Champion for equality says Michigan Legislature should focus on real problems, urges Michiganders to voice opposition to bigoted bill. Never one to mince words, Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) is particularly blunt in his condemnation of the “bathroom bill” introduced by State Senator Tom Casperson. I spoke with Rep. Kildee the day after Senate Bill 993 was introduced in the Michigan […]

This transgender teen is thriving in a nurturing school environment. This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here. When he was in 10th grade, Reid Ellefson-Frank realized he could no longer stay at the public school he attended. He had come out as transgender to his parents at the end of […]

Early this month, in a piece about Republican attacks on State Board of Education President John Austin, I noted that State Senator Tom Casperson was moving forward with introducing one of his own here in Michigan. Sure enough, as he promised, today that bill was introduced as Senate Bill 993. In that piece, I also said this: Sen. Casperson’s yet-to-be-introduced […]

By expressing her authentic self, this transgender woman learned the meaning of true acceptance. This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here. For much of her life so far, Sara thought she had to change herself. But once she started living authentically, she realized that the people who matter most value […]

The national discussion of “bathroom bills” like North Carolina’s H.B. 2 is everywhere. Every time you turn on a news program or open the newspaper, it’s there. The discussion mainly focuses on how it aimed at transgender Americans, which it is, in part. But what’s often missing in the discussion is how this isn’t based on any facts related to […]

New rule clarifies access to coverage and care for LGBT people, as anti-equality sentiment continues to run high. Discrimination against transgender people is nothing new — and it’s a problem that’s sadly going to get worse before it gets better. (See: North Carolina’s HB2.) Consider Jay Maddock of Kalamazoo, Mich., whose coverage for care he needs as a transgender man […]

Today, The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released a joint guidance to help provide educators the information they need to provide all students, including transgender students, a school environment that is safe and welcoming. The guidance is not legally binding but it makes clear that the Obama administration sees anti-transgender rules, regulations, and laws in violation of federal law […]

State Board of Education President John Austin, photo by Anne C. Savage for Eclectablog In December of last year, Rick Joseph, the 2015 Michigan Teacher of the Year and self-described “former homophobe”, approached State Board of Education president John Austin asking if he’d be interested in developing guidelines for Michigan school administrators when it comes to making the school environment […]

This transgender teen knows he has the kind of support every trans person should have. This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here. At age 17, Hunter Keith has more confidence and poise than some people twice his age. Maybe that’s because he already knows who he is, and he has […]

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 […]

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 […]