BY AJ TRAGER
Newborn Girl Of Local Lesbian Couple Experiences Religious Discrimination
Bay Windsor Contreras, daughter of Jami Contreras and Krista Dornfried-Contreras, was just 6 days old when she experienced her first instance of discrimination. Jami and Krista knew that they wanted to have children, and after getting pregnant they sought out a pediatrician in the area that specialized in holistic medicine. Dr. Vesna Roi of Roseville was their third of five appointments and fit the bill for everything they were looking for in a pediatrician from medical philosophy to personality. They then met for a prenatal consultation. Bay was born on a Tuesday and they called a day or two later to schedule an appointment for four days out. On the day of the appointment they were met by a different doctor who explained that Dr. Roi had prayed on it and that she would not be able to take Bay on as a patient.
Three Trans Murders In Detroit
In 2015 alone, 22 trans men and women have been murdered with another 20 trans teens and young adults committing suicide. Of the 22 murdered, three of them were from Detroit.
The Michigan LGBT community saw the loss of Ashton O'Hara, 25, who died July 14; Amber Monroe, 20, who died Aug. 8; and Melvin who was taken in October. O'Hara was full of love for his family and friends and lived life on his terms. He loved kids and had a passion for dance and performance. Monroe was a Wayne State University student who loved her friends and voguing. Melvin was found dressed in women's clothing with a fatal gunshot wound to his body. A fourth unidentified trans individual was hospitalized Aug. 11 after sustaining injuries to her hand after being attacked near the intersection of John R and Nevada. She survived the incident.
ACLU Sues State in Love v. Johnson
The ACLU filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Ruth Johnson on behalf of six plaintiffs challenging a department policy that makes it impossible for many transgender individuals to correct the gender marker on their driver's licenses and other forms of identification. While some states have laws that allow for individuals to amend their birth certificates with a court order, Michigan refuses to change the gender marker on a birth certificate until the individual has undergone sexual reassignment surgery and can provide a letter of completion signed by a medial physician. ACLU lawyers argued Nov. 4 before Federal Judge Nancy Edmunds who seemed sympathetic to the plaintiffs' argument. Edmunds rejected the state's request to dismiss the case. The case will move forward in 2016.
April and Jayne DeBoer-Rowse Tie The Knot
Michigan's plaintiff couple in the case against the state's ban on same-sex marriage exchanged their wedding vows in front of 200 people Aug. 22 at Pi Banquet Hall in Southfield. Witnesses to the ceremony and signing of the license were Carole Stanyar, Ken Mogill, Dana Nessel, Bob Sedler and Mary Bonauto, the lawyers who had represented them throughout the four year journey which began in 2011 when the couple sought second-parent adoption for their kids. The couple and their attorneys were joined by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, County Clerks Lawrence Kestenbaum from Washtenaw County and Lisa Brown from Oakland County, Federal Judge Judy Levy, Gloria Allred, family, friends and longtime, local LGBT activists. Federal Judge Bernard Friedman, who issued the ruling in the 2014 trial that overturned Michigan's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, officiated the wedding.
Fair Michigan
A ballot initiative to add sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the state constitution was launched Oct. 30 by DeBoer-Rowse attorney Dana Nessel. The initiative, called Fair Michigan, fell under heavy scrutiny in the first few weeks of its launch as 17 signatories on a letter addressed to Nessel stressed the importance of working with LGBT organizations and activists in the state on the ballot push. Over 100 people from across the state met Dec. 7 at Washtenaw Community College to discuss the plausibility of winning at the ballot box and what the committee is currently doing. As of press time, the committee has yet to be endorsed by any LGBT organization in the state.
