University of Michigan-Flint

Name of the collection: PRIDE Gay and Lesbian Center of Flint, Michigan
Inclusive years: 1990-1997
Quantity: 1 linear foot
Acquisition: This collection (donor no. 254) was donated in March, 1997.
Access: There are no restrictions.
Photographs: Twelve photographs were removed and cataloged separately.
Processed by: Paul M. Gifford
 

HISTORY
 

PRIDE Gay and Lesbian Center of Flint, Michigan, was organized in 1991 in order to provide support and a meeting place for the gay and lesbian community of Flint. It grew out of a planning committee formed at the end of 1990 called Alternatives Community Center. Rooms were leased from the Unitarian Universalist Church in 1991, and the organization was located there until 1996, when it moved to the Redeemer Metropolitan Community Church.

The organization intended to act as a central "clearing house" for information about gay and lesbian concerns in the Flint area and as a meeting place for gays and lesbians. This was accomplished by producing a newsletter and by creating a "switchboard." The "switchboard," staffed by volunteers, was to provide information as needed, such as social service agencies, gay bars, "coming out" groups, and the like.

The organization folded in 1996, largely due to an unwillingness on the part of members to donate their time.
 

DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS
 

The records of PRIDE include by-laws, minutes, some financial reports, and newsletters. These detail the organization's purpose, operations, and efforts. The monthly newsletter may be useful for research on gay and lesbian doings in the Flint area.

The largest group of records in this collection consists of "switchboard" call sheets. These are logs of all calls placed to PRIDE's clearing house telephone number. Most calls are unidentified, but some have the caller's first name, age, and location, and are, in any case, not personally identifiable. Typical questions ask about "coming out" groups, gay activities in Flint, PRIDE itself, and there is a generous sprinkling of prank calls as well.

The newsletters of a few other Flint and Michigan gay organizations are also contained in the records. Finally, the collection includes a compilation of Flint news articles on gay issues from 1976 to 1992 which was done by Timothy Retzloff.
 

FOLDER LIST
 

Alternatives Community Center - Minutes, miscellaneous, 1990-1991
By-laws
Minutes, agendas
        1991-1993
        1994-1997
Director's report, 1992
Financial reports
Correspondence
Letters of resignation
Lease, rent
Newsletter
        1991-1993
        1994-1996
Switchboard volunteer's policy and procedures manual
Monthly switchboard reports, 1991-1992
Switchboard call sheets
        July-December 1992
        January-April 1993
        May-September 1993
        October-December 1993
        July-December 1994
        January-March 1995
        April-June 1995
        July-September 1995
        October-December 1995
        January-March 1996
        April-June 1996
        July-November 1996
Open house, 1991
Referral information
Other organizations
        Affirmations Gay/Lesbian Community Center
        Dignity/Flint
        Gay and Lesbian Parents Association, 1992
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Wellness HIV/AIDS Services, Inc.
Stonewall Forum
Coming out group
Flyers
GMI Institute, 1992
Youth services
Articles on lesbian and gay concerns in the Flint area, 1976-1992
        (1 of 2)
        (2 of 2)