Because there's more to life than shopping.
Gay-friendliest city/suburb/town in MICHIGAN in which to live
Winner: Ferndale
Runners-up: Ann Arbor & Royal Oak
A three-peat: The top three winners last year took the same positions again this year! Ferndale isn't called "fabulous" for nothing!
Least gay-friendly city/suburb/town in MICHIGAN in which to live
Winner: Howell
Runners-up: Grosse Pointe & Livonia
Once again, Howell took top honors. And as our comments last year about this quaint Livingston County town offended at least one of our readers, we'll leave well enough alone THIS year…it speaks for itself! In all, 38 communities received nominations, which is more than three times the number submitted as "gay friendliest." Tells ya something, doesn't it?
Gay-friendliest company to work for
Winner: Ford Motor Company
Runners-up: IBM & General Motors
Congratulations to Ford for its second consecutive number one win! And runners-up IBM and GM are repeats, as well! This proves that Big Business CAN be gay-friendly business! Special congrats to the employee groups in each of these corporate giants – without you there wouldn't be this kind of progress – you rock!
Least gay-friendly company to work for
Winner: Archdiocese of Detroit/Catholic Church
Runners-up: Cracker Barrel & Domino's Pizza
We're not sure if this year's "winner" is the result of personal experience or other issues (such as the sex abuse scandal or the position church leaders are taking on gay marriage), but the Catholic Church unexpectedly shot to the top this year, barely edging out last year's winner!
Most welcoming LGBT social club to belong to
Winner: Affirmations Lesbian Gay Community Center, Ferndale
Runners-up: FANS of Ferndale & MCC
"ARE there any welcoming LGBT social groups," several unconvinced readers asked? Yes there are, and 25 organizations received nominations – with Affirmations once again taking the top spot. But Ferndale residents will have to look elsewhere for a friendly group to join: FANS recently disbanded!
Snobbiest LGBT social club you wished you belonged to
Winner: Human Rights Campaign
Runners-up: (tie) Birmingham Yacht Club, Detroit Guerrilla Queer Bar, Lesbian Moms Network, Race Matters & SPICE
This tongue-in-cheek survey item holds the distinction for having the fewest responses this year – how does nine sound? And only one group received more than one vote. Can you guess which one? The ACTUAL winners, apparently, are "don't know" and "don't care!"
Best place to hang out when you're looking to make new LGBT friends
Winner: Affirmations Lesbian Gay Community Center, Ferndale
Runners-up: Pronto! & Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit
Uh-oh…could Affirmations be on its way to dominating the awards like they did last year? And two souls apparently find friendship – or something, anyway – at softball diamonds! Batter up!
Most welcoming spiritual organization for LGBT people
Winner: Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit
Runners-up: Renaissance Unity, (tie) 1st Unitarian Universalist Church & Dignity, St. Andrews Oasis Ministry, Ann Arbor
God might work in mysterious ways, but LGBT people have found spiritual nourishment at more than a dozen different churches and organizations. The spirit seems to favor MCC, however, which received 53 percent of the vote! Ann Arborites voted a lot in this category, especially appreciating the advocacy work St. Andrews goes for LGBT issues.
Gay-friendliest MICHIGAN college or university
Winner: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor campus
Runners-up: (tie) Wayne State University, Michigan State University & Eastern Michigan University
Did anyone doubt that U of M would win – and with more than eight times the number of votes than the runners-up? A positive aspect of the vote was this: 11 of the state's colleges and universities received nominations! U of M has the benefit of longevity, with an LGBTQ office in place for more than a quarter century.
