A SHOCKingly Unique Opportunity! - May 17 Two great ways to support Affirmations and be part of an exciting LGBT community event! Saturday, May 17th is the home opener for the Detroit Shock.  The tip-off is at 3:30pm, but it’s the pre-game opportunities you won’t want to miss! Court of Dreams YOU can take to the court at the Palace of Auburn Hills - home to the 2006 World Champions, the Detroit Shock, and the 2004 World Champions, the Detroit Pistons.  Buy your ticket now to reserve your spot on Team Affirmations. Prime Time The Affirmations Youth Dance Troupe has been invited to perform before the home opener on the court.  This is their 2nd annual performance, and they’ve been rehearsing for weeks to put on a great show for everyone in attendance.  In order for them to perform, we need to sell a total of 30 prime time tickets, which includes sponsoring the youth themselves to be able to stay for the game.  Get your tickets today! Change Starts here! Campaign The Change Starts here! campaign kicked off on Tuesday, April 29th to rave reviews! Over 100 community members attended the Shelter viewing at Compuware’s world headquarters in downtown Detroit.  The Change Starts here! Campaign runs through July 31st, with here! TV giving Affirmations $10 for every new subscriber through Comcast Cable.  Find out how you can get involved!   Center Closings Memorial Day - Monday, May 26th Center and Helpline Closed Program Planning Week - Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th YEP Night cancelled Center and Helpline closed at 9:00pm

News Building Bridges: Walking Together to Embrace Diversity Two public gatherings of people will march across 8 Mile Road this summer showing their support for embracing the cultural diversity of our region.  The marches are free and you can be a part of it!  Both marches feature crossing the 8 Mile bridge together and take place during the area’s two largest and oldest LGBT pride festivals.  Find out more... Health & Human Services Coordinator Appointed to FernCare Board Knoll Larkin has been appointed to serve on the first board of FernCare, a free medical clinic serving the community of Ferndale.  Find out more about the exciting new free clinic in Ferndale! Phones for Good Get a great deal on your next cellular phone from any of the major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Nextel), and support Affirmations at the same time! Phones for Good works in three simple steps: 1.  Visit your local cell phone retailer. 2.  Find the plan that suits you. 3.  Place your order online.  Phones for Good offers a supreme selection and unbeatable prices, and a portion of your phone purchase will be donated to Affirmations.  It’s good for you, and good for Affirmations. MySpace Reaches 500 Friends The Affirmations MySpace page has 500+ friends! Find out what the fun is all about!   Get your Commemorative Affirtini Glass What a deal! Affirmations logo Affirtini glasses are now on sale for just $5 each.  All proceeds go to Affirmations.  Contact Carrie Copeland, Special events Manager, to get one or a set! Helpline Seeks Operators Fluent in Spanish Affirmations Helpline is looking for volunteers who are fluent in Spanish for regular weekly hours on the toll-free Helpline.  Interested candidates should participate in the Helpline Training on May 15th and 16th.  Space is limited, so register online today. Our Gay Image in the Media Panel Raised Questions, Built Community Close to 200 people gathered on Friday, April 4th for Charzette Torrence’s photography exhibit, Just As We Are, and a panel discussion on the portrayals of SGL and LGBT people in the media.  Watch the panel discussion on YouTube! Health Fair Wrap Up Our 6th Annual Health Fair was a huge success!  Around 100 people received free health screenings and referrals.  Find out more about upcoming health and wellness programs and events! Rent Space at Affirmations during Motor City Pride Affirmations has several discounted spaces available!  Features include climate-control, bathrooms, electricity, and much more!  Contact Cass Varner, Communications Manager, for more information today! Specialized Training Helpline Training Help us keep our foundation strong by volunteering to be there for someone who needs support.  You must have a current New Volunteer Application and background check on file to volunteer with the Helpline.  Find out more... Speakers Bureau Training - May 17 Affirmations has re-developed and re-energized our Speakers Bureau to meet a growing number of speaking engagements.  Space is limited, so sign up today! Find out more... Facilitator Development Training - May 23 Learn to facilitate groups at Affirmations in this training on group and community communication.    For more information, contact Bashar Makhay, Community Organizing Coordinator.

Upcoming Events Clock in for Equality Town Hall - May 15 Send a message to your legislators that workplace discrimination based on HIV or LGBT status is wrong! Find out more today. You can also show your support by signing the Clock in for Equality Pledge!  Speed Dating for Men 40 and Up! - May 17 Sick of the bar and club scene? Let Affirmations hook you up at our speed dating event - just for men over 40 and their admirers!  RSVP online. Maybe Baby? Workshop - May 24 Thinking about bringing children into your life? Participants receive information from professionals on adoption (domestic and international), foster parenting, and much more.  Find out more... Between the Lines 15th Anniversary Gallery Opening - May 30 See the unveiling of the BTL historical timeline in the Pittmann-Puckett Art Gallery from 6:30pm-9:00pm.  Speed Dating at Motor City Pride - June 1 Join us at the Between the Lines tent for Speed Dating at Motor City Pride, sponsored by General Motors and Between the Lines. Jay Sennett Reading - June 13 Jay will read from his anthology, “Self-Organizing Men” in a valiant attempt to examine the elusive beast known as "man."  Find out more... Cedar Point - June 15 Join Affirmations for Gay Day at Cedar Point.  Tickets include park entrance and charter bus transportation.  Sign up online to reserve your spot, or sponsor a youth to attend. Relay For Life Comes to Ferndale - June 21 and 22 The American Cancer Society is bringing its national signature event, Relay For Life, to the community of Ferndale.  Join our team, or make a donation.  Find out more...  Pride Dance - June 28 Celebrate your pride! Affirmations hosts a community-wide dance for adults 18 years and older with music by Platinum Detroit’s DJ Alexi and Blon D. Troit.  Order your tickets today! Summer Arts Adventure - July 14-18 See why kids and parents keep coming back to Summer Arts Adventure - a supportive environment for kids with friends and/or family members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.  This year, our weeklong experience features a special state-of-the-art media project that combines art, photography, film, theatre and music and culminates with a student-led performance for families on the final day of the program.  Ann Arbor site not available this year.  Find out more... What's New! Young Adult Leadership Lounge (YALL) Safe space for young people ages 18-21 to talk about relationships, school, life, family, and friends in a drama-free zone.  Meets the first and third Saturday of the month from 8:00pm-9:00pm.  Find out more... Freedom from Smoking Sign up now for the leading adult smoking cessation program and learn to quit for good in an LGBT-supportive setting.  Register now! First Softball Game Come out and support your team! The Affirmations softball team will take on other local LGBT teams on Sunday afternoons at Borden Park, located at 1000 E. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills.  Find out more about the upcoming games! Save the Date! Michigan Pride - June 28 FamilyPalooza - August 2 Hotter than July - July 21-28