I’ve been sitting on this Big News for days now but now I can finally write about it. This week Equality Michigan, our statewide advocacy group for the LGBT community, chose Stephanie White as their new Executive Director. She is the wife of Eclectablogger Emma White and was the political director for Mark Schauer’s gubernatorial campaign. She’s also a close personal friend.
Steph is, without question, the best person they could have chosen for the job and I am thrilled about it. Having her as Executive Director means Equality Michigan is in incredibly good hands.
I’ll have an interview with her soon but here’s the release Equality Michigan put out yesterday:
Detroit, MI, October 13, 2015 — Equality Michigan announced today that its Board of Directors has named Stephanie A. White as executive director effective October 19, 2015. Ms. White joins Equality Michigan with 23 years of experience that includes the United States military, as well as political and national non-profit sectors. “This is the perfect time to have Steph White become our next executive director,” said Dave Wait, Equality Michigan board chair. “Steph’s vision, strategic mind, relationship skills, and program execution track record make her the perfect leader for Equality Michigan considering the current political landscape in Michigan and where we are in the equality movement.”Ms. White will be tasked with executing a strategy that addresses the top priorities that Equality Michigan and other organizations in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community have identified as critical. These priorities include modernizing Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity, fighting back attempts to permit discrimination in the name of religion, and working to ensure transgender people have access to medically-necessary health care.
“I am honored and excited to be asked to join Equality Michigan. This is an important time in our state as we work for full equality for all Michiganders regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.” White continued, “I am committed to working with the board, staff, LGBTQ community, allies, the community-at-large, and all elected officials in Lansing to make this a reality.”
Ms. White takes over for Interim Executive Director, William Greene. “Bill has been an invaluable asset to Equality Michigan over the past six months, giving the board the time we need to be thorough and thoughtful,” said Mr. Wait. “We owe him our gratitude for his strong leadership during this transition time.”
ABOUT STEPHANIE A. WHITE
Ms. White most recently was political director for Schauer for Governor and the Michigan Democratic Party where she directed the political team, mobilized organizations and worked with local, state and national elected officials. Prior to this Ms. White was managing director at the National Center for Transgender Equality in Washington, D.C., where she led the operations, management, fundraising, and human resources. The National Center for Transgender Equality, where Ms. White is currently a board member, is the leading national organization devoted to transgender rights at the federal level. Ms. White also served as a U.S. Army Officer in the Medical Service Corps where she was a platoon leader, executive officer, staff officer and company commander.
Ms. White is a graduate of Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, TX, where she received a degree in Biology, minor in Spanish, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. She currently lives in Ann Arbor with her wife, Emma White, and their five-year-old son.
[Photo credit: Anne Savage]
