November 19, 1955 – September 27, 2003
As board chair and educator with Gospel Against AIDS/Global Research, Education, and Training Network, physician Isabello Reyes Jr. pushed for AIDS education, care, and civil rights protections. In addition to his advocacy, Reyes taught at Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Detroit.
August 14, 1950 – July 20, 2010
Lansing activist and physical therapist Norman Pross was born in Bay City and grew up in Standish. He earned a Bachelor’s in education from Central Michigan University. After moving to Lansing in 1974, he was employed with the Eaton Intermediate School District and later worked as an HIV/AIDS consultant for the State of Michigan.
September 20, 1937 – March 15, 1990
A retired school teacher, Larry Barnard founded the Greater Lansing Gay Men’s Chorus, was active with the Lansing Area AIDS Network, and served as an officer and volunteer in several capacities for the Lansing Association for Human Rights and the Michigan Organization for Human Rights.
January 13, 1949 – November 24, 2015
A graduate of Oakland University, Rev. Rod Reinhart left teaching to attend divinity school and became one of the nation’s first openly gay priests ordained in the Episcopal Church. He helped found the annual ecumenical worship service People Who Care About People with AIDS.
August 15, 1945 – September 24, 1996
At the time of her death at age 51, Linda Petersen served as director of client services for AIDS Partnership Michigan.
December 25, 1964 – May 9, 1993
A graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint, Ralph Wilson worked as an educator for the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project.
September 23, 1918 – August 10, 1985
A founder of the Lansing chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Jerry Rapaport was also involved with the Lansing Association for Human Rights and the Lansing Area AIDS Network. She was mother of activist Rick Rapaport.
August 3, 1958 – August 14, 1996
Dr. Anthony Welsh, a Dearborn Heights native and graduate of Michigan State University, established an HIV education speaker’s bureau in Ann Arbor under the auspices of the HIV/AIDS Resource Center. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 38.
May 20, 1963 – November 27, 2011
A champion of social justice, Rev. Darren McCarroll served as pastor of Full Truth Unity Fellowship Church in Detroit from 1996 to 1999.
Michigan LGBTQ Remember 