Collections by Michelle Brown

After years of teaching and traveling to faraway places including Kenya and Brazil, Markita Moore returned to her high school alma mater, Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan as band director taking the reins from the very band director who had instructed her.

She is a passionate and versatile music educator who has dedicated her time and talent to teaching in Metro Detroit for the past eight years.

Moore is honored and excited to follow in the footsteps of her predecessors by instructing the symphonic, concert, jazz, and marching bands at Cass.

Moore is currently raising funds to help send the band to Washington D.C. to participate in the 2020 National Memorial Day Parade.” Rep. Rashida Tlaib nominated the Cass Tech Marching Band to participate in the National Memorial Day parade.

At a recent rally in Detroit, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Tlaib each pledged $5,000 from their campaigns to support the Cass Tech Marching Band.

The students have $18,000 left to raise to cover travel expenses. Tax-deductible donations can be made through the Cass Tech Alumni Association website, marked for the ‘Adopt A Marcher’ fundraiser.

Marizol was adopted and was raised in the Bronx. Growing up in a Cuban family she didn't know what transgender was. Especially in the Latin community, a boy is a boy and a girl is a girl. But ever since she was little, she felt like she was born in the wrong body. 

At 17 she told her older sister that she was transgender.

She didn't want to go through all the bullying, so she dropped out of high school in her junior year. Two months later, she began to dress as Marizol 24/7.

 

Today she is pursuing her dreams as a transgender Latina model, cook and activist. She recently co-authored the book “My Sister: How One Sibling's Transition Changed Us Both” with her sister Selenis Leyva.

Selenis stars as Gloria Mendoza on NETFLIX’s hit series Orange Is the New Black. The two were awarded Stonewall Community Foundation’s 2016 Vision Award for inspiring visibility, advocacy and outspoken support for the transgender community.

Robert A. Marchman, Esq. serves as PFLAG National Board Secretary. Initially the acronym for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, PFLAG was later broadened to Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gay.

Born in Brooklyn, Marchman now resides in Maplewood, NJ. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Allegheny College and received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.  He also attended Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development. 

He was the first African American Executive Vice President of the New York Stock Exchange.  He also served as chairman of the Stock Exchange’s Diversity council from its inception. Prior to joining the NYSE, he was a Branch Chief in the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement in Washington DC. He Joined the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in 2010 and currently serves as FINRA’s Special Advisor to the Head of the Department of Enforcement.

Although his son’s coming out was not the traumatic experience many in the LGBTQ community experience, Marchman worries about his son’s safety in the community at large. His son’s safety and that of all members of the LGBTQ community drives Marchman to be involved in PFLAG.

It's our favorite road warrior Betty Couvertier bringing her unique perspective on politics from the pivotal state of Florida.

Florida is the third-most populous state in the United States. It contains the highest percentage of people over 65. Although there is a significant Hispanic population in South Florida, approximately 65% of the population identifying as White. It is among several states that are largely targeted by both political parties in the campaign period before the presidential election.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY Betty Couvertier called the Atlanta home for many years. Now in retirement, she spends a good deal of her time in Florida enjoying her retirement traveling in her RV with her dogs.

An out lesbian of Puerto Rican descent, Betty was the founder, producer and host of “Alternative Perspectives,” an LGBT radio show that continues to air on WRFG “Radio Free Georgia” a community-owned and operated station.

She served in various capacities on a number of non-profit organizations over the years in the Atlanta area before retiring and is the recipient of many awards for her service to the community.

From healthcare to youth activism to the DNC Debates, nothing escapes Betty's insightful gaze including STD's in senior communities. You'll be informed, educated and even have a laugh or two!!!

Judith Kasen-Windsor continues her conversation about her life with LGBTQ icon Edie Windsor. Judith first met Edie Windsor in 2010 at an LGBTQ event. Their encounters over the years led to conversations that led to romance and eventually marriage in September 2016, Longevity is not an indicator of intensity. Although Windsor died in 2017, theirs’s was a relationship filled with love.

Windsor was the lead plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court case  which overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and was considered a landmark legal victory for the same-sex marriage movement in the United States, 

Edie's memoir "A Wild and Precious Life" was released on October 8, 2019. She worked on the book with Joshua Lyon until her death. He finished the book using the hundreds of files Edie left behind that included files on all her family members, letters, photographs, musings and detailed day calendars dating back to 1953 among other things. This allowed him to trace every move of her life and provide details to bring the story to life, but the meat of the book is all Edie. And she told her story from childhood to the end, “warts and all’ as only she could tell. It was like sitting down, not reading a diary, but having Edie tell you her story herself. 

Preserving Edie’s legacy keeps Judith going these days. Since Edie’s death, SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) named their drop-in center for Edie Windsor; A Cultural medallion from New York’s Historic Preservation Center has been placed on her residence; her hometown Philadelphia named a street “Edie Windsor Way;” and The South Hampton hospital not only named their HIV/AIDS center after her but they plan to expand to two more locations that will also provide services related to women’s health and LGBTQ elders.

Judith first met Edie Windsor in 2010 at an LGBTQ event. Their encounters over the years led to conversations that led to romance and eventually marriage.

Windsor was the lead plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court case which overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and was considered a landmark legal victory for the same-sex marriage movement in the United States.

Longevity is not an indicator of intensity. Although Windsor died in 2017, theirs’s was a relationship filled with love.

Windsor was working on her memoir at the time of her death. That memoir “A Wild and Precious Life” was released on October 8, 2019.

Edie worked on the book with Joshua Lyon until her death. He finished the book using the hundreds of files Edie left behind that included files on all her family members, letters, photographs, musings and detailed day calendars dating back to 1953 among other things. This allowed him to trace every move of her life and provide details to bring the story to life, but the meat of the book was all Edie.

And she told her story from childhood to the end, “warts and all’ as only she could tell.

Since Edie’s death, Judith Kasen-Windsor has been traveling continuing Edie Windsor’s legacy.  But most of all she is talking about her most favorite topic, the love of her life, Edie Windsor.

ALYCE EMORY studied sociology at Georgia State University before settling in New York City.

She has successfully managed marketing and event production for clients including HBO, A&E Television, Urbanworld Film Festival, The Apollo Theater, Circle of Life Celebration-Pride Memorial, Third Wave Foundation, UNESCO and others.  She has served on committees for the NYC Community Board’s LGBTQ Town Hall, NYC Black Pride and as a member of Harlem Pride’s Founding Advisory Board.

Alyce is a member of the African Atlantic Research Team of Michigan State University and presented with the team at the Association for Worldwide African Diaspora Conference.  She also serves on the Health & Wellness and Economic Development Committees of North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.., Black and Latino LGBTQ Coalition, and Kitchen Table Giving Circle. She also advises African Ancestral Lesbians United for Societal Change.

With fellow New York activist Kim Ford, She co-founded  Beyond Bold and Brave  a conference to address the marginalization of Black/African Descent lesbians with few public spaces dedicated to addressing issues unique to them.

Beyond Bold and Brave Conferences have taken place at Barnard College in 2016, 2018 and will take place again in 2020. The theme of the 2020 conference will be Revolutionary Wellness.

Originally from Louisville, KY, Mahri Bahati attend the University of Kentucky in nearby Lexington for college. She earned her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Kentucky in 2013, with a focus in Epidemiology. Lexington was close to home but far enough away, so she felt independent as she lived her life authentically in the LGBTQ community.

She has had a lifelong interest in volunteering and community organizing which carried over into her college and professional life. As an undergrad, she began volunteering with local HIV/AIDS non-profits which sparked a professional interest in public health. A creative and passionate public health professional she has extensive experience across the HIV/AIDS continuum of care. 

While working for the Kentucky Health Department word of her expertise and experience spread, she was tapped to join the Global Forum on MSM and HIV as Public Health Advisor developing and managing the global capacity-building project to build self-sustainability for trans-led organizations throughout the global south.

She began attending conferences and networking with other public health professionals. She always saw herself living and working in California. 

Mahri is now a member of the PRIDE STUDY’s team located at Stanford University. The PRIDE Study is the first large-scale, long-term national health study of people who identify as LGBTQ+, or another sexual or gender minority. 

As the All of Us Research Program Engagement Navigator, she works to engage 'yet to be reached’ sexual and gender minority sub-communities who are new to health research, who have experienced barriers in accessing healthcare, or who have had negative research experiences.

Collections by Michelle Brown visits the Pontiac Creative Arts Center as it prepares for its “Kaleidoscope of Expression” exhibition. The exhibition extends Southeast Michigan’s Pride season this year showcasing the varied works and talents of any interested LGBTQ artists.

PCAC board members Ronnie Karpinski and Patrizia Makohon talk about the October 12th event and exhibit that will run through the end of the month. Submissions have been received mainly from the Southeast Michigan area, but there have been several from across the state of Michigan and even as far as Florida and California. The PCAC’s new Executive Director Judy Wilson will also share her plans to continue to make the Center a place to showcase the areas creative base and celebrate its diverse community.

The “Kaleidoscope of Expression” exhibition is free to the public and takes place from 6-9PM. Pontiac Creative Arts Center is located at 47 Williams Street, Pontiac, MI

When Michelle Cox was diagnosed with breast cancer she did not give up or fall into a depression. Instead, she turned the diagnosis into a wakeup call to pursue her dream to make a difference as a children’s book author. She started a publishing company for her books with the hopes of igniting a love of reading and technology in children at a young age.

She went to college at age 15. She started her professional career in logistics. When downsizing brought an end to that career, she returned to school to learn about computers.

With over 19 years Field Support Specialist and as an In-Home Computer Repair Business Owner, Michelle has become not just an executive computer hardware instructor but also the go-to person with customers many who affectionately refer to her as “the computer lady.”

The students who attend her intensive training, find in Cox not only a dedicated instructor but a mentor who has personally walked many grads into their first interviews.

Her first published children’s book in the “Mommy” series is “Mommy, is the Computer Smarter than Me?”  Future titles include, “Mommy; What are the Olympics?”; “Mommy, Why Can We Only See Daddy on the Computer?” and Mommy, What is Aviation? She hopes that her books will have a positive effect, “especially in the lives of children, as they are full of wonder and are little sponges seeking information.”