By Eric Rader
Viewpoint
The 2013 off-year elections are over and now we look ahead to 2014. Voters in Detroit elected Mike Duggan, the former head of the Detroit Medical Center, to be their next mayor as the city moves along the path toward hopefully solving its fiscal mess. As much as some suburbanites may think that Detroit is beyond hope, or that the fate of their cities is not linked to Detroit's, the reality is that all of us in southeast Michigan, and indeed the entire state and the country, need a vibrant and functional Detroit. The city will certainly never be as large in population as it once was, but it remains a vital part of the nation's economy, both because of its historic role in putting America on wheels, and its potential leadership in the emerging knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century.
This region's gay community has strong roots in Detroit, the site of the earliest pride events in our region. For many years, LGBTs have gone to the bars in the city. In 2011, Motor City Pride moved to Detroit, going back to the city where gay liberation began in Michigan. "Hotter Than July" has been a feature of the Detroit summer event landscape for nearly 20 years, celebrating the pride of African American LGBTs. While so much of the social and political life of the Michigan LGBT community has been rooted in our state's largest city, many gay people have waited to hear strong words of inclusion and welcome from the leader of the city. In his election night victory speech, Mayor-elect Duggan spoke of the need to include all Detroiters in his efforts to move the city forward, and he explicitly listed the gay community in his remarks. It is clear that the LGBT community has an important role to play in the efforts to revitalize the city of Detroit, and its new mayor welcomes our participation.
Several of Detroit's suburbs have also been leaders in the fight for LGBT equality and fairness. On Nov. 5, Ferndale citizens reelected David Coulter, the city's second openly gay mayor, to another term as leader of a city long known for its progressive and inclusive values. The sexual orientation of the winning candidate and that of his chief rival, Ferndale's first openly-gay mayor Craig Covey, was never an issue in the campaign. In the same election, Greg Pawlica, also a gay man, was elected to serve on the Ferndale City Council. Meanwhile, Royal Oak citizens voted in favor of the city's LGBT-inclusive human rights ordinance, defeating the efforts of anti-gay groups that wanted to deny equal treatment for all people in public accommodations and businesses in the city.
As sociologists, economists, political scientists and others have observed, the most economically prosperous and thriving communities are those that value inclusion in all aspects of civic life. In this area, we need only look at Ferndale, Royal Oak, and other local cities to see that people want to live, work, shop, eat, and play in communities where everyone is accepted for who they are. In Detroit, much of the media attention focused on the fact that Mike Duggan is the first white mayor of the city in 40 years. Yet just as sexual orientation was not an issue in Ferndale's mayoral contest, race and ethnicity was not a serious consideration in the Detroit election. Ultimately, what people want most is a government that values them and wants to unite our communities.
Of course, the importance of race, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity should never be minimized in the lives of average people, especially given the sad history of discrimination in this country and state. Bigotry, hatred, and discrimination are, unfortunately, very much alive, and we need to fight hard to continue to make progress on these issues and fight the forces that would hold people back.
Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, and other communities have proven that it's possible to look forward on these matters and focus on the real problems in front of us. While the city of Detroit faces unprecedented financial challenges in the coming months and years, it will return to vibrancy, especially if its leaders continue to emphasize the necessity of creating opportunity for all people. However, those of us who live in the suburbs need to work with our sisters and brothers in the city of Detroit to ensure that progress happens. Economic and social advancements will only happen when we all recognize the interdependence that exists between Detroit and its suburbs. If Detroit succeeds, we all will benefit, and we should work hard to make that happen.
BTL article on Mike Duggan's victory speech:
https://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=63231
BTL interview with Mike Duggan:
https://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=62752
