Ellen Shanna Knoppow
Donating Blood in the Time of Coronavirus: Activists Say Gay Men Still Face Discrimination
The Need is Great Only about 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood. That's because of various restrictions like age and physical health of the potential donor plus factors intended to protect the blood supply from blood-borne [...]
Planned Parenthood: 'Care. No Matter What' — Even During a Global Pandemic
Tried and True It's more than a slogan. "Care. No Matter What" is Planned Parenthood's guiding principle and a mandate now more than ever as the organization faces its latest external threat: the novel coronavirus. But because of its ability to [...]
Transgender Michigan Helpline Continues to Take Calls Amid Pandemic
Rachel Crandall-Crocker is a licensed master social worker and the executive director of Transgender Michigan. In addition, she's the primary volunteer for the Transgender Michigan Helpline. She explained its function and that it serves a vital role [...]
Temporarily Shuttered, Menjo's Serves Community as Food Pantry
Community Mainstay Menjo's is perhaps the best-known gay bar in Detroit and has been a mainstay in the community for more than 40 years. Now, temporarily shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, the adjoining theater has been transformed into a [...]
Stand with Trans to Hold Online 'Ask the Expert' Event with Dr. Toni Caretto
On Friday, May 1, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Stand with Trans will hold a Facebook Live "Ask the Expert" event featuring Dr. Toni Caretto, a local authority on gender. Caretto is a fully licensed clinical psychologist in private practice for 25 years [...]
I Don't Think I've Ever Been Sicker in my Life': How House Candidate Brendan Johnson Survived COVID-19
"I don't think I've ever been sicker in my life." Those words were spoken by Brendan Johnson, candidate for Michigan's 45th State House District, in a video message posted on his campaign Facebook page shortly before Easter. He was referring to his [...]
Full Steam Ahead: State Rep. Candidate Brendan Johnson on Campaigning, Surviving COVID-19
Change of Plans Baking Irish soda bread in one's kitchen while answering questions from potential voters might seem like an unusual way to campaign for office, but Brendan Johnson is not a typical candidate and these are not ordinary times. Said [...]
Campaign to Amend ELCRA Announces E-Signature Strategy
Change of Course As every aspect of the 2020 election cycle adapts to the constraints of social distancing, a campaign in Michigan that seeks to secure equal rights for LGBTQ people has found a novel method to overcome a seemingly insurmountable [...]
Ruth Ellis Center Faces COVID-19: An Organization That's Used to Finding 'Workarounds' Adjusts
Creative Problem-Solving If there's one thing the Ruth Ellis Center and the youth it serves are known for, it's the ability to adapt and problem-solve when faced with challenges. And as the community navigates a world hard-hit by COVID-19, the [...]
MCC Detroit and COVID-19: 'God Isn't Going Anywhere and Neither is MCC Detroit'
Innovation by Necessity To those visiting MCC Detroit's website for the first time, it might not be readily apparent that things like virtual worship and Zoom videoconference Bible study sessions are brand-new offerings. In fact, just like myriad [...]
Pro-LGBTQ Campaign to Amend ELCRA Forced to Adapt to COVID-19 Constraints
Necessary Adjustments It's not just individuals who have had to make drastic adjustments because of the COVID-19 outbreak. From business to government, innovations like working from home on a widescale basis and the temporary suspension of the Open [...]
LGBTQ Advocacy Groups Sue Department of Health and Human Services at Critical Time
Lawsuit Filed at Critical Time On March 19, three organizations serving the LGBTQ community sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over its Nov. 2019 announcement that it would no longer enforce nondiscrimination protections against [...]