Triangle Foundation is the sole reporting agency of anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-positive bias crimes in the state of Michigan. According to recent estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, Michigan's population was down 30,500 residents from 2006 to 10,071,822 in 2007.

Despite the decrease in residents, there has been a significant increase in anti-LGBT incidents from 97 reported incidents in 2006 to 298 incidents reported in 2007. There are several considerations in analyzing the significance of this data: increased advertising of the Department of Victim Services; increased staffing in the Department of Victim Services; and the opening of a second office in West Michigan. In addition, 2007 marks the first year that Triangle collected statistics on incidents involving discrimination only. However, even with removing the incidents involving discrimination only, the total number of incidents in 2007 at 226 is still more than double the number of 97 incidents in 2006. This is an increase of 133%.

Of the 226 incidents discussed above, incidents involving intimidation and harassment rose from 44 to 101. Another significant increase was in the area of vandalism with incidents up from ten in 2006 to 21 in 2007. While there were two murders in 2007 that have anti-LGBT elements, readers will note that death is listed in three cases. The reason for this is that a transgender youth committed suicide after years of unending, relentless bullying ranging from emotional to psychological to physical abuse. The suicide of this young person demonstrates the irreversible impact hatred can have.

A likely contributing factor for the increase in anti-LGBT incidents in Michigan is the impact of the constitutional amendment passed in 2004 that bans gay marriage. This amendment provides that "the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose." The Attorney General attacked domestic partnership benefits immediately after the passage of this amendment. In February of 2007, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the trial court's holding that public employers may offer domestic partnership benefits. The result may be the loss of benefits, such as health insurance, for thousands of Michigan men, women and children. Equally important is that this decision has sent a message to all Michigan residents that it is acceptable to discriminate against LGBT persons. While the intention may not have been to facilitate hate against the LGBT community, the constitutional amendment, Attorney General opinion, and Court of Appeals decision have institutionalized prejudice in Michigan.