This morning Triangle Foundation Director of Victim Services, Melissa Pope, testified before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee to advocate for passage of the Michigan Anti-Bias Crime Statute (HB 6340 and 6341).

We are thrilled to report that this evening, the Michigan House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed this hate crimes legislation! 

As a result of Triangle Foundation’s 17 years of direct work with victims of anti-LGBT violence, our organization has seen the need for these kinds of protections, and we have advocated for hate crimes legislation for over ten years. This evening’s passage is a huge victory for our community and for our state!

This 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. Michigan ranks third in the nation for the highest number of hate crimes. With Triangle Foundation reporting a 133% increase in anti-LGBT crime in 2007, the need for this legislation is imperative to send the message that hate is not a Michigan value.

We thank our partners who joined with us to make this victory possible including the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, the ACLU of Michigan, and Michigan Equality. 
     
Please help support our work as we support victims of anti-LGBT violence and work for policy change in Lansing by making a donation today. 

Triangle Foundation is dedicated to promoting equality and securing freedom from violence, intimidation, and discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons throughout Michigan. 

The people from Soulwinners Ministries International are greatly lacking in skill when it comes to their objective of winning souls. The very small group has been at GVSU this week, dressed in their red shirts that scream No HOMOS in HEAVEN and GOD HATES HOMOS.

The thing that puzzles me the most about these people is they are black. And they are screaming at people who are children and grandchildren of people who helped gain them civil right – and they scream at homosexuals yet another group fighting for civil rights.  Apparently these idiots don’t even realize the book they’re throwing at homosexuals is the very same book that was used to enslave their ancestors, and deny them civil rights?   

They are equal opportunity haters though. Their idea of preaching is yelling, “You’re going to hell,” “You’re a whore,” “You’re a liar”, “You’re going to die and burn in eternal damnation,” and so on and on and on, at students and professors walking. 

GVSU’s dean of students was quoted saying, “As a public institution, there really isn’t any way to prevent the group from speaking on campus”

I beg to differ. Michigan Hate Crime law covers this kind of activity. 

MCL § 750.147b, MSA § 28.344(2) 
Covers intimidation or harassment, including property damage, of another based on that person’s race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.

These people were clearly harrassing and intimadating students and teachers. Kick em’ to the curb! 

I meant to post this the several days ago. Del Martin was a leader who lead by example. Because of her activitism who knows how many were given the courage to step out the the closet and become the person they were meant to be.

She and her partner started the first lesbian social and political organization called the daughters of Bilitis, which they started as a alternative to lesbian bars. Even today starting a group as an altetrnative to gay bars is difficult, because drinking so much a part of our culture.

They also started the first Lesbian Publicantion call “The Ladder.”

They were also the first to be wed, when gay marriage became legal in California.

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) — Lesbian activist Del Martin, at the forefront of the battle for same-sex marriage in California, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87.

Martin’s partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side at the UCSF hospice, the National Center for Lesbian Rights said.

Martin and Lyon, 84, tied the knot June 16 in a ceremony officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

“Ever since I met Del 55 years ago, I could never imagine a day would come when she wouldn’t be by my side. I am so lucky to have known her, loved her and been her partner in all things,” Lyon said. “I also never imagined there would be a day that we would actually be able to get married.

“I am devastated, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed.”

Long before Massachusetts and then California legalized same-sex marriage, Lyon and Martin were integral parts of the early movement for lesbian and gay rights. They met in 1950 in Seattle, Washington, where they worked as editors of construction trade publications. They fell in love, moving in together on Valentine’s Day 1953.

Martin fought to have the American Psychological Society declare that homosexuality is not a mental illnesses and advocated on behalf of battered women.

Lesbian activist who fought for marriage rights dies – CNN.com.

“I didn’t make a big deal of it,” Boltz says during a 90-minute phone interview from his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “But I was trembling. I’d kind of had two identities since I moved to Florida where I kind of had this other life and I’d never merged the two lives. This was the first time I was taking my old life as Ray Boltz, the gospel singer, and merging it with my new life. Emotionally it was kind of a big deal to think about that.”

Washington Blade Online.

Congratulations Colette! 

Triangle Foundation Names Colette Beighley as
New Director of Communications

Triangle Foundation is pleased to announce that Colette Beighley has been named Director of Communications. Colette has been serving the organization for nearly two years as West Michigan Field Organizer. In that position, she helped established Triangle’s first field office in Grand Rapids and will continue to work out of our West Michigan office in her new role.

Triangle Foundation is proud to be able to bring a director-level position to Grand Rapids. This new appointment further demonstrates our work as a statewide organization and our commitment to West Michigan.

“It is an honor to serve the community and to work with this team of talented individuals. I look forward to the new role and the new challenges that lie ahead,” said Colette Beighley.

“Triangle Foundation is proud of the work Colette has done in West Michigan. Her new position will further build and enhance the many relationships she has formed there. Colette will bring her unique and respectful style to our written and online communications helping us to bring our message forward, reach out to our constituents, and build bridges within our many communities,” said Kate Runyon, Interim Executive Director for Triangle Foundation.
The communities of West Michigan have responded to the new Grand Rapids office with strong financial support recognizing our work to promote equality for LGBT persons throughout Michigan. Join us by becoming a member today!

O.k. So it’s fake. Ya got me. hahaha  Actually, when you’ve been subjected to crap like this, it’s really not that funny. 

—

Uggg I found yet another hater sreading his assuption of “God’s Love” via blogger raincoaster.

Donnie Davis is another horrible wolf in sheeps clothing, who loves homosexuals so much he feels he needs to change them into “ordinary people”. If ordinary means I’d have to be like this jackass, then no thanks. I’ll stick with being different, or extraordinary.

I actually listened to his latest song, in spite of the fact my ears were melting. The song is just dripping with hate disguised as some twisted form of love. 

Here are some of the lyrics:

“Will you come when I’m reaching out to touch you.”  Yeah, which boy are you reaching out to touch pervert?

“Shattered by defeat” – more like shattered by all the gay bashing creeps. 

“Are you barely human.” – Actually I’m just as human as anyone else. 

“all but dead inside” – I was dead inside the thirty years I was hiding who I really was. 

“Just a rotten soul” Rotten? – look in the mirror dude. 

“Even though you’re lusting for another man – reach up and take my hand”. -Dreaming about little boys are you? 

I won’t bother with the rest. it’s just more of the same crap.

This kind of thing riles me up so much. Where does this character get off claiming that “God Hates Fags.” Did “God” personally tell him such a thing?  

 

YES! Ladies, Gentlemen, and those of indeterminate gender! It’s the triumphant return of musical preacher Donnie Davies of Love God’s Way Ministry, originator of the world-famous CHOPS program (Changing Homosexuals into Ordinary People), and singer of the top radio hit God Hates a Fag. Here he is with his new, uplifting single Take My Hand.

Donnie Davies: Take My Hand « raincoaster.

Reel Pride Premieres in West Michigan!

Join us at Wealthy Theatre on Tuesday, September 16^th

Reel Pride West Michigan debuts in Grand Rapids!

Enjoy the best of Lesbian & Gay cinema with this collection of short films!
From music videos to hot boys shorts to issues affecting us every day,these films explore the joys and tribulations of the LGBT community.

 The West Michigan LGBT community will vote on these filmsto help decide which will be shown at Reel Pride Michigan! 

Limited seating!

Get your tickets now!

Tuesday, September 16^th

6:30 p.m. Hors d’oeurves and beverages

8:00 p.m. film event begins

Tickets $20 – Proceeds to benefit Safe Schools in Michigan

Wealthy Theatre

1130 Wealthy St SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49506 

Get your tickets now!

For more information, contact colette@tri.org.

Here’s another opportunity to use the AFA’s crap against them. They are now trying to bully McDonalds for sending 56 people to San Diego for an allegedly gay agenda summit. I wonder how long it took them to dig this thing up since it apparently happened in January and I can’t find anything on the internet related to the summit.

Anyway let’s all write to or call McDonalds and thank them for their inclusive ideas. 

 

September 3, 2008 In January, McDonald’s paid for travel and accommodations for 56 employees to attend the “Pioneer Summit” in San Diego.  The purpose of the meeting was to develop a plan to promote the gay agenda within the company.  Those attending were thrilled that McDonald’s showed such support for their agenda.   “It was truly inspiring to see McDonald’s Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender members come together to share heartfelt, personal stories about their journeys, challenges and personal reflections. Better understanding these journeys … will help us better grow our people in the restaurants and across the company,” said Brian Unger, senior vice president.   AFA has asked McDonald’s to remain neutral in the culture battle – to neither oppose nor support the gay agenda.  McDonald’s has refused, choosing to support those groups and individuals promoting the gay agenda — including homosexual marriage. A McDonald’s official (Bill Whitman) went so far as to say that those who oppose the gay agenda are motivated by hate.

Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would youconsider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?

Sincerely,    Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association

• VERY IMPORTANT! Call your local McDonald’s. Speak with the manager. Tell him or her (in a polite manner) that you will be boycotting McDonald’s until they stop promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage. To find the phone number of your nearest McDonald’s, click here. 
• For more information on the McDonald’s boycott, click here.
  

 

 

Just passing it along:

If you have been a victim of LGBT discrimination, bias crime, or intimate partner violence, stop by to speak with our Victim Advocate, Georgia Carpenter.  Georgia, who works in our Victim Services Department in Detroit, will be holding office hours at the Triangle Foundation West Michigan Field Office on Wednesday, September 3^rd.

Georgia has spent the past 13 years as an advocate and counselor for Spanish- and English-speaking survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. “I am looking forward to connecting with the West Michigan LGBT community.  I hope to visit Grand Rapids on a regular basis to address issues pertinent to this area of the state.  I look forward to my visit and invite you to drop by!”

Our Field Office is located at 343 Atlas Avenue SE, Suite C, Grand Rapids – inside the West Michigan Lesbian and Gay Community Network.  If you would like to set up an appointment for longer than fifteen minutes, please contact Georgia  at (313) 537-7000 x114 to schedule.

Several weeks ago I used the AFA website to do the opposite of what they were asking. They were urging people to write to McDonalds and harass them into not supporting Gay partner benefits, so I wrote McDonalds and thanked them for not being Bigoted creeps like the AFA.  But the problem is I now get tons of emails from AFA. The latest I pasted below. They want their people to harass Hallmark into not selling gay marriage greeting cards. So, My suggestion is to write to Hallmark and thank them for supporting gay couple in the tiny little way, and not allowing the AFA to bully them into something so ridiculous.

Hallmark defends gay marriage cards – Urge your local Hallmark store to refuse to carry them Take Action! Urge your local Hallmark store owner to join others in refusing to carry Hallmark gay marriage cards in their stores. You can find your local Hallmark store contact information here. Please be polite, but firm when you contact your local store. August 25, 2008 Dear Dee, Hallmark is reinforcing their decision to carry gay marriage cards with a message to supporters of traditional marriage – buzz off! According to their website, corporate emails, and in response to phone calls, Hallmark is telling those who contact the company it will carry “cards that use specific language and images appropriate for same-sex wedding ceremonies.” Same sex marriage is not recognized in 48 states, but Hallmark has chosen to become a corporate advocate in advancing homosexual marriage. However, some local Hallmark store owners are refusing to carry them. Earlier this week, Jordan’s Hallmark, which owns seven Hallmark Gold Crown stores in Idaho, announced its stores will not carry gay marriage cards in their stores.

Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association