Triangle Foundation and Motor City Pride Committee would like to thank the entire community for its overwhelming support of Motor city Pride on June 7.

This was the largest and best PRIDE ever and there were only very minor incidents.  At least 50,000 members of our families, friends and allies were out showing their support.  Dave Wait, a member of the Triangle Foundation Board of Trustee, was the Chairperson for MCP and the MCP Committee did a fantastic job in presenting the 2009 celebration.

It was wonderful seeing the lgbt family enjoying the day, but more importantly we treasure the opportunity to provide a safe space to be themselves.  The mood was great, the weather held out, and everyone was showing their pride.

We have received a lot of positive comments about the new layout from Festival participants, vendors, merchants and city officials. 

We already have some ideas for new areas for next year, and encourage anyone that might be interested in working on next year’s planning committee to contact dave@tri.org.  

Triangle Foundation is pleased to report that this afternoon the Michigan House of Representatives passed the Michigan Anti-Bias Crime Statute (MI-ABCs), an important piece of hate crimes legislation that improves upon current Michigan law.

MI-ABCs expands current Michigan hate crimes legislation to include protection against crimes motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, among other classifications.

The legislation enables law enforcement and the judicial system to appropriately charge and prosecute offenders when their actions are aimed at creating a climate of fear and intolerance.  The FBI ranks Michigan third in the nation for the highest number of hate crimes.  With Triangle Foundation reporting a 133% increase in anti-LGBT incidents in 2007, the need for this legislation is imperative to send the message that hate is not a Michigan value.

The bill passed largely along party lines with a vote of 66 to 43, with support from Republican Representatives Larry DeShazor and Tory Rocca.

It doesn’t end at the House passage, though. The bill will now move on to the Senate.  We need you to take action by contacting your State Senator to let them know their constituents support MI-ABCs!  Non-Michigan residents, encouraged by conservative groups, put significant pressure on our Representatives to vote against MI-ABCs.  We are sure that our Senators will be pressured to vote against it, as well. Do not let non-Michigan residents control the outcome of the Senate’s vote!

As a result of Triangle Foundation’s 18 years of direct work with victims of anti-LGBT violence, our organization sees the need for this kind of protection, and we have advocated for hate crimes legislation for over ten years.  This afternoon’s passage is a huge victory for our community and for our state; please help us ensure another victory in the Senate by contacting your Senator today!

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Triangle Foundation’s mission is to promote equality and to secure freedom from violence, intimidation and discrimination for LGBT persons throughout Michigan. 

From: Melissa L. Pope, Director of Victim Services

Angie Zapata was a beautiful eighteen-year-old transgender woman who was found murdered in her home on July 17, 2008.  The murderer, Allen Ray Andrade, beat Angie to death with a fire extinguisher.  Why?  Because she was transgender.

Andrade tried to use the “trans panic defense”, saying he was so shocked and outraged when he learned that Angie was transgender that he flew into an uncontrollable murderous rage.  He tried to blame Angie for his murder of her.  The Colorado jury did not buy it.  They rejected this preposterous explanation and found him guilty of First Degree Murder AND committing a Hate Crime. 

This was the first time that a killer was convicted of a bias crime in the United States for the murder of a transgender person.

This rejection of ignorance and hatred gives justice to Angie, her family, her friends and the LGBT community, but it will not end the violence against transgender persons.  We must stay committed in the struggle against prejudice to achieve full respect and equality for the transgender community and the LGBT community as a whole so that we do not have to celebrate the victory of convictions, but rather that there are no hate crimes at all.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Angie Zapata as they continue their difficult path towards healing.  In her memory, and the memory of the hundreds of others who have lost their lives to hate, we pledge our ongoing commitment to end violence against the LGBT community.

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The Department of Victim Services offers free and confidential crisis intervention and information, criminal justice advocacy and support, and personal advocacy and support, as well as referrals to LGBT-sensitive shelters, social service agencies, counselors, and attorneys.  If you have been the victim of anti-LGBT or HIV-positive violence, vandalism, intimidation, harassment or discrimination, call us at 313-537-7000 or toll-free at 877-787-4262.  We can help.

 Support us in our work to promote equality and secure freedom from violence, intimidation and discrimination for LGBT persons throughout Michigan.  Join Triangle Foundation.  http://www.tri.org/get-active

Same Gender Marriage in the Midwest!! Iowa Supreme Court Rules Favorably!!
The Triangle Foundation applauds the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court stating that excluding same–sex couples from civil marriage is unconstitutional.  The Iowa Supreme Court is the fourth state high court to rule in this manner after Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut.  This is historic!!  The state of Iowa fulfills the promise of its Constitution to provide liberty and equality to all its citizens.
 
What does this mean? The final legal analysis is not yet in, but at the Triangle Foundation,        
 
It means IOWA GETS IT!! 
 

Triangle Foundation's server was down for about 10 days and returned to service on April 7.  Some minor adjustments are being performed so we thank you for your patience in dealing with any quirks.  As you can imagine, when the server went back into service, our email folders were stuffed.  Please be patient as we strive to catch up and return email messages.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.