Minor Planets

Anti-Hate Benefit Concert
Saturday, Jan. 20
5 to 9 p.m.
Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.
$6
ALL AGES



When the story of a small-town record shop possibly being boycotted for promoting a diversity group broke last fall, store owner Teri Yale started receiving attention and support from alternative media outlets and organizations across the country.


Yale, owner of Davey’s Basement in Mason, claims residents stopped shopping at her alternative record store after she sponsored a Gay Student Alliance float in the October homecoming parade, causing her sales to plummet.


Among those who saw the story was Lenny Zenith, front man for the Ann Arbor-based band Minor Planets.


“I’m on a mailing list for Coalition for a Fair MI,” Zenith said. “I saw a note about this boycott and right away I contacted my friends and the other guys in the band because it seemed really silly and I knew that they could use our support.”


Not long after hearing about the boycott, Zenith approached Yale about doing a benefit show for Davey’s to raise additional funds to help it through the dry spell.


Originally resistant to the idea because she didn’t want to overreact, Yale eventually accepted Zenith’s offer as the situation went from bad to worse.


Zenith has received confirmations from local bands The Royal Affairs, the Dardanelles, Sik Sik Nation and Andreyka. In addition to the music, there will be a talk by Sean Kosofky, director of policy for the Triangle Foundation ­— a statewide advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and a silent auction featuring a bevy of donated items including CDs, signed concert photos and artwork.


Yale was very encouraged when informed of the details for the benefit show.


“Hopefully this will help with the message of diversity we’re trying to spread,” she said.
Zenith is also optimistic about the show’s potential.


“Not only do we want to see Davey’s supporters, but we also hope to change a few hearts and minds in the process.”


In October Yale still believed the lull in business was temporary.


But the ensuing three months have seen little increase from the roughly 80 percent drop in sales the original boycott was thought to be responsible for.


All of the positive press and national support Davey’s has seen has seemed to lead to a local backlash: The store has been a victim of acts of vandalism, including egging, spitting and letters being stolen from the store’s sign.


One day Mason Mayor Leon Clark stopped by Davey’s to try and patch up the sour relationship between the store and the city, Yale said.


Clark said he offered Yale a spot on the city’s Downtown Development Authority.
“It came off as if they were just kind of performing damage control or trying to keep me pacified,” Yale said.


Originally resolute to make amends with the locals, Yale has come to the conclusion that it is a goal that may be out of reach.


“One of our goals now is to generate enough funds to possibly move the store to an area that is a little more accepting,” Yale said.


“We hoped all of this would blow over,” she said. “But in reality, things haven’t gotten any better.” - Lansing Pulse

Top Stories This Week in the Chronicle.
January 26, 2007

Davey's benefit isn’t enough

Minor Planets, a rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, plays at an “Anti-Hate Benefit” in the state capital of Lansing on January 20.

The show, organized by the band, was to money for Davey’s Basement, a record store in the nearby small town of Mason. The store has been hit hard by a boycott after the owner, Teri Yale, sponsored a homecoming float last fall for the high school’s gay-straight alliance.

A silent auction and $6 donation at the door only brought in about $500, which is too little, too late for Yale’s store.

“Probably, in all reality, we will have to start liquidating and probably no later than the end of March have to close,” she said. “Unless we get a miracle, unless we get an 11th hour reprieve. That would be kind of cool.”

After the homecoming parade, the teenagers who used to fill Yale’s store stopped showing up. She had no idea that her support of the GSA was at the root of the problem until one teen told her that another’s mother had barred her from shopping at Davey’s Basement.

“I would hate to think that the worst business decision I ever made was to help out kids,” she said. “Not just the GSA, but all the kids in the area, and that’s what grinds me the most.”

“At least I have the satisfaction of knowing that, as a business owner, prior to any of this, I was succeeding. At least I know I can run a business,” Yale said defiantly.

Her two youngest daughters graduate from high school this year, and then Yale and her husband may move on to greener pastures.

Regardless of what the future holds for her, however, she is truly touched by the outpouring of support she received when her strife became known.

In addition to the show, for which Minor Planets got four other bands to perform free of charge, Yale’s poster supplier, local stores and Michigan Pride all supplied materials for the silent auction, including autographed posters and books.

“Lenny [of Minor Planets] and all those guys, I wish there was something I could do for them to thank them for all they’ve done,” she said. “I think they need to be famous. That would be cool, and that would make me happy.”

--Anthony Glassman







- Gay Chronicle