BY BTL STAFF
Tired of all the negativity in our country, our state and our community? It's enough to create a state of depression.
Since November is the month of Thanksgiving, EQMI is daring themselves (and members of the community) to turn that state around with an attitude of gratitude. It just may change that state to "good" and they'll start by giving thanks to their volunteers, community partners, donors, board members, petition-signers, sponsors and other who EQMI simply could not have made an impact without.
Thanks to members of the community, EQMI has successfully done the following:
– Delivered 2500 signatures to Lansing lawmakers to include sexual orientation and gender identity in Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) at Lobby Day, so people like a gay man from western Wayne County, whose identity was revealed at work, can't be fired from his job again or lesbians from Detroit can regain custody of the daughter they've raised together for 12 years. Visit https://equalitymi.org/press-release-elcra/ for more.
– Provided legal support and guidance to cities like Jackson and Westland who now have non-discrimination ordinances (NDO's) protecting Michigan's LGBTQ population. City by city, now NDO's cover more than 2.2 million Michiganders, but not Jessica and Julie, who after finding their ideal wedding venue in Holly, were told by the owner "I'm a Christian man… I don't want your kind here." Visit https://equalitymi.org/anti-lgbt-wedding-venue/ to read their.
– Increased the number of pop-up offices statewide from two to six, so a trans woman, among others, from the Tri-cities area can receive vital financial, legal and emotional resources from EQMI's Department of Victim Services after she was nearly choked to death by her partner. Why is it important NDO's are in place? Find out here: http://gaybe.am/7m.
– Built bridges on both sides of the aisle including at our Fall Event, check out more online to advance full humanity and equality under the law.
"A very special thanks" goes to EQMI's dedicated volunteers, who sacrifice their time, their homes, and their resources for the betterment of the organization and the LGBTQ community:
Melani Mood * Marinda Mood * Tanya Bell * Paula Holly * Brandi Smith * Paris Carson
Travis Dean * Tahj Douglas * Courtney Haupt * Reilley Jones * Chad Jones
Kendell Jones * Liz Morgan * Zach Hill * Deadre Pickett * Kim Phinnessee
David Reid * Diondre Rice * Andrea Simon * Grayson Beras * Caroline Hatfield
Ryan Redoute * Patty Krupa * Peggy Lynch * Stephanie Leugood * Steven Wright
Luke Shaefer * Susie Shaefer * Jeremy Bloom * Chris Bergen * Tony Misuraca
