Philanthropic leaders in Michigan are supporting a variety of partnerships rooted in equity and inclusion for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community in Michigan. These efforts come at a time when the status of anti-discrimination legislation around sexual orientation and gender identification in the state is still unclear.

Status of Protection from Discrimination Unclear

In May 2018, a 5-0-1 vote of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission expanded the commission's interpretation of the state's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identification in employment, education, housing and real estate as well as use of public accommodations and public service. 

In July 2018, however, Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette issued a formal opinion that Michigan's civil rights law does not protect gay and transgender people from discrimination. 

"Michigan’s Constitution entrusts the Legislature, and not executive agencies or commissions, with the authority to change, extend or narrow statutes," he stated, adding that state law "prohibits discrimination based on sex but does not cover distinctions based on sexual orientation or gender identity." Schuette further stated that the commission's ruling is "invalid."

In response, the commission reiterated its ruling and directed the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) to continue investigating complaints of sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. Agustin V. Arbulu, director, MDCR, said in a statement that the department will continue to follow the commission’s direction.

Safety Concerns

Larry DeShane Jr., administrator, Grand Rapids Pride Center, recently shared that safety can also be a concern for the LGBTQ community. “Still to this day, it’s not safe for me to hold my partner’s hand walking down the street in every area of this place, whereas if I were heterosexual and I was holding a woman’s hand, there’s no place that’s not safe.”

New Statewide and Regional LGBTQ Supports

CMF member The Michigan Health Endowment Fund recently awarded a $400,000 grant to The Pride Center and the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to support the expansion and continuous updating of an LGBATQ-friendly businesses directory for West Michigan.

Services in the directory include caregiving, counseling, dental and vision, legal, Medicare and Medicaid assistance, transportation and home repair, among others.

DeShane explains that LGBT seniors having access to LGBT-friendly services is important. Without that assurance, he explained, they might feel the need to put away photos and “de-gay” their homes before in-home service to avoid discrimination and protect their safety, “purely out of fear that when they have to access resources, they’re going be discriminated against, based on a lifetime of being discriminated against.” 

“We would love to think that all doctors and all professionals are just there to offer a great service,” he said, explaining that’s not always the case.

SAGE Metro Detroit (a local affiliate of Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is also a recipient of a Michigan Health Endowment Fund grant. They are working in partnership with the ACLU of Michigan in addressing concerns of LGBT older adults in our state, many of whom they say are both physically and mentally isolated. The initiative is providing resources and connection for those looking for local community support.

Project leaders explain that many LGBT older adults do not feel comfortable sharing their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and reach out for support only when they are enduring a health crisis.

As part of the initiative, SAGE Metro Detroit is developing new state-of-the-art online training for service providers. Additionally, the initiative aims to help regions of Michigan identify LGBT-inclusive local resources and provide printed materials that will be available for distribution by participating agencies.

In the Upper Peninsula region, the U.P. Commission for Area Progress’ Area Agency on Aging (UPCAP), SAIL and U.P. Rainbow Pride are working together to connect to LGBT older adults through messaging that shares the call to action, “Today is THE DAY” to encourage a call to SAIL or UPCAP.  

CFSEM Awards New Grants, Recognized for LGBTQ Funding

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) also announced new grants in support of the LGBTQ community. CFSEM’s Hope Fund (Helping Others through Partnerships and Education) was created to strengthen organizations and projects that support LGBT individuals and families through targeted grantmaking, projects and technical assistance.

Fair Michigan was awarded a grant of $15,000 for support of the Fair Michigan Justice Project, which investigates and prosecutes hate crimes targeted at members of the LGBTQ community. The grant also supported the Corktown Health Center, a new medical home focused on serving the LGBTQ community in Southeastern Michigan.

The HOPE Fund’s grants have totaled $2.1 million to date.

CFSEM was recently listed among the top 10 community foundations in the country for supporting LGBTQ issues by The Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Their 2016 Tracking Report (published in 2018) identified that community foundations in the U.S. awarded $6.8 million to LGBTQ issues (including dollars awarded for re-granting).

Tracking Report Highlights:

• Foundation funding for LGBTQ issues totaled $172.8 million nationally in 2016, an increase of 7.5 percent from the year prior. (This does not include $29.5 million in direct financial assistance provided by the OneOrlando Fund for the approximately 300 survivors and family members of victims of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre.)

• Michigan is one of an estimated 22 states in the U.S. that saw an increase in funding from 2015 to 2016.

• LGBTQ funding in Michigan was third highest among Midwest states in 2016 at $1.194 million, behind Illinois ($3.490 million) and Minnesota ($1.383 million).

CMF’s New LGBTQ Funders Learning Community

CMF is forming a new LGBTQ Funders Learning Community. Members who currently have, or are interested in developing, an LGBTQ Fund at their foundation are invited to come together to learn from experts and each other about effective strategies for launching or growing LGBTQ Funds. There will be one annual in-person meeting and participants will be part of an online community (listserv) hosted through CMF’s website. It is our hope that the following outcomes will be realized through the development of this new group:

• Members of the community will have the opportunity to share best practices and ask questions of their peers, promoting better knowledge and learning in this area for foundation members.

• Members of the community will have greater opportunity for dialogue with Jason Franklin, a subject matter expert.

• The annual in-person meeting will encourage shared accountability among members of the community, encouraging greater growth and expansion of LGBTQ Funds across Michigan.

If you are interested in joining this learning community and listserv, please contact CMF program manager, Andrea Judd (ajudd@michiganfoundations.org).

Want more?

Dig into the data from The Funders for LGBTQ Issues 2016 Tracking Report (published in 2018).

Learn more about the statewide LGBT Aging Initiative.

Access the LGBT-friendly service directory.