Remember the lazy days of summer? Sitting by the pool, sipping pina coladas, wasting the hours away doing little more than listening to a favorite record or reading a good book or trashy magazine.
But there are no such days for the LGBT organizers in our communities across Michigan. In fact, while the hot air and humidity slows down the pace of some, our activism seems to bloom with the foliage.
In Kalamazoo, while many in the community sit idly by, others are hard at work with the Kalamazoo Alliance For Equality, where folks are pressing ahead tirelessly to pass the anti-discrimination ordinance in their city. The ordinance, like ones in 16 other Michigan cities, will protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in such areas as housing, employment and public accommodations.
Meanwhile, though Pride month is over in Ferndale, the Affirmations community center is moving full speed ahead to revamp some of their programming – despite being down two staff members in the past month. The current staff is working overtime to keep the center's programs running as they look to hire three new employees within the next month. This will include a youth manager, who will oversee the complete overhaul of their youth program. Chief Executive Officer Leslie Thompson said simply that she was "proud" of her staff for working so hard during this difficult time.
We want to congratulate those who aren't taking the summer off. Whether it's work in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Ferndale or up north, the LGBT community has not slowed down for the warmer months.
And you know what? It's working.
Things are moving forward in Michigan, whether in politics, schools or in our own neighborhoods. Revitalized by the summer sun and the occasional weekend off at the beach, the state's LGBT community can definitely pat themselves on the back.
But we're not done yet.
Notice how the aforementioned stories of hard work and success include some of the community? They need to include all of us. While KAFE Media Coordinator Shawn Brier proudly talked about the work his organization is doing in Kalamazoo, one fact stuck out: Most of the LGBT community, said Brier, does not even know this fight for the ordinance is happening. He continued, saying that they're apathetic, possibly because they don't see the discrimination in their own lives.
There's no room for apathy in the battle for equality. We can go to work and get on with our lives without being discriminated against, but that doesn't mean that others can – or that it'll never happen to you.
One opponent in Kalamazoo put it bluntly to the press, saying that the city doesn't want people to think it's gay friendly.
Take a hint from those who are spending sunny days in their offices, gathering petition signatures or trying to influence minds and hearts in Lansing.
Give some money or some time to a cause this July and August, because there is no summer vacation in the fight for equality.
