ROADMAP TO 2030: SHORT TERM ACTIONS AND LONG-TERM VISION
For the year 2025, the LGBTQ+ Commission will focus on four strategic priorities to address the immediate needs of the community and lay the foundation for long-term progress:
- Protections: Advocate for robust policies that safeguard the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring legal protections against discrimination in all areas of life.
- Health: Advocate to support expanded access to comprehensive, inclusive, and culturally competent healthcare services for LGBTQ+ individuals across Michigan, including gender-affirming care.
- Education: Promote the development and implementation of inclusive curricula and policies in K-12 schools, ensuring all students feel safe, represented, and supported.
- Workforce Equity: Work to support and advance policies that promote workplace protections, equal opportunities, and economic empowerment for LGBTQ+ individuals in both public and private sectors.
Long-Term vision (2025-2030): sustained growth and impact
Strengthen Protections & Policy Advocacy
The LGBTQ+ Commission will continue its advocacy for comprehensive statewide protections, ensuring full equality under the law for LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, healthcare, housing, public accommodations, and beyond. Specific long-term initiatives include
Accountability & Enforcement:
- Lead efforts to implement strong accountability measures within state policies, ensuring LGBTQ+ protections are enforced and continuously monitored.
- Collaborate with state and local governments to enhance enforcement of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, expand resources for addressing violations, and provide legal support to those affected by discrimination.
Expand LGBTQ+ Healthcare Access & Equity
Access to healthcare is a critical concern for the LGBTQ+ community, and the Commission will work tirelessly to expand inclusive care options across Michigan, focusing on:
- Inclusive Healthcare Systems: Partner with healthcare providers, insurers, and state agencies to ensure all healthcare systems are fully inclusive and competent in LGBTQ+ care, including gender-affirming services.
- Trauma-Informed Care: Advocate for the integration of trauma-informed care practices throughout Michigan’s healthcare system, ensuring that LGBTQ+ patients receive compassionate, respectful, and culturally competent care.
- Aging LGBTQ+ Community: Prioritize healthcare access for aging LGBTQ+ individuals by promoting inclusive caregiving practices and specialized housing options designed to meet their unique needs.
Transform the Education System
The Commission aims to foster a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for LGBTQ+ students, to transform the educational system through:
- Inclusive Sex Education: Advocate for the widespread adoption of LGBTQ+-inclusive sex education across all K-12 schools in Michigan, ensuring curricula reflect the full spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities.
- Safe & Inclusive Schools: Push for comprehensive policies that protect LGBTQ+ students' safety and inclusion in every aspect of school life—academic participation, extracurricular activities, and overall well-being.
- LGBTQ+ Student Support: Secure sustained funding for LGBTQ+ student initiatives that offer mentorship, resources, and support, with particular attention to marginalized youth, including those in foster care or experiencing homelessness.
Promote Workforce Equity & Economic Empowerment
LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face barriers in the workplace, particularly around issues of discrimination and economic opportunity. The Commission will focus on:
- Eliminating Occupational Gender Segregation: Advocate for policies that reduce occupational gender segregation and create more inclusive pathways for LGBTQ+ individuals in traditionally gendered fields.
- Support for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs: Foster partnerships with LGBTQ+ business organizations to create inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and professionals, supporting their success across various industries.
- Career Development: Strengthen mentorship, internship, and career development programs that ensure LGBTQ+ individuals have equal access to high-growth industries, providing them with resources, networks, and opportunities to excel in their careers.
Advocate for Marginalized Communities Within the LGBTQ+ Population
The Commission is committed to addressing the unique and compounded challenges faced by marginalized groups within the LGBTQ+ community. Our work will prioritize the voices and needs of those who often experience greater barriers, focusing on the following key areas:
- Two-Spirit & Native LGBTQ+ Individuals: The Commission will collaborate with Tribal Nations and Native-led organizations to develop culturally responsive programs and services. These efforts aim to honor and empower Two-Spirit and Native LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring their traditions, identities, and experiences are respected and integrated into broader advocacy initiatives.
- Disparities Among Marginalized LGBTQ+ Youth: Marginalized LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who are homeless, involved in the foster care system, or experiencing family rejection, face critical challenges that require targeted solutions. The Commission will advocate for policies, funding, and resources that provide:
- Access to safe housing and emergency shelters.
- Comprehensive mental health and social support services.
- Education and employment opportunities to help youth achieve long-term stability and success.
- Transgender Community: Transgender individuals, especially transgender women of color, continue to face disproportionate levels of violence, discrimination, and barriers to healthcare. The Commission will focus on:
- Expanding access to gender-affirming care and healthcare providers trained in transgender health competencies.
- Advocating for robust anti-discrimination protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
- Raising awareness about the epidemic of violence targeting the transgender community and supporting initiatives that promote safety and visibility.
- Intersecting LGBTQ+ Communities of Color: The Commission recognizes that LGBTQ+ individuals of color often experience systemic inequities at the intersection of race, ethnicity, and sexual or gender identity. To address these disparities, the Commission will:
- Work with community organizations to create programs that address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ people of color.
- Advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
- Promote representation and leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals of color in decision-making spaces.
