BTL Editorial: Give the gift of community

OK – so it's the week before Christmas and you still haven't come up with any memorable and creative ideas for those special people on your list. You know who they are. There is that one who already has everything they could possible need or want, the other that never wants anything, and, of course, that special friend who is simply impossible to please!
We at BTL have a stupendous holiday gift idea – give the gift of community! Give that special someone a membership to an LGBT organization or project, one that is meaningful to you and will demonstrate that you care – about the organization, their mission and your friend.
How about a donation in your friend's name to the Ruth Ellis Center, or a membership to the Affirmations Community Center in Ferndale, Detroit's Black Pride Society or the Out and Affirmation Center in St. Joseph. Triangle Foundation is always seeking financial support for their programs, and AIDS organizations need practically everything at the holiday season. The LGBT Marching Band in Lansing needs funds for music and instruments, and the LGBT choruses need to buy their scores.
Maybe there is a lawyer on your list – how about a gift in their name to the LGBT project at the ACLU, or Lambda Legal Defense.
Perhaps someone on your list treasures their family. A gift membership to PFLAG would acknowledge that important part of their lives. They can use the membership themselves, or just feel good about supporting others who need help accepting their LGBT family members.
Say you have a friend who doesn't know that you strongly support the rights of transgender people. You could make a gift in their honor to TransGender Michigan. If a friend attends one of the many LGBT religious organizations, you could make donatation in their name to their church or synagogue.
If you can't decide on one group, the HOPE Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan provides direct financial support to lots of different LGBT projects. A gift in honor of your friend to the HOPE Fund would benefit a wide array of projects, all with one gift.
Another suggestion; you can always give a subscription to BTL. They'll receive the paper each week in the mail and stay up to date on all the LGBT community news and events.
So this year consider giving a piece of the community. All the contact information for the groups mentioned above and more can be found on our website at www.PrideSource.com. Most accept credit cards, and have gift membership cards and forms.
Celebrate, support and enjoy! Happy Holidays from all of us here at BTL!