“Constitutional conservatives”, yes, even at the state level, believe that their main, driving purpose is to protect the constitution, both at the federal level and the state level. Agree or disagree, it is what they claim to want, fight for, and live for. That is, except when they disagree with said constitutions. Case in point on the state level is […]

I remember it like it was yesterday. June 21, 1996. My mom came home from work and asked me for a favor. Her boss’s son was going to be on TV, and since neither of them knew how to use the VCR to tape something she asked me to do it. Her boss (at the time) is the mother of […]

By pushing legislation they may not fully understand, lawmakers would be harming more than abortion providers. There’s a reason legislators should leave the medical decision-making to doctors and patients: medical care isn’t their area of expertise. And in their haste to appease anti-choice voters, Michigan legislators are pushing poorly written legislation that could have serious unintended consequences — including hampering […]

A crusade that will waste time and taxpayer money will do nothing but appease those who oppose legal abortion. You’ve heard all the lies about Planned Parenthood — you know, the ones peddled in those deceptively edited videos that claimed Planned Parenthood sells baby parts? Despite the fact that these allegations have been proven false in state after state, and […]

This transgender woman helps the community speak for themselves. This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here. Bré Anne Campbell doesn’t want to see another trans woman of color murdered. It’s a sobering problem across the country, but especially in Detroit, where Michigan’s lack of anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people often […]

Republicans want to forget the man who willed them their path to obstruction Last week, the longest serving Republican Speaker of the House in American history admitted to being a child molester — unless you believe Dennis Hastert’s lawyer’s claim that a “groin rub” is not abuse. This event slipped into the torrent of history with almost no consideration or […]

Having embraced who he really is, this transgender man uses his voice to advocate for others. This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here. Until he came out as transgender at age 25, Jay Maddock felt trapped. He felt like a fraud for not presenting his authentic self to the world […]

Every day, every week, every month of the year, Eclectablog is here, championing progressive causes and holding those in power accountable for their actions. Day after day, the writers here at Eclectablog are providing essential analysis and advocacy, spreading word of the valuable work of progressive activists and groups, and holding elected officials’ feet to the fire. In return, we […]

I’ve been writing lately about the attempt by the Snyder administration to continue the undemocratic takeover of local schools facing financial difficulties without having to use an Emergency Manager. Thanks to the Flint water catastrophe where the residents’ drinking water was contaminated with lead thanks to decisions made by Emergency Managers, that phrase has become (pardon the pun) toxic. As […]

I have known for quite awhile that you can’t bring a sign into the State Capitol Building. You can’t miss the signs telling you to leave your signs behind when you enter the august edifice. What I did NOT know until recently is that bringing a gun into that same building is A-OK. Thankfully, sanity is prevailing, at least on […]

This transgender woman’s advocacy helped her lifelong dream come true. This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here. When Michelle Fox-Phillips first realized she wanted to be a girl, she was only two or three years old. She and her male cousin were very close, like brothers, and one day they […]