lgbt
Response to Mayor Bliss: Real kindness requires justice
by (arcarpenter)
Submitted 11-15-2016 under OPINION
Dear Mayor Bliss, I hear that your heart is heavy about the recent increase in blatant prejudice and bigotry. We are all saddened and want to help create a safe space for our neighbors of color, for our residents who have immigrated, for those who...
Statement from Mayor Bliss: Respecting and supporting each other
by (Mayor Rosalynn Bliss)
Submitted 11-14-2016 under NEWS
Hello Friends and Neighbors: Now that a few days have passed since the election, my heart is heavy as I hear from many of our fellow residents who have been subjected to hateful, racist, sexist and/or homophobic comments - comments made to them...
Grand Rapids Trans Foundation awards first scholarship
by (Grand Rapids Tr...)
Submitted 08-16-2016 under NONPROFITS
On behalf of its Board of Directors, the Grand Rapids Trans Foundation (GRTF) is pleased to award its first $2,500 scholarship to local college student Aaminah Shakur. The GRTF scholarship program invests in transgender individuals in Grand...
New non-profit provides scholarships to improve educational equity for trans community
by (breensea)
Submitted 04-05-2016 under PLACE-MATTERS
Thursday, March 31, 2016 was Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to bring recognition and honor to the accomplishments of trans folks around the world, while spreading knowledge and awareness of the trans community. It was on this day the...
Candidates answer citizen questions on gentrification, race, police, LGBTQIA
by (Holly)
Submitted 08-01-2015 under NEWS
For our last set of citizen questions answered by the mayoral candidates, we’re addressing questions of social ills and issues: housing and gentrification, race, police relations and welcoming LGBTQ residents. All questions were collected at...
Coming Out and Staying In: My Journey as a Bisexual
by (tigerssniffingcatnip)
Submitted 06-28-2015 under VOICES
June is pride month, a seemingly happy time where queer people celebrate their identities and lives. Ideally, it is a time to remember our history and create our future. Unfortunately, my experiences with pride-related events in West Michigan has...
Being Affirmed in the LGBT Community
by (stringet)
Submitted 06-28-2015 under VOICES
Affirmation is looking someone in the eye and telling them that there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. Affirmation is telling someone that their life and lived experience is valid. The truth is that too many people who need this affirmation...
Living Authentically
by (Scott Burden)
Submitted 06-28-2015 under VOICES
I came out about a year and half ago to both myself and a few very close friends. At the time, I was working for a non-profit Christian parachurch ministry and I was scared out of my mind as to how they would react. After all, I had dedicated nearly...
Inclusion: Moving our community from diversity to being "upstanders"
by (Grand Rapids Co...)
Submitted 03-31-2015 under PLACE-MATTERS
Not quite since our founding, but for the last few decades, Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) has been working on helping our community be more diverse and racially equitable. Our grantmaking has long been focused on helping underserved and/...
Catalyst Radio: Change U social justice series begins Jan. 23 with Confronting Structural Violence
by (Catalyst Radio)
Submitted 01-16-2015 under NEWS
Don't have time to listen now? Download the mp3 and listen at your leisure. INTERVIEW In this episode of Catalyst Radio we explore an upcoming social justice program being offered by the LGBT Resource Center at Grand Valley State...