Equality Michigan

{{Infobox organization |name = Equality Michigan |image = 200px|Equality Michigan logo |map = Map of USA MI.svg |map_size = 225px |map_caption = U.S. State of Michigan |region_served = Michigan |type = 501(c)(3) |tax_id = 38-2556668 |revenue = $695,922 <small>(2010)</small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.guidestar.org/ReportNonProfit.aspx?ein=38-2556668#idReportSectionForms990Quick |title= Triangle Foundation, Inc. AKA Equality Michigan |publisher= GuideStar |work =GuideStar Charity Check |access-date= February 28, 2013}}</ref> |location = Detroit, Michigan |founded = 1991 |key_people = Stephanie White, executive director |num_employees = 5 |website = {{URL|http://EqualityMI.org/}} |former_name = Michigan Organization for Human Rights, Triangle Foundation, and Michigan Equality }} {{Short description|LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in Michigan, USA}} '''Equality Michigan''' is an American civil rights, advocacy and anti-violence organization serving Michigan's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) community. Equality Michigan serves Michigan's LGBT community through victims services, lobbying on behalf of the LGBT community, public education on LGBT issues, and organizing Michigan's largest LGBT events such as Motor City Pride. The organization is a founding member of the Equality Federation.<ref name="btl510">{{cite news | url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=41504 | title=Equality Michigan steps out | work=Between The Lines | date=2010-05-20 | access-date=January 16, 2014 | author=Carreras, Jessica | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025072744/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=41504 | archive-date=October 25, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History== In 1991, the Triangle Foundation was founded by Jeffrey Montgomery, Henry D. Messer, and John Monahan as an anti-violence organization.<ref name="bhl-triangle:">{{Cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhlead/umich-bhl-0092?rgn=main;view=text|title=Triangle Foundation records 1987-2007|author=Emily Betwee|author2=Janna Williamson|date=2019-05-31|work=quod.lib.umich.edu|publisher=Bentley Historical Library|access-date=2015-03-30|author3=Carrie Hintz|author4=Beth Noyes|name-list-style=amp}}</ref> Triangle Foundation expanded its mission in 1994 to include political and policy work following the closure of the Michigan Organization for Human Rights. Michigan Equality was founded by Lisa Hansknecht, Beth Bashert, Stephanie McLean, and Tom Base in 1999, following successful electoral campaign efforts in support of LGBT rights in seven Michigan cities, including Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Huntington Woods, and others. It was originally created to be a political organization and voter activist group, collecting names and creating an active list of progressive votes in support of LGBTQ+ rights.<ref>Amy L. Stone, "Gay Rights at the Ballot Box," Minneapolis MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2012, p110.</ref> Triangle Foundation merged with Michigan Equality to create Equality Michigan in 2010.<ref name="btl510" />

==Structure== {{Infobox organization |name = Equality Michigan Action Fund |image = 200px|Equality Michigan Action Fund logo |type =501(c)(4) |tax_id = |revenue = |location = Lansing, Michigan |founded = |key_people = |num_employees = |website =  |former_name = Triangle Foundation Action Fund and Michigan Equality }} {{Infobox organization |name = Equality Michigan Pride PAC |image = 200px|Equality Michigan Pride PAC logo |type =PAC |tax_id = |revenue = |location = Kalamazoo, Michigan |founded = |key_people = |num_employees = |website = {{URL|http://Equalitymiaction.org/}} |former_name = Michigan Pride PAC, Triangle Pride PAC, and Michigan Equality PAC }} Equality Michigan, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the primary organization using the Equality Michigan brand. '''Equality Michigan Action Fund''' is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with, but independent from, Equality Michigan. The '''Equality Michigan Pride PAC''' is a political action committee (PAC) affiliated with, but independent from, the Equality Michigan Action Fund.

==Victim services program== Equality Michigan's Victim Services Program documents and addresses the pervasive problem of violence committed against the actual or perceived LGBT and HIV-affected communities. Victim Services offers free and confidential support to victims of bias crimes, domestic violence, pick-up crimes, police misconduct, HIV-related violence, rape, and sexual assault. In addition, Equality Michigan provides accompaniments and advocacy for clients with the police, the courts, medical, and social service agencies. The organization works to get legal services offered at a reduced fee for low-income clients and help clients tell their story in order to raise awareness about the incidents that occurred to them. Data collected through this program is published annually through the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs<ref>{{cite news |title= Out at the Movies |last= Bennett |first= Brandon |agency= Capital News Service |work= MLive |publisher= Booth Newspapers |date= December 2, 2005 |url=http://www.mlive.com/stories/news/20051202_antigay.html |access-date= August 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070930165028/http://www.mlive.com/stories/news/20051202_antigay.html |archive-date= September 30, 2007}}</ref> - which Triangle Foundation co-founded.<ref>{{cite news |title= Home violence reports drop in Central Ohio |last= Glassman |first= Anthony |work= Gay People's Chronicle |date= July 20, 2007 |url=http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories07/july/0720073.htm|access-date= August 5, 2007 }}</ref>

==Policy program== Equality Michigan works to enact policy and legislative changes in Michigan to promote equality for LGBT people in such areas as housing and employment, prevent hate crimes, and to stop anti-LGBT legislation and similar measures from being introduced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-13 |title=Home - Equality Michigan Action Network |url=https://equalitymiaction.org/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=equalitymiaction.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Community events== Equality Michigan's community events are intended to bring together and build the Michigan LGBT community.

thumbnail|left|Equality Michigan in the 2012 Parade.

===Motor City Pride=== {{main|Motor City Pride}} An annual Pride street festival held in Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan the second Saturday and Sunday of every June to celebrate the LGBT community. Previously held in Ferndale, Michigan, the festival moved to Detroit in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title= 2011 Motor City Pride gets bigger, louder than ever before |work= Between The Lines |date= February 17, 2011 |url=http://pridesource.com/article.html?article=45532 |access-date= April 17, 2011 }}</ref> It is the largest LGBT event held in Michigan. The event showcases both local and national performers including Nickki Stevens, The Fundamentals.

===Michigan LGBT ComedyFest=== ComedyFest is an annual comedy festival featuring national comedians held in Dearborn, Michigan for the LGBT community.<ref>{{cite news |title= March 5 gay-lesbian comedy festival in Dearborn |publisher= WLNS-TV |url=http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=14065990 |access-date= March 17, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=October 2013}}</ref> Comedians performing have included Sean Hetherington (2005), René Hicks (2006), Ian Harvie (2009), and Julie Goldman (2014).<ref name="cf-past">{{cite web | url=http://www.comedyfest.org/pastevents.php | title=Pasty ComedyFest Events | work=ComedyFest | access-date=October 30, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101042306/http://www.comedyfest.org/pastevents.php | archive-date=2013-11-01 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Equality Michigan Annual Dinner Event=== Equality Michigan's Annual Dinner Event begins with a cocktail reception with a silent auction. The dinner features a keynote speaker and the presentation of "Catalyst Awards" recognizing individuals and organizations for excellence in service to Michigan's LGBT community. The event is attended by several community leaders and elected officials. Past speakers have included:<ref>{{cite news |title= Activists, politicians gather at Triangle dinner |last= Stevenson |first= Jan |work= Between The Lines |date= May 6, 2004 |url= http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=7623 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120911013216/http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=7623 |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 11, 2012 |access-date= August 5, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="btl1006">{{cite news |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=20486 | title=12th Annual Triangle Foundation Dinner: an evening of politics and hope | work=Between the Lines | date=October 5, 2006 | access-date=October 29, 2013 | author=Fortune, Cornelius A. | location=Dearborn, Michigan}}</ref><ref name="btl1007">{{cite news |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=27211 | title=Triangle dinner a tribute to departing Montgomery | work=Between the Lines | date=October 4, 2007 | access-date=October 30, 2013 | author=Michael, Jason A.}}</ref><ref name="btl1008">{{cite news | url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=32377 | title=Triangle State Dinner to focus on 'Heart of Movement' | work=Between the Lines | date=October 9, 2008 | access-date=October 30, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031195121/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=32377 | archive-date=October 31, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="btl0911">{{cite news | url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=49203 | title=State Equality Dinner award winners announced | work=Between the Lines | date=September 29, 2011 | access-date=October 30, 2013 | location=Dearborn, Michigan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031194259/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=49203 | archive-date=October 31, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="btl1012">{{cite news |url=http://www.pridesource.com/gallery.html?article=56421 | title=Equality Michigan Announces Catalyst Award Winners | work=Between the Lines | date=October 25, 2012 | access-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Patricia Ireland (1999) * Kate Kendell (2001) * Patricia Nell Warren (2002) * Matt Foreman (2004) * Mary Frances Berry (2005) * Carl Sciortino, Jr. (2006)<ref name="btl1006" /> * Barry W. Lynn (2007)<ref name="btl1007" /> * Evan Wolfson (2009) * Cleve Jones (2011)<ref name="btl0911" /> * Wade Davis (2012)<ref name="btl1012" /> }}

==Education and outreach== Equality Michigan provides diversity trainings on social and political LGBT issues. This program also educates politicians, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and law enforcement professionals about issues related to the LGBT community.

==Catalyst Awards== Each year at their annual dinner, the organization presents awards, called Catalyst Awards, to individuals, groups or organizations advocating for LGBT persons in Michigan. Some awards named after individuals, such as the Henry D. Messer Youth Activist Award, are given multiple years to honor specific types of actions.<ref name="btl1006" /><ref name="btl1007" /><ref name="btl1008" /><ref name="btl0911" /><ref name="btl1012" /><ref name="eqmi-ca">{{cite web | url=http://www.equalitymi.org/dinner/awards | title=Catalyst Awards | work=Equality Michigan | access-date=October 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102125349/http://www.equalitymi.org/dinner/awards | archive-date=November 2, 2013 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Past Catalyst Award recipients=== Some past recipients of a Catalyst Award include:<ref name="eqmi-ca" /> {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Showtimes's ''Queer as Folk'' (2003) * Ruth Ellis Center (2006)<ref name="btl1006" /> * Jim Toy (2007 - Heather MacAllister Award)<ref name="btl1007" /> * Pride at Work (2007)<ref name="btl1007" /> * Grand Valley State University (2008)<ref name="btl1008" /> * State Senator Glenn Anderson (2011)<ref name="btl0911" /> * Cleve Jones (2011 - Lifetime Achievement Award)<ref name="btl0911" /> * Wade Davis (2012)<ref name="btl1012" /> * State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (2012)<ref name="btl1012" /> * Senator Carl Levin (2012)<ref name="btl1012" /> * Lisa Brown (2014)<ref name="btl22714">{{cite news |url=http://www.pridesource.com/gallery.html?article=64887 | title=Gala Celebrates Progress, Mourns Founder | work=Between the Lines | date=February 27, 2014 | access-date=March 13, 2014 | author=Stevenson, Jan | location=Detroit}}</ref> * Barbara Byrum (2014)<ref name="btl22714" /> * KICK (2014)<ref name="btl22714" /> }}

==See also== {{Portal|LGBTQ|Michigan}} * LGBT rights in Michigan * LGBT history in Michigan * Same-sex marriage in Michigan * List of LGBT rights organizations

==References==  {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.equalitymi.org/ Equality Michigan website] * [http://www.motorcitypride.org/ Motor City Pride] * [http://www.comedyfest.org/ Lesbian and Gay ComedyFest]

Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in Michigan Category:Political organizations established in 1991 Category:1991 establishments in Michigan Category:Nonviolence organizations based in the United States Category:Organizations based in Detroit Category:Charities based in Michigan Category:Equality Federation