In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On January 29th, 2022, Jones talked to community organizer, activist, and former Ypsilanti mayor Beth Bashert about her involvement with the passage of the ordinance. Member of Citizens for Community and co-chair of the Ypsi Campaign for Equality, Bashert was a fierce leader, working with other community members to keep the movement going strong. From mediating meetings, to contacting human rights groups across the country, to trying to stay afloat amidst it all, she worked tirelessly for the campaigns. She also recognized the importance of distinguishing between political campaigns and "hearts and minds" campaigns: To not to try to change opposing minds, but to get allies to vote in favor of the ordinance. Bashert and her co-chair Paul Heaton worked in tandem to keep the campaign's message clear, and to make sure everyone understood where it came from and where it was going. In this interview, she talks about what made the campaign work, the internal and external support they received, and how she's seen Ypsi change since 1279 was passed.

Beth Bashert, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On January 17, 2022, Jones sat down with Citizens for Community member and activist, Bonnie Dawn Clark. Before she moved to Ypsilanti in the mid-1990s, Clark was living in the South, always close to where she had been born and raised in North Carolina. With a passion for social justice and activism, she took part in movements advocating for equality for women and LGBTQ people, and even participated in environmental protests. It was only natural for her to become involved with Citizens for Community once the group heard about the incident with EMU group, Tri-Pride. As the city council took on the complaint and pushed it to the Human Relations Commissions hearings, she realized she could use her religious upbringing and knowledge of the Bible to dispel some of the opposing arguments. After the campaign ended, she returned to North Carolina where she has since started a non-profit organization for homeless LGBTQ youth. During this interview, she shares her experiences with being LGBTQ and a woman in the military, and reflects on the importance of an ordinance like 1279.

This interview includes discussion of sensitive subjects that may be triggering for listeners, such as sexual assault, abuse, and harassment.

Bonnie Dawn Clark, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On January 27, 2022, Jones talked to third-generation Ypsilantian and member of both Campaign for Equality and Citizens for Community, Brandt Waldenmyer. In this interview, Waldenmyer talks about growing up in Ypsilanti and the deep familiarity he had with the city's cultural atmosphere. LGBTQ visibility in Ypsi was limited until the ordinance effort kicked up and brought more light to the community. Waldenmyer was involved with both of the campaigns from day one: He attended every meeting he could, canvassed and stuffed envelopes, and handled many of the adminstrative tasks. He recalls being able to use his established Ypsi connections to help the campaign's message carry some more weight, and the massive effort it took many people to come out publicly. Waldenmyer's participation in not only the 1997 and 1998 campaigns, but also the second defense in 2002 means that he has been able to provide a comprehensive timeline of 1279's impact on the community.

Brandt Waldenmyer, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On February 10, 2022, Jones sat down with member of Citizens for Community and Campaign for Equality, Brian Baum. Hailing from Livonia MI, Baum spent time in Ann Arbor for school before he came over to Ypsilanti to live with his partner, Holly Ferrise. Only a short while after his move, the print shop incident occurred in 1997, prompting the ordinance campaigns. After finding out more about the campaign during the Human Relations Commission hearings, Baum and Ferrise decided they needed to show up to see where they could help. New to activism and social justice movements, Baum worked with C4C and YCFE to handle administrative tasks and help keep the group on task. In addition to giving time to Ypsi's campaigns, he also worked with the GLSEN Conference in Ann Arbor, all while planning a wedding! During this interview, Baum narrates some of the daily goings-on of the campaigns, explores what his role in all this meant, and shares the messages he took with him afterwards.

Brian Baum, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On December 23, 2021, Jones sat down with former Ypsilanti mayor, Dr. Cheryl Farmer. After moving to Ypsi to complete her residency and learning about the disconnect between city councils and residents, Farmer joined efforts to rewrite the city's charter. In 1995, she became Ypsi's mayor, and until her leave in 2006 she pushed for changes in Ypsi's infrastructure, and fostered a greater sense of trust between Ypsi residents and the government. One of the most memorable and noteworthy acts of her mayor-ship is the creation and passage of Ordinance 1279-deeply entwined in the process, she drafted the committee and eventually signed 1279 into law. During this interview, Farmer sheds light on the ways her upbringing impacted her values as mayor, the workings of local government in contentious times, and all the ways change can happen when communities come together.

Cheryl Farmer, Oral History Interview, 2021

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On January 20th, 2022, Jones met with activist, creative, and mother, Dawn Richberg. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Richberg moved all across the country with her family before making her way to Ann Arbor in the 1980s. While attending graduate school at University of Michigan, she got involved with the American Friends Service Committee's LGBT Issues Program, which led to her participation in the ordinance campaigns. Richberg's experiences as a Black lesbian meant she brought an important perspective to the campaigns that was needed to help bridge the gap between Black communities and queer communities in Ypsi. In this interview, she shares those personal experiences, her work with the AFSC, and her passion for social justice. Richberg also reflects on the process of making change in the community.

Dawn Richberg, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On June 6th, 2022, Jones sat down with EMU alum and former Tri-Pride member, Donna Benke. Benke found her way to Eastern in the 1990s, looking to obtain degrees in social work. Noticing the absence of a student org dedicated to LGBTQ students in the Masters in Social Work program, she joined her fellow students in founding Tri-Pride. Later, after the group was denied service by the print shop in 1997 and the incident made its way to the city council, Benke became one of the first students to speak up at the Human Relations Commission Hearings. She continued to be an active presence in Tri-Pride throughout the ordinance campaigns and up until her graduation from EMU in 1998. In this interview, she recounts how her academic and personal backgrounds impacted the way she navigated the campaigns, how the Tri-Pride students supported each other, and the lessons she took with her afterwards.

Donna Benke, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On March 8, 2022, Jones interviewed EMU alum, former Tri-Pride co-chair, and outspoken supporter of the ordinance, Donna Regan-Southwick. Before she made her way to Eastern, Southwick was a mother and activist working with Noel Keane in the early days of surrogacy. She enrolled at EMU as a non-traditional student, earning both her bachelors and masters degrees here. During her time in the MSW program, Southwick joined her classmates in the formation of Tri-Pride, where she acted as co-chair. After the group was denied service, she became an outspoken proponent of the ordinance and helped further bridge the gap between student and community campaign  perspectives. Southwick had to balance activism and academics, all while raising a son, who witnessed the fight alongside her. In this interview, she sheds light on finding that balance, understanding grief, and finding the strength to stand up for what's right.

This interview includes discussion of sensitive subjects that may be triggering for listeners, such as abuse, drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression.

Donna Regan-Southwick, Oral History Interview, 2022

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On December 13, 2021, Jones met with long time Ypsilantian, figure-skating coach, and community activist, Gary Clark. Clark became involved with the ordinance efforts very early on, when his partner encountered protestors in Depot Town after Tri-Pride was denied service. From there, they called up their friends, neighbors, and fellow community members and held what would become the first Citizens for Community (C4C) meeting. C4C became the group that took on the fight for the first campaign and initial ordinance passage. With Clark's leadership, community ties, and strong sense-of-self, the campaign was able to effectively advocate for an ordinance and bring more visibility to the LGBT community in Ypsi. He understood the importance of bringing in other communities to support the effort, and even visited the very same churches who  strongly opposed the campaigns. In this interview, Clark shares a more in-depth look at C4C's work, the initial drafting of the ordinance, and the shift towards Ypsi Campaign for Equality for the defense.

Gary Clark, Oral History Interview, 2021

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving on council. This ordinance battle was about more than just LGBT rights—it was about protecting the human rights of all Ypsilantians. On January 18, 2022, Jones talked to community organizer and American Friends Service Committee staff member, Jan Wright. After she became a Quaker in graduate school, Wright spent some time living with fellow Quakers in Ann Arbor, and volunteering for the American Friends Service Committee. She eventually became the local AFSC's LGBT Issues Program Director. Wright and her AFSC colleagues hosted community workshops where people could learn to hold non-hostile communication with LGBT/opposing groups. As both ordinance campaigns utilized the workshops, Wright became more entwined in the cause, and found it necessary to support it. Her work with other community members, activists, and organizers left her with meaningful connections, which she reflects on in this interview. Wright also covers the importance of including the Black community in the ordinance, and working closely with religious groups to increase visibility and support through it all.

New tracks tagged #Ypsi Campaign for Equality