HISTORY OF THE TRIANGLE FOUNDATION

Where we came from:

In March 1983, the Michigan Organization for Human Rights ("M.O.H.R.") formed the M.O.H.R. Foundation in an effort to receive tax deductible contributions. An application for 501 (c) (3) status was approved by the IRS in May 1985. Unfortunately, the M.O.H.R. Foundation remained dormant during much of this time. Eventually, David Piontkowsky and Henry Messer were the only remaining Board Members of the organization.

In December 1987, the Estate of Dr. Georgeson gave the M.O.H.R. Foundation the building in which Triangle currently resides. Mr. Piontkowsky and Dr. Messer then elected Judith Hill and John Monahan to the Board to reinvigorate the organization. The owner of the building was the M.O.H.R. Foundation with M.O.H.R. and Midwest Aids Prevention Project (MAPP) as its tenants.

In 1990, M.O.H.R. and the M.O.H.R. Foundation severed their relationship. Shortly thereafter, the Board changed the organization's name to The Lesbian Gay Foundation of Michigan with a mission to promote the education, awareness and understanding of the lives of gay men and lesbians. In December 1991, The Lesbian Gay Foundation of Michigan began operating as the Triangle Foundation.

In conjunction with the name change to the Triangle Foundation, the organization hired Jeffrey Montgomery, first as its President, subsequently (and along with structural reorganization) changed to Executive Director. Mr. Montgomery with the assistance of Dr. Messer and Mr. Monahan, continued to grow the organization into the nationally recognized regional advocacy non profit that it is today.

Accomplishments through the years:

1991: LGBT individuals disputed with the United States Civil Rights Commission. At issue was an attempt by the Commission to suppress a report of its own Michigan Committee that identified gays and lesbians as primary targets of hate violence. The disputed section was eventually brought to public light by Triangle Foundation activism.

1992: Triangle Foundation published the first ever comprehensive report of anti-gay and lesbian violence for Michigan. Triangle Foundation is now a regular reporting agency in the national report of anti-gay violence and continues as a leader in annual reporting of the nationwide plague of anti-LGBT hate crimes and violence.

1994:  Triangle led the first delegation of LGBT leaders to meet with a sitting Detroit Mayor, followed by one with the Detroit Police Chief. These meetings provided a forum and foundation for regular meetings with Detroit leaders to discuss issues and seek solutions for problems facing LGBT Detroiters.

1995:  Triangle Foundation helped found the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), a national network of more than two dozen LGBT anti-violence projects. The NCAVP publishes the definitive survey of hate violence directed against LGBT people in America, providing numbers of incidents of hate and discrimination, numbers that are often overlooked or unseen by governmental reports.

1996:  Triangle Foundation worked on the “Jenny Jones Murders,” a Michigan case that gained national attention when a young man was murdered by his friend after coming out to him.

1997:  LGBT concerns and inequity became clear issues in the Michigan legislature through Triangle Foundation’s activism. An amendment was offered to correct a significant flaw in Michigan’s “hate crime” law which had failed to include “sexual orientation” as a recognized bias motivation.

1998:  Triangle Foundation was one of the first LGBT organizations represented in Laramie, Wyoming after the Matthew Shepherd murder occurred. Members of our staff took the lead in advocating for justice, equality, and retribution for the individuals who murdered someone for being gay.
Triangle Foundation becomes the first LGBT group in America to successfully sue an elected official, Rep. Deborah Wyman, for slander for implying in her 1996 campaign literature that Triangle supported sexual activity with children.

1999:  In addition to the hate crime legislation, an additional amendment, the Elliot-Larson Civil Rights Act,  was introduced into legislation which would extend full statewide civil rights protection against sexual orientation discrimination.
Publication of the “Bag A Fag” report made national news.  This dramatically changed the way that LGBT organizers around the nation and the world talked about police entrapment.  Triangle became a national leader in combating police abuse against our community.

2000: A position paper titled "Hate Crime Legislation: A Reasonable Response to Irrational Violence" was written by Triangle Foundation Board Chair, Keith Belt.  The "Words Can Lead to Violence" poster campaign was launched as part of a comprehensive marketing plan for the Anti-Violence Project to encourage reporting of harassment and discrimination violence. Triangle's first field organizer, Heather MacAllisterm joined the staff.

2001:  Triangle was the driving force behind launching a new community organization in the Midland/Bay City/Saginaw area.  This group evolved in to what is now known as Perceptions. 
Dr. Henry Messer and Carl House shared their 50th anniversary of partnership and love with the Triangle Foundation.  Dr. Messer, with Carl’s support, founded the Triangle Foundation.

2002:  Braden Jahr, a student at Union Sebewaing High School, was attacked.  This case brought national attention to the importance of formalized work on anti-bullying legislation.  Triangle immediately increased the amount of time spent on this cause.
Triangle held a reception for nationally known LGBT activist Mandy Carter
The Equality Federation formed a coalition of statewide advocacy organizations of which, Triangle Foundation was one of the leading statewide organizations.  Our first Director of Policy, Sean Kosofsky, served on the Equality Federation board of directors.  Affiliation with this organization has propelled Triangle’s growth and legislative strategy.

2003:  Triangle Foundation successfully secures an Executive Directive from Governor Granholm banning anti-LGB discrimination in State Employment.

2004:  Triangle defeated House Joint Resolution U in the Michigan House of Representatives which would have placed a constitutional amendment to ban marriage on the ballot. By stopping it, anti-LGBT forces had to gather 500,000 signatures and spend thousands of dollars to secure the initiative.

2006:  Triangle launches its Youth Initiatives program and holds the first ever Camping.Out for LGBT Youth. 
Triangle is announced as a recipient of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Capacity Building Grant to help put the building blocks in place to strengthen and grow Triangle Foundation's infrastructure including strategic planning and analysis. 

2007:  Triangle Foundation successfully secures an Executive Directive from Governor Granholm banning anti-transgender discrimination in state employment. 
Triangle Foundation assists with the passage of human rights ordinances in Saugatuck and Saugatuck Township. 
The first ever Triangle Foundation Field Office opens in Grand Rapids.  In one year’s time, the office doubles the number of  Triangle members from the west side of the state and secures over 2,000 signatures for Matt’s Safe Schools Law.
Triangle assists with updating funeral arrangements law in Michigan to allow greater dignity to the partners of  deceased LGBT individuals. 

2008:  Triangle Foundation successfully works with elected officials in Hamtramck and the City Counsel of Detroit to secure the passage of a human rights ordinance including gender identity and expression as protected classes.

The symbolism of our logo:

The symbol of the Triangle represents much more than a logo, it is a part of our history. During the reign of the Nazi Regime in Europe, Jewish families, couples, and individuals were not alone in the horrible and inhumane treatment they received from the government. Gays and Lesbians were also placed in concentration camps, abused, and murdered.

Just as the Star of David branded those in the Jewish community, the upside-down triangle marked Gays and Lesbians as less than human, pink for men and black for women. At Triangle Foundation, we took this symbol and reclaimed it. For us and our community, it is no longer an image of fear and inequality, but rather one of strength. The triangle itself is the strongest shape to build from and with it we are building a better society for Michigan. The equal sides and angles are symbolic of the equality we seek for every human being. This symbol of the triangle has been turned upright to one that does not symbolize hate, but rather strength.

Where we are today:

The Triangle Foundation has become the dominant force for change regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues in Michigan public policy, religion, education, advocacy and bias-crime victim assistance.

The Triangle Foundation is quoted widely by the national and local media and used as a source by them.

The Triangle Foundation has a proven ability to move issues of interest to the Michigan LGBT community to the fore front of public policy.

The Triangle Foundation has emerged as one of the only places in Michigan to which people can turn when their known or perceived sexual orientation or gender expression has placed them in danger or has subjected them to discrimination or harassment.

The Triangle Foundation has become a valuable and effective force in State legislative deliberations and policy formation, while also being regarded as the most credible source for LGBT concerns within Michigan’s U. S. Congressional delegation.

The Triangle Foundation has grown progressively in size and influence and now has a full-time staff of nine, several part-time staff and a dedicated group of volunteers.