So I had this idea...

Oct 2 22:24 UTC 1999

I was thinking about the queer community in Ann Arbor, which is 
supposedly a pretty liberal town, and I realized that it was a pretty 
cool place to be gay. Except for one thing.  The queer teenagers in Ann 
Arbor, which account for a pretty decent sized population, don't have 
any central force grouping them.  I remeber when I was first coming out 
to *myself* there were these gay teen dances around town every few 
months.  Well, now that I'm more comfortable with my sexuality and 
communicating with my parents about it, I'd kinda like to see some 
social functions over the city for that group. I mean, how else am I 
supposed to find what (and who) is out there?  

I would be very into coordinating or helping coordinate this kind of 
event, but I don't have the time or the resources to do it. Any 
suggestions? Anyone else interested in having a queer teen 
get-together/dan

response 2 of 24:

Oct 3 03:47 UTC 1999

18 and over dear... still _nothing_ out there for teenagers. I know.

                   :(

response 4 of 24:

Oct 3 20:16 UTC 1999

yeah, I was talking about for teens. under 18.  As for how it's 
different, it's very difficult for teens to be "out" or have a place 
they can dat

response 6 of 24:

Oct 4 05:46 UTC 1999

hell there isn't much for teens in chicago either... ya'd think in a place this
big.... then again it aint a college town.

response 8 of 24:

Oct 6 02:47 UTC 1999

so whadda you guys and gals think? is this a good idea? Who could persue this?
Would it be a od thing to brind to the GSA's in the highschools? How about
the PFLAG in otown?.

response 10 of 24:

Oct 6 03:31 UTC 1999

I see...

response 12 of 24:

Oct 7 21:35 UTC 1999

I'm a freshmen at the U of M.  I graduated from Pioneer last year.

response 14 of 24:

Oct 22 11:34 UTC 1999

<g>

response 16 of 24:

Nov 2 23:56 UTC 1999

That's a really good idea, considering the fact that there is a lot of truth
to the 'there isn't anywhere teens can go' might make it a very easy case to
argue and then boom....suddenly, you have somewhere to go.

response 18 of 24:

Nov 19 16:42 UTC 1999

use a 3rd party?

response 20 of 24:

Nov 25 03:19 UTC 1999

not in the slightest....

response 22 of 24:

Mar 8 07:30 UTC 2001

Sorry, I'm way late in getting here, but FYI:

Club Fab's origins date back to the East Quad Dances.  In their latest
glory they were run by Ken Blochowski (sp?) who was the interim director
of the LGMBPO at UM.  I don't know what he's up to these days, but perhaps
the new director is focusing on other issues.  I know a couple attempts
to hold Club Fabs last fall fizzled (one because the DJ didn't make it).
Near Valentine's Day there was a Red & White Party that quacked like a
Club Fab, but I don't know who put it on.  It wasn't as well attended,
but it looked like everyone was having a good time.

Club Fab was also copied by QMC^2 (Queer Michigan Collegiate Coalition,
which comprised of UM Dearborn, Wayne State and a couple of the Detroit
area community colleges).  I think about 4 semi-annual events were held
at Backstreet, but after my other half left the group I'm not sure
that there were more events (or perhaps I just lost track).

Club Fab wasn't primarily for teens, but as it was a chem-free event
there was no age barrier.

Didn't Ozone House have a queer youth group?

Not being out is a big problem because of the need for a safe spot
and a fear of people attending events.  M-Net used to have a large
queer community in the mid-to-late 80s and held monthly GCGTs
(gay conference get togethers).  I still remember almost showing
up to one before finally meeting a wonderful group of people who
changed my life fore-ever....

Having learned from that experience, I was shocked when I discovered
the UofM LGB:RAP conferences.  Hardly anyone knew any other person,
even though many were regulars at the bars.  I had by then started
holding BBQs for M-Netters and invited the UM people to join.  The
BBQs grew from about 5 people to 60-80 and, at what we called the
Ann Arbor LesBiGay BBQ in June (now organized by WRAP) we had 120.

Remembering my hesitancy to go to a stranger's house, we also started
Ice Cream Together thing.  Meeting at a local shoppe allowed others
to see us without the "guilt by association" fear.  We only did this
about 3 times, but at least one person did observe us and later emailed me.

Speaking of WRAP, don't they now have space?  Can queer youth use it?

I'm always willing to help with such things (and if anyone needs a place
to hold a BBQ and is willing to drive to Livonia....).  Probably best
to email me: LK@stratcom.com

response 24 of 24:

Mar 15 22:55 UTC 2001

I think part of it is just that Ann Arbor is already fairly safe for GLBTs,
especially for its size and location.  There may just not be as much push
behind an idea like this in a city where everyone's learned how to at least
imitate tolerance.