Our Mission
Michigan Equality is a statewide organization dedicated to the use of education, advocacy and political power to promote equality and eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Our Board
Michigan Equality is committed to continue diversifying its board to include members that represent the overall culture of society. It is Michigan Equality's mission to have voices from all communities represented including racial minority, ethnic class, sexual orientation, state geographical areas, and social-economic class.
Click on an individual below to read their biography.
Terry L. Kuseske, Michigan Equality Education Fund President |
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Our Staff
| Michelle E. Brown, Co-Director | Dr. Julie Nemecek, Co-Director |
Our Goals for 2009-2010
1. Amend Michigan's Civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
2. Support full funding for HIV/AIDS drug assistance programs in Michigan
3. Support legislation to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Hate Crimes law in Michigan, which currently covers race, religion, gender and national origin.
4. Support legislation to clarify Michigan's adoption law and allow co-parent and second parent adoptions by unmarried couples, including same-sex couples.
5. Support comprehensive sex education in schools that goes beyond abstinence only and recognizes the need of all youth, regardless or their sexual orientation or gender identity.
6. Support legislation and policies that strive to make schools safer for all youth, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Our History
Michigan Equality was formed in 1999 by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists who envisioned a powerful statewide non-partisan advocacy organization to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. During the first year of this universally supported organization these activists and visionaries recruited and engaged other political and activist leaders from around the state to become the founding member of the Board of Directors of Michigan Equality. In 2000 these committed leaders developed long range goals and an initial strategic plan to "build a broad based support to end discrimination". Completed in September 2002, this business plan introduced Michigan Equality to the political arena in Michigan and was used to assist raising fund/resources to fulfill our mission.
Michigan Equality has, with determination and hard work, constructed an organization with a solid foundation that is steadily changing the face of politics in Michigan . Our successes, though significant, are only the beginning of the realization of our ongoing vision.
Beginning in the early spring of 2002 Michigan Equality began the search for its first paid employee. The addition of that that one staff member catapulted the organization to meet crucial expanding responsibilities of a rapidly growing organization. As years passed additional staff has been retained and several key Michigan Equality leaders were placed in elected offices and important government boards. With staff in place, the Board proceeded to complete the process of restructuring into three distinct organizations:
Michigan Equality Education Fund (MEEF 501c3)
The creation of the Michigan Equality Education Fund has opened doors for ME to receive nonprofit funding for additional educational and training programs. These programs help to identify leaders and volunteers who stand ready to challenge in our state the ongoing campaigns of misinformation and distortion used by the opposition to justify discrimination and hate based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Michigan Equality Group (MEG 501c4)
The creation of the Michigan Equality Group, the 501c4 arm of the organization builds and strengthens an organizational infrastructure to serve the other two Michigan Equality organizations. With this infrastructure in place the project of identifying voters can be ongoing and contribute to the growing power of our database of voters to end discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It is the Michigan Equality Group that works closely with national as well as other statewide organizations.
Michigan Equality Political Action Committee (MEPAC)
The Michigan Equality Political Action Committee (PAC) was granted official status June 2002. The PAC prepares and distributes questionnaires to all candidates for the State Legislature, Executive officials, and Judicial nominees and candidates. The PAC also endorses candidate both in name as well as through financial contributions. The PAC also purchases lists of likely voters and professionally conducts Get Out The Vote efforts throughout the state. The PAC is designed to reach thousands of Michigan voters who normally don't participate in the electoral process. By being a participant in the process Michigan Equality PAC is increasingly a powerful political entity.
The creation of these entities, part of Michigan Equality's vision from its inception, was a first in Michigan for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations. Other organizations have created nonprofit or political organizations separately that have made inroads into the political arena, but only on a small scale. Michigan Equality, like other successful organizations such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, has brought the three entities together under one roof to create a powerful lgbt voice in Michigan 's political arena.
The successes of the past were achieved through hard work by a dedicated Board of Directors which has grown from eight to sixteen members. These individuals have given generously of their time and energy to create the goals and objectives of Michigan Equality. With their continued commitment and with the support of qualified staff we will continue our forward momentum. Equally as critical to the success of Michigan Equality are the major donors and the hundreds of other individuals who, in the past year, have generously contributed money and/or time to all three entities that comprise Michigan Equality. Grateful and inspired by the trust placed in it by so many, the Board of Directors is working to create further successes in years to come. We are changing the face of politics in Michigan . We will continue to work tirelessly to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Michigan .
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