These Michigan LGBTQ+ Orgs Will Have Your Back in 2025 After Trump's Inauguration

From mental health services to storytelling, activists prepare for challenging times

LGBT Detroit Staff. Photo: Andrew Potter

Liam Clymer

Published: December 16, 2024 | Last Updated: December 23, 2024

The dust has settled. Donald Trump will be coming back into power in January — an exhausting thing for many LGBTQ+ community members to wrap their heads around. However, that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.

For Michiganders, our identities are built on grit. This is a time to come together, pull up our sleeves and get to work. Detroit’s LGBTQ+ organizations have wasted no time in launching into action.

These organizations offer a wealth of resources and programs to aid in having hard conversations, navigating emotional impacts and learning to carry on with compassion. With the new year approaching rapidly, make a commitment to yourself and the greater LGBTQ+ community to keep up the good fight.

Leaders from Michigan’s LGBTQ+ organizations have a rallying cry for those feeling uncertain:

Stand With Trans

The folks over at Stand With Trans know that in order to look out for the community as a whole, you need to look out for yourself first. That’s why they are unveiling new mental health services as a part of their plan for 2025.

Stand With Trans Director of Clinical Services Daily Andrews said that the services have been in the works for a while, but by the end of 2024, there was a clear need for implementation.

“Ninety percent of LGBTQ+ youth have said that they feel impacted by recent politics in a negative way,” Andrews said. “I think that giving space — a safe space, a private space, a confidential space — is important for people to talk about those things going on and what those negative experiences are.”

The organization offers a variety of service options ranging from virtual and in-person counseling to a sliding pricing scale and taking those without insurance. On top of that, there are four entirely free spots for those who need them and plans to expand and include group counseling soon.

“If you come to me and you have a need, we can figure it out,” they said.

More information is available at standwithtrans.org.

Affirmations

Affirmations has found that conversation is vital post-election. The organization’s executive director, Cheryl Czach, realized that in order to combat fear, the organization would bring the community together through town halls and informational sessions.

“In November, we did what we called a community chat where about 60 community members came together to process how they were feeling — kind of a peer-to-peer support,” Czach told Pride Source. “We're going to do something similar to that again in February where folks can just come in and talk with each other, connect with each other, and process how they're feeling post-inauguration.”

She said that getting involved with local organizations is important because “we're stronger together."

“It was really powerful to be in that room and see people connecting, supporting and lifting up how important it is to be there for our transgender family because their rights are the ones under the most attack,” Czach added.

Upcoming events and engagement opportunities can be found at goaffirmations.org.

Equality Michigan

In addition to its central role as a catalyst for moving pro-LGBTQ+ legislation through the State House, Equality Michigan is centering its response around combatting misinformation and sharing LGBTQ+ narratives. The organization is part of the national “Here We Are” campaign — a storytelling project that shares a glimpse into the lives of trans individuals as told by them.

Through this format, Equality Michigan empowers trans voices. These easy-to-digest videos lay out that trans folks are just everyday people who deserve respect just as much as anyone else — being trans is just one part of a multifaceted identity.

Take a peek at the stories being told thus far at hereweare.equalitymi.org.

The Michigan ACLU

Jay Kaplan, the ACLU of Michigan's LGBTQ+ project staff attorney, described the organization as “the guardians of civil liberties and constitutional rights.”

In line with that, Michigan’s ACLU is gearing up to defend the protections already in place in this state. Kaplan said that Michigan is a “good state” with lawmakers and elected officials tending to support LGBTQ+ identities — however, this could make them more of a target for the incoming administration.

Kaplan said the best way to combat this targeting of safe LGBTQ+ states is through something called "integrated advocacy," which he described as "a combination of different tools."

“That could involve litigation in terms of bringing cases in court," he said. "It could also involve public policy advocacy — working with the legislature, working with policymakers to ensure the bad stuff doesn't happen and that good stuff continues to happen or is maintained.”

He added that to best engage with policymakers, they needed passionate individuals to have these conversations. “We need to be talking with our friends now in the state and talking about what our friends can do to either prevent or lessen the blow of the attacks from the federal government,” Kaplan said.

“You have the ability to do something,” he said. "You're making a difference because ultimately it is the voters who decide the direction of our country, and where we're going to go.”

To volunteer with Michigan’s ACLU, visit aclumich.org.

LGBT Detroit

For LGBT Detroit Executive Director A. Nzere Kwabena, the next step is about “protecting our wins” — something that can’t be done without considering the history of the LGBTQ+ community.

2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of Hotter Than July, a LGBT Detroit institution. Given the significance of the year it falls on, Kwabena wants to make the celebration something unforgettable.

“Planning has already begun to expand community engagement from now until July,” he said of the long-running event. “I'm very excited to see how we learn the history of Hotter Than July and how we activate for Hotter Than July.”

At the same time, he acknowledges that reflection alone doesn’t lead to action. Kwabena highlighted the new programs and ideas that volunteers are bringing to the organization. “These people want to do more than just file paperwork or make phone calls; they want to get their hands dirty. One wants to develop a new program that's going to help people with grief, one volunteer wants to help in our infrastructure development and the third person wants to do Hotter Than July outreach in a very unique way.”

The influx of programming comes from a renewed passion in volunteers, he said. “That’s new for us… most volunteers want to do a one-and-done action,” Kwabena said. “[More volunteers] has an increased impact and is long-lasting.”

All volunteering and program information can be found at lgbtdetroit.org.

Whether it’s through time or funds, there are ways to give back to local LGBTQ+ organizations. Have their back so that they can have yours as we weather a tumultuous time.