Community Events

Community Forums

Michigan Equality is committed to a well informed citizenry. To that end we take great pride in reaching out into the community with pertinent subjects of interest to those in the LGBT community as well as our allies. With a set plan of community forums covering every corner of our great state, Michigan Equality takes the time necessary to prepare a syllabus, develop supporting partners, create persuasive literature, change minds and move hearts.

In 2007 Michigan Equality lead the discussion on Domestic Partnership benefits with 13 forums held around the state from June to September. This informative series cumulated into a rally at the State Capitol and march to the Hall of Justice, Supreme Court offices to demand equality (the first march like this ever in the state). Two days after the Supreme Court took up the case and we are currently waiting on it's ruling.

In 2008 Michigan Equality takes on Hate… Hate on Campus, Hate Crime, Hate Groups, Hate Speech, Hate in every form of the word. Our goal is to provide a clear understanding of how the politics of division and fear drive hate into the policies and procedures of the Michigan Legislature and other governing bodies.

Detroit Liaison

Michigan Equality has been instrumental in the creation of a City of Detroit LGBT Liaison. This new position has been sought after for many years by many in the community. Michigan Equality stepped up to the plate in 2008 and has secured the necessary commitments from the Mayor to create the new Liaison's position.

The position will require a “job description” to be created by Detroit residents and local LGBT leaders. Michigan Equality has asked S.P.I.C.E. and Black Pride Society to take the lead on the entire project. These Detroit based organizations are best prepared to organize and develop the position into one of strength for the residents of the City.

Bike Tour

The Friends North group out of the Traverse City area operated a Bike Tour for 15 years.  The Bike Tour was a weekend of outdoor fun for GLBT people and their friends and allies.  It raised funds for Friends North and other Northern Michigan GLBT organizations.

When the Friends North organization dissolved in 2006, they turned over the operation of the Bike Tour to Dean Boivin and Tim Atkinson.  They had both participated in the Bike Tour for over 10 years.  Dean & Tim formed a partnership called Camp Out Michigan for the sole purpose of running the Bike Tour.

2007 was our first year to run the event and it was successful.  They had over 70 participants and were able to raise about $600 for our two Charities.  They chose the Perceptions Saginaw Valley Scholarship Fund and the Thomas Judd Care Center in Traverse City which provides services to HIV/AIDS patients in a 20-county area in Northern Michigan.  They wanted to have a Traverse City-based organization to honor the Friends North people who had operated the event for the past 15-years.

In 2008, their moving to Oscoda County and it will be held July 25 - 27.  They picked Michigan Equality to partner and sponsor with.  They will alsoo keep the Perceptions Saginaw Valley Scholarship as a beneficiary.  Any Michigan resident may apply for the Scholarship.

When people register for the event, there is a line item where they may direct an additional donation to one of our charities.  After all expenses from the event are settled, any profits that Camp Out Michigan has earned are added to the donor-designated funds.  The total amount given to charities in 2007 was a modest $600, but they were pleased to be in the black. In the past, Friends North had cleared as much as $2000.  But their 2006 event was just break even.  Only the donor-designated gifts were given to charities the final year of Friends North operation.  We believe the event has the potential to be successful again, but the key is linked to the number of attendees. (2006 had 55 attendees; 2007 had 70.  Friends North had over 100 in their peak years.)

You can find out more about the event by visiting our web site at www.campoutmichigan.org .  There is a members-only section where you can view photographs from previous years.

Policy Summit

Michigan Equality will be participating in this important annual event bringing progressive leaders and organizations together from around the state to discuss topics of great concern to all Michigan residents.

Please join us at our booth. You can find more information about the Policy Summit by clicking here. http://www.mipolicysummit.org/