News & Commentary

Tory Vincent, LGBT Project Leadership Committee MemberI became a member of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Project Leadership Committee because of my deep desire for a fair and just society.What I didn't know was that the ACLU LGBT Project, alongside other fantastic Detroit organizations, bring attention to a diverse range of equality issues. Nor did I know how fun volunteering for the project could be!{C}During the summer festival season, LGBT Leadership Committee members staff booths at events all over Michigan. Right after I joined, I staffed a booth at Detroit's Dally in the Alley festival. Petitions and letter writing campaigns are essential, but what could compare to raising awareness next to live music out in the sun with other amazing volunteers?As a volunteer for the project, I’ve seen first-hand the strength of the local community at larger events. In March 2010, the Project presented an incredible lecture by Dustin Lance Black. Over 300 people packed into Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Art to hear from the author of the screenplay Milk and show their support for LGBT equality.One of the most difficult roles the LGBT Project Leadership Committee has is simply keeping up with Jay Kaplan, LGBT Project staff attorney. In 2010 alone, Jay crisscrossed the state to over 50 speaking engagements on a whole range of LGBT issues.I was so impressed by one of Jay’s speeches, I even blogged about it. Before hearing the speech, I’d never even considered the issues he brought up. Participating in running the Leadership Committee has gotten me up-close and personal with a broad range of perspectives, issues and organizations.Even with all the work we’ve already done, I’m excited for all that the we’re planning! This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBT Project. What better time to get involved by joining the Leadership Committee? 

Like so many others, I've been smiling from ear to ear. Congress has finally passed the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a blatantly discriminatory policy against gays and lesbians who serve in our nation’s military. That's worth a celebration and more.

Constance McMillen successfully challenged the Itawamba County School District’s decision to cancel the senior prom because she planned to attend with her girlfriend.It should have ended there. The judge did not force the school district to reinstate the event because a private prom was being organized by parents. All seemed to be well, until last week, when Constance asked another student for the details about the alternate prom. She was told it was being held at a country club.When Constance and her date showed up at the country club Friday evening, only five other students were in attendance. Meanwhile, another prom for the other students was under way at a secret location.As ACLU staff, I have the inside scoop on civil liberties violations – atrocities from illegal body cavity searches by police on the streets of Detroit to the eviction of a woman terminally ill with brain cancer from her apartment for using a legally prescribed medicine. One could reasonably assume that I’ve developed a thick skin; that I can’t be shocked by human behavior.Well, I can. I am stunned by the actions of these parents in Mississippi and can’t decide which is worse – that a group of adults would organize a secret prom or that they would encourage their own children to lie. Most everyone I’ve told about this simply shakes their head and says, ‘Mississippi.’I remind them that this could have happened right here in Michigan, and they agree.It is a common misconception that the ACLU is a strictly litigious organization comprised entirely of lawyers. We aren’t. In fact, only one third of us here toiling away at the ACLU of Michigan hold a degree in law. The rest of us are out in the field, speaking to students on Constitution Day, building coalitions with like-minded organizations, and advocating on behalf of people just like Constance McMillen.It is the education and advocacy work of the ACLU of Michigan that prevents a situation like Constance McMillen’s from ever making it to court. Our on-the-ground work educating public institutions about offering domestic partner benefits in the wake of Prop 2 in 2004 ensured that thousands of residents and families across Michigan retained their health coverage. Our advocacy on behalf of Gershon Avery, who was arrested for collecting petition signatures at the Clinton Fall Festival, ultimately ensured that the free speech rights of the Village’s residents were protected. In the summer leading up to the 2008 elections, a coalition we created that included religious and community leaders ensured that thousands of voters across Michigan knew their rights when they went to the polls, despite efforts to mislead them and keep them from voting.These are just three examples. There are dozens of other success stories spanning the 50 years the ACLU of Michigan has been educating the public and advocating on behalf of individuals whose rights have been trampled. Without the support of people like you, our education and advocacy work wouldn’t be possible. Please consider making a gift today.

Valentine's Day – a day to show your loved one just how much you care, to exchange cards, give gifts and celebrate the joy of being together. While LGBT relationships are increasingly public, Valentine's Day continues to be a bittersweet reminder of how far we still have to go to have our relationships acknowledged and validated. Today, 5 states extend to gay people the fundamental right to marry that is rooted in the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In Michigan, not only do we have a state constitutional amendment that says we cannot marry, but according to the Michigan Supreme Court, it says we cannot have civil unions, domestic partner health insurance benefits or any other basic recognition of our relationships. For some of our clients, like Jim and Paul who have been together in a committed relationship for almost 20 years, under Michigan law they are virtual strangers. They lack the legal right to make medical decisions for one another, to inherit property without a will, or to make funeral and burial decisions. And our clients Nancy and Margo were legally married in Massachusetts, but their marriage is ignored by the State of Michigan and the federal government. They are not entitled to each other's social security benefits, the IRS does not acknowledge them for tax purposes, and they are not considered married for purposes of immigration. And because Thom and Dan cannot marry, Michigan courts deny them the right to jointly adopt their children and to ensure that their children have the legal protection of both parents in case something should happen to the other. Imagine a country where the majority, through a voter referendum, can deny a minority group the same constitutional right that is afforded to the majority. You wouldn't think that this is democracy, but this is exactly what has happened in more than 30 states in the United States. Denying LGBT couples fundamental rights won't diminish their love for one another, but it does put them at risk. On this Valentine's Day, while we share the love for others, let us also think about how to create a fairer and just state for all people who love, including our friends in the LGBT community.

Today marks the first congressional hearing on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 17 years. The repeal of this misguided policy, which calls for the discharge of members of the military who engage in “homosexual acts” or “demonstrate a propensity to engage in homosexual acts”, is long overdue.

As summer continues to roll on, the temperature continues to rise. That will certainly be the case this weekend with the annual Hotter Than July! picnic in Detroit. The picnic is part of a weeklong series of events celebrating black gay pride. What makes the event even more special is that Detroit’s black gay pride is the oldest in the Midwest. Metro Detroit has always had a diverse and creative African-American community. From Motown to Menjo’s, we’ve been on the frontlines of what’s innovative. The events surrounding black gay pride are an extension of that legacy. While a lot of progress still has to be made in regards to the LGBT community and civil rights, there is much to celebrate! Supporting the LGBT community is part a long tradiation at the ACLU dating back to 1937. That year, the the national office took a case opposing censorship of the play “The Children’s Hour,” which included a lesbian character. And once again, we’re proud to stand alongside an event with an equally impressive history. So come celebrate this history with us. The picnic is Saturday, July, 25 at Palmer Park in Detroit. If you’re planning on attending the picnic be sure to stop by the ACLU table and say hello. You’ll even get a chance to take a picture with a familiar face -- Lady Liberty. Showing your pride is a great way to beat the summer heat, especially when it's Hotter Than July.