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Colette Beighley, West Michigan Field Organizer

San Francisco Bay Area native, Colette Beighley, has lived in West Michigan for the past 18 years. As the first Field Organizer for Triangle Foundation’s West Michigan office, she brings to her position both a progressive background and an understanding of West Michigan cultural dynamics. Colette shares Triangle Foundation’s passion for equality, safety, and non-discrimination for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) individuals.

In 2005 when her 16-year-old son came out, the family made a decision to be a completely “out” family. To help them learn how to best support their son as well as the rest of the family during this time of disclosure, their six family members flew to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to participate in The Experience: Coming Out Powerfully. Since that time, Colette has been an active ally to the GLBT community.

Colette currently serves PFLAG (Parents, Family, Friends of Lesbians and Gays) as State of Michigan Advocacy and Safe Schools Coordinator. She has also helped create and produce Grand Haven Pride – an annual event featuring a GLBT film along with a panel discussion hosting the film’s director. Dedicated to responding to anti-GLBT media coverage in the West Michigan area, she is a frequent contributor to local publications. Colette has also been an active in fundraising for Triangle Foundation.

A practicing Marriage and Family Therapist for over two decades, Colette Beighley holds professional licenses in both Michigan and California. She is a co-founder of Beighley Consulting Associates, working as Managing Partner for past 15 years. Her previous experience includes intervention with runaways and beyond control youth at Horizons Youth and Family Services, a youth diversion program in the Office of Public Safety, Livermore, California. She interned at Incest Help, San Francisco, creating services for a population whose needs had previously been unmet, as well as at Planned Parenthood counseling centers in the Bay Area.

Colette received a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Mental Health from California State University, Hayward, and has completed one year of doctoral studies in Family Psychology from California Graduate School of Family Psychology. Her Master’s thesis evaluated the efficacy of a peri-natal child abuse prevention program administrated through the University of California, Berkeley.

Colette and her family are actively involved in Christ Community Church in Spring Lake, Michigan. Christ Community Church has a long and rich history of supporting the GLBT community. This history includes a 1995 vote to split from the Reformed Church of America in order to become a “welcoming and affirming” church. In 2006 this community hosted a month-long “Coming Out Season” which received state-wide media attention.

Colette lives in Spring Lake with her partner of 22 years, David. They have four children.

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