March 2006 – Openly gay Michigan advertising executive Joe Fitzryk is named Genre's Man of the Year, beating 83 competitors from across the U.S. He is the first Michigander to win the contest.
April 2006 – Local couple Michelle Fox-Phillips and Jamie Phillips-Fox form Transgender Detroit to serve the trans communities in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties,
May 23, 2006 – Gov. Jennifer Granholm signs legislation restricting protests at funerals in order to curb the presence of anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church. The church's founders and members were known for picketing at U.S. soldiers' funerals, blaming homosexuals on the deaths.
June 18, 2006 – Muskegon holds its first ever Gay Pride event, despite a heavy downpour.
August 2006 – The Arcus Foundation awards the Ruth Ellis Center with a grant of $322,821 over three years to help the center hire a new director of development.
Nov. 7, 2006 – Ferndale passes a human rights ordinance, guaranteeing equal treatment for gays and lesbians in the city in such areas as employment, housing and public accommodations.
December 2006 – Lansing City Council approves a comprehensive human rights ordinance covering both sexual orientation and gender identity.
