March 5, 1931 – October 9, 2016
Betty Hudson grew up in Connecticut and attended Michigan State University in the early 1950s with her twin sister Marie. She left college for a heterosexual marriage, which ended on good terms in the mid-1970s when she came out. Hudson served two terms in the Connecticut legislature and was survived by her companion of more than 35 years Fran Roberts and her daughter and son.
Lesbian Connection, January/February 2017
March 13, 1931 – April 20, 2015
Marvin Phillip Marks of Southfield started his own accounting firm in the early 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, he held leadership positions in numerous local gay organizations, including Dignity/Detroit, the Motor City Business Forum, the Detroit Area Gay/Lesbian Council, the Forum Foundation, and Wellness Networks. Marks received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Pride Banquet in 2009.
July 28, 1931 – October 28, 2006
Shirley Ann Weaver, formerly of Livonia, was born in Detroit and met her loving companion Barbara Sowers in the early 1960s. Weaver retired as a public school teacher and counselor in 1989 and relocated with Sowers to Port Charlotte, Florida.
February 2, 1931 – September 28, 2011
Nydia Jane Nichols grew up in Plainwell, graduated from Plainwell High School, and worked in bookkeeping and accounting. In her later years, she and her life partner Patricia Cutshaw shared a home in Kalamazoo.
November 28, 1931 – April 16, 2012
Dolores Jan Harris was active with the Genesee County chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Born in Lansing, she married in 1950, worked as a paraprofessional with Brandon Schools, served as a Girl Scout leader, and sang in the choir of Ortonville United Methodist Church.
February 20, 1931 – August 22, 2015
Grand Rapids resident Dorace “Dorie” Johnson graduated from the Blodgett Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1950 and had a long career as an RN. She and her life partner Cindy Gould were active in the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ.
September 3, 1931 – December 26, 2007
A native of Allegan, Marietta “Polly” Huitt earned her B.S. and M.A. from Western Michigan University and taught at Nazareth College and in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. She and her life partner June Peppas later operated the JP Printing Company in Allegan before retiring to Florida in 1990.
January 10, 1931 – May 4, 2016
Outspoken Detroit attorney George Maurer served active duty in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1955 and another 27 years in the Army Reserves. A co-founder of Wellness House, he earned his B.A. and J.D. from Wayne State University and was also a longtime co-owner of Gigi’s nightclub.
April 29, 1931 – October 29, 1990
A onetime executive assistant with the Joffrey Ballet, Christopher Flynn operated a private dance studio in Rochester in the early 1970s and introduced his student and future superstar Madonna to gay nightlife at Menjo’s. In 1977, Flynn served as a founding officer of the Michigan Organization for Human Rights. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 58.
April 7, 1931 – February 26, 2010
Ron Worsley taught theater at Wayne State University and Henry Ford Community College. He also produced salacious musicals for the annual “Do a Fool” weekend held by the leather group Tribe.
Michigan LGBTQ Remember 