What's New

Equality Michigan joins LGBTQ organizations launching No-T-No-Equality.com

gregory — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:48:23 +0000

LGBTQ organizations advocating for an end to the legalized firing of LGBTQ people in Michigan have launched an online initiative - No-T-No-Equality.com - to support a fully-inclusive update to Michigan's non-discrimination law, known as the 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Local, state, and national LGBTQ organizations have stated firmly since 2007 that they will not support any legislation that does not include gender identity and gender expression.

December 2, 2014http://www.No-T-No-Equality.com

Equality Michigan's Detroit Office Temporarily Closed

gregory — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 19:48:41 +0000

Early last week, Equality Michigan's main office in Detroit experienced some electrical issues that resulted in our power box blowing which caused a small fire on the outside of the building. Everyone is safe, our data and files were not damaged, and while we are still assessing damage to our building and equipment - repairs are already underway. We are optimistic that repairs will proceed quickly and we will be able to reopen the office soon. Until then, all calls are temporarily being rerouted to a phone monitored by our department of victim services team.

December 1, 2014http://blog.equalitymi.org/post/104175090252

Equality Michigan Recognizes World AIDS Day 2014

gregory — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 17:12:14 +0000

Equality Michigan joins our partners in the effort to achieve an AIDS-free generation in recognizing World AIDS Day 2014! Since the first cases of HIV were reported over three decades ago, tens of millions of people have lost their lives to this virus. During that time, we have learned to treat people affected by HIV more humanely, and learned how to save millions of lives with more effective prevention and treatment. However, more must be done before we can win this battle and treat people affected by HIV with the respect, compassion, and support they deserve. Today, we come together to honor all those who have been impacted by HIV and celebrate the promising public health and scientific advances that have brought us closer to our goal of an AIDS-free generation. We encourage you to take an important step towards that goal by getting tested.

December 1, 2014

Equality Michigan Responds to Decision by Grand Jury in Ferguson

gregory — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:11:48 +0000

Equality Michigan joins our colleagues in the anti-violence movement and many of you in expressing our anger and dismay at the ongoing developments in Ferguson. While details continue to emerge, one thing remains clear - young Michael Brown did not deserve to die and there has not been enough recognition of the value of the life lost.

November 25, 2014

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2014

gregory — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:26:34 +0000

Today Equality Michigan joins transgender advocates and allies around the world in remembering the victims of anti-transgender violence. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester's murder -- like most anti-transgender murder cases -- has yet to be solved. No one deserves to die because of their gender identity or expression. Equality Michigan will continue to advocate for these victims and provide a voice to those silenced.

November 20, 2014

Update on AT&T action

gregory — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 17:36:57 +0000

UPDATE: Action ceased. Share this to join us in thanking AT&T for standing by their commitment to an update to Michigan's nondiscrimination law that includes gender identity and gender expression. Jim Murray has disengaged from from his effort to pass a fundamentally flawed bill. Proof that by working together - we can help solidify support for a measure which will ensure all LGBTQ Michiganders will be protected from discrimination.

November 14, 2014http://www.droppingthecall.com/info

Statewide Campaign For Gender Inclusive Civil Rights Amendment

gregory — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:40:03 +0000

Community and LGBT organizations from across the state have come together to create a new campaign aimed at holding legislators accountable for passage of an all inclusive bill to amend the state's civil-rights amendment.

Before the Michigan legislature are two bills that will amend the state's civil rights act, Elliott-Larsen, to include sexual orientation protections but one will exclude gender identity protections.

November 13, 2014

People Of Faith Invited To Community Conversation

gregory — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:29:04 +0000

Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion and the ACLU of Michigan will present a community conversation on the proposed amendment to the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights bill this month. The amendment aims to add protections in work, housing, etc. for LGBT individuals living in Michigan, specifically by adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the act. The Nov. 20 program, dubbed "Panel Discussion: Granting Equal Rights - Valuing Religious Liberty," will have discussions by Kary Moss and Jay Kaplan of the ACLU, Emily Dievendorf of Equality Michigan, Rev. Dr.

November 13, 2014

Court ruling doesn’t end marriage equality dream

gregory — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:24:33 +0000

A few years ago, a family vacation in Ohio nearly ended in a fatal car crash for April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse. They had their three adopted children with them and the close call made them realize their family had no protection under Michigan law if something happened to one or both of them.

Michigan's adoption laws prevent same-sex couples from adopting. When the case was presented to Judge Friedman, he encouraged them to challenge the Michigan Marriage Amendment, because that was the root of their problems. They did so.

November 13, 2014

Guest column: Appeals ruling delays this gay couple's return to Michigan

gregory — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 01:43:07 +0000

My day started as it often does -- hitting snooze a few too many times, feeding the dogs, packing lunch for my 4-year-old son, Lucas, dropping him off at school before putting in my time at the office. Yet, here I sit on the evening of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upholding Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage searching for the right word to describe the turn of events in an otherwise typical day.

November 13, 2014