free food?
Are you interested in receiving door prizes?

Contact: Gail Wolkoff

We provide safe space for LGBTQ groups, we work for equality, and we sponsor major community events such as Pride Picnic and Outfest. This month we are fundraising to help pay the bills!

Saturday, May 12, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Multi-Party LGBT Garage Saturday in Braun Court!
Sponsors: Trillium Real Estate, Jim Toy Center, and Wild Wednesdays Youth
“Gently used items” may be donated to benefit the Jim Toy Center (no tv’s or computer components). Drop off hours: Jim Toy Center 319 Braun Court, Sat May 5, 9am-5pm; Sunday, May 6, noon – 5pm. Donations also accepted during open hours at Common Language Books.

Saturday, May 19
Champagne Brunch, Benefit for Jim Toy Center
Reservation times: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, and 11:30 AM
In Braun Courtyard (or ShAut in the event of bad weather) there will be brunch, catered by Aut Bar, and live music! Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at Common Language Bookstore.

Also:
The Pride Picnic Committee is hosting a fundraiser for the 2nd Annual Washtenaw Pride Picnic at Aubree’s Pizzeria & Grill in Ypsilanti on Whittaker Road. The date is Wednesday, May 23, 2012 from 5pm – 9pm. Please download the attached flyer and present it to your server. Aubree’s will donate 15% of your bill to the Washtenaw Pride Picnic.

Save the date:
Pride Picnic, Saturday, June 23, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Southeast Park
Outfest, Saturday, September 29, 5:00 to 11:00 PM at Braun Court

This Sunday (March 25) is the next meeting of the OutFest Planning Group. We need more help for all functions! Please join us at 2:00pm in the Jim Toy Community Center.

The Jim Toy Community Center needs help preparing a mailing! Come help out on Monday (March 26) at 6:00pm in the Jim Toy Community Center. Wine and cheese are our way of saying “Thank You!”

This Sunday, March 11, at 2pm, we will hold our next organizing meeting for 2012 OutFest. We plan to begin forming committees, and we need your help! Skills from publicity to hospitality to clean-up (and everything in between) are needed. JOIN US!