Help our Executive Director, Dave Garcia, ride across Michigan from Belle Isle Park to Saugatuck starting on Friday, September 25th, and ending on Wednesday, September 30th. Cheer Dave on by showing your support for the Center and the LGBTQ+ Community of Metro Detroit during the five-day ride!
All donations made during this time will be used to support Affirmations’ upcoming efforts to expand mental and physical health care services at the Center in 2021.
#RideForAff with Dave Garcia!
Read a letter below from Raul Garcia. Aka – Dave’s dad:
Twenty years ago, I drove in front of my son, Dave Garcia, as he walked 60 miles on a cold December night to bring attention to the violence and homophobia many LGBTQ+ youth face in schools across our state and country. My son was forced out of his job simply for trying to help these LGBTQ+ youth.
Some twenty years later, the LGBTQ+ rights movement continues to make significant progress. However, homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination still exist, and nowhere is this as obvious and prevalent than in health care.
The health disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community are significant. Across the state and country, LGBTQ+ people continue to be denied adequate health care by doctors and medical providers hiding behind their religious beliefs to justify discrimination.
Affirmations is the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the state of Michigan and is currently expanding its health and human services programming to help meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
And they need our help.
My son is riding his bike across the entire state to raise money for this expansion of health and mental health services at Affirmations so that the LGBTQ+ community will have scientifically accurate and culturally competent care.
Unfortunately, many fathers of gay sons across this state and country continue to turn their backs on their LGBTQ+ children.
This, I will never do.
The LGBTQ+ community deserves competent and compassionate care and I will do all that I can to help them provide these much-needed services.
Because the truth is, “their” community is my community. It is our community. Just as my beloved son is, and will always be, a part of me.
Please help my son as he rides across the state of Michigan and donate whatever you can afford to this effort. The center has a generous donor willing to match $10,000 so every little bit helps!
On behalf of the entire Garcia family – I thank you.
Raul Garcia. Aka – Dave’s dad!
