Collections By Michelle Brown

Carter Brown is the founder and director of Black Trans Men Inc. and the BTAC – The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. On April 2nd he testified before the 116th Congressional House Judiciary Committee advocating for the Equality Act. Despite significant steps forward, LGBTQ people lack basic legal protections in all 50 states across the country. If approved by Congress, the Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections for members of the LGBTQ community. Carter was living the American dream. He not only excelled in his career but bought a home and settled down with his wife and newborn daughter in Texas. All of that changed in an instant when Carter was outed by his colleagues as transgender. What followed was months of discrimination and harassment by his peers, managerial staff and even human resources. Brown was ultimately fired simply because of who he is. Along with several other individuals from the LGBTQ community, He told his story at the hearings explaining how not

Activist, advocate, leading salesperson, councilwoman, she's been called many things in her lifetime but "Your Honor" is something Beth Bashert is still getting used to. In 1993 she and her wife Lisa were the first lesbian couple to have an engagement announcement in The Ann Arbor News. At the ceremony later that year, they legally took the name Bashert (meaning “destined, meant to be”) a new family name for both. When the window opened up five years ago for same-gender loving couples in Michigan to be legally married the Basherts joined the 300 couples who took advantage of that window. Already a member of Ypsilanti’s City Council, in 2018 Bashert ran for and won the mayoral race with 63 percent of the vote. She ran on a platform that advocated for changing the city’s budget, bringing back services and increasing development. She is the recipient of many awards including Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign, Living Pride Award from Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project, Political Action Award from PFL

Each year the National Friendship Movement hosts a Friendship Reunion at a different city, This year the 38Th Friendship Reunion will be held in Detroit, MI April 19-21st. Joining Collections by Michelle Bown on Thursday, April 4th is Jamila Kafi Sudduth, Secretary of The National Friendship Movement and member of the Detroit Friendship Network. The Friendship Movement started at a cocktail party on Easter Sunday, in 1981. From this party, the National Friendship Movement developed focusing on friendship, social responsibility, and committed individuals. In recent years, The National Friendship Movement has expanded its influence by selecting and supporting a local LGBT-friendly organization in the city where the reunion is being held. It also holds workshops on topics of interest. Jamila grew up in the movement. One of her two mothers was president of the Detroit chapter. After attending a reunion, she decided to become actively involved with the organization. and now holds executive positions locally an

Adrienne Maree Brown's writing style has been said to belong to the Afro-Futurism genre. In 2010, she published the Octavia Butler Strategic Reader with Alexis Pauline Gumbs. She is the author of Emergent Strategy and the recently released Pleasure Activism, and she’s the Co-editor of Octavia's Brood. Adrienne's also the co-host of How to Survive the End of the World podcast, a lifelong facilitator, doula and auntie living in Detroit. She has worked extensively with numerous organizations on social justice. Following college, she worked with the Harm Reduction Coalition in Brooklyn and started working as a social justice facilitator. She would go on to facilitate the World Social Forum, an annual meeting of civil society organizations, and work with social justice organizations in Detroit. In 2006, she served as a consultant with Detroit Summer  "a multicultural, intergenerational collective" that "worked to transform communities through youth leadership, creativity, and collective action from the ground up"

Perle Noire, the Queen Mother of Burlesque was born to perform. Named one of the top performers in the world, she is truly a goddess. To watch her is an experience! She began singing, dancing and acting as a child when she landed a McDonald’s commercial and a role on the Cosby Show. In 2008, she burst onto the burlesque scene winning the Best Debut category during the annual Burlesque Hall of Fame weekend in Las Vegas. She has been named one of the world’s top five burlesque performers by 21st Century Burlesque Magazine three years in a row. After spending several years as a cast member in Dita Von Teese’s popular “Strip, Strip Hooray,” Perle went on to complete a stint in Velvet – a musical starring Australian disco diva and superstar Marcia Hines.  Perle has performed her signature blend of sultry, athletic and captivating dance in numerous venues throughout the world including the Crowne Casino in Melbourne, The Waltz in Tokyo, Teatro Circo in Madrid and the Koko in London. She has also graced stages in

Karen Williams is a trailblazer in the world of LGBTQ comedy.  graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a personally-designed major in “Humor and Healing” and also received a Master of Education degree from the University’s Adult Learning & Development program. As a single lesbian mother living in Berkeley in the 1980’s she started doing stand-up comedy because it was something, she could do that didn’t cost her anything. She was featured in the award-winning comedy/documentary “We’re Funny That Way” and was a 1999 Glama Award nominee for her comedy CD “Human Beings: What a Concept” She’s worked as a comedy writer, has performed at venues around the country and is a regularly featured artist on Olivia Cruise Lines. Karen has taught Stand-Up Comedy in the Dramatic Arts department of Cleveland State University. She is the creator of the Humor-At-Large workshop series and founder of the National Women’s Comedy Conference. She founded HaHA Institute in the late 1980s.  The mission o

He's a self-described left-leaning independent, a diehard Cubs fan, Activist, Community Organizer, and Madonna Fan.  Smart, funny, insightful and outspoken, Ken Mejia-Beal returns to talk about current events. From the midterms to the Oscars and all things politically Chicago, Ken brings is unique insight not just "sipping but spilling" the tea! Ken Mejia-Beal is first and foremost an activist and a supporter of the underdog. He is a concerned citizen, who cares deeply for his country and wants to make the world a better place for all people.  Ken is a member of the Democratic National Committee a Political Strategist and Organizer for several candidates over the last 5 years  He is a contributing editor at Dem Write Press which was created to shine a spotlight on corruption and buttress American democracy. His “Chronicles of an Outsider” series explores his journey as an everyday American who happens to be African American and a member of the LGBTQ community. This Chicago native is a capitalist with a h

Steven G. Fullwood was the archivist who founded the “In The Life Archive” at the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, a part of the New York Public library. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from the University of Toledo and his master’s in library science from Clark University in Atlanta. As a writer, His published works include Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam's Call (co-edited by Charles Stephens), To Be Left with the Body, (co-edited by Cheryl Clarke), and Carry the Word: A Bibliography of Black LGBTQ Books (co-edited by Lisa C. Moore). His Nomadic Archivist Project documents and preserves the African Diasporic experience.  This initiative partners with organizations, institutions, and individuals to establish, preserve, and enhance collections. Fullwood lives to document the history of people of African descent. He believes it is a privilege to do so for many good reasons: primarily, doing so allows him to pay the appropriate

Kylar W. Broadus is an attorney, activist, public speaker, and former professor. He is the founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC). Trans People of Color Coalition exists to advance justice for all trans people of color by amplifying trans stories, supporting leadership, and challenging issues of racism, transphobia, and transmisogyny, After he announced his gender transition while working at a major financial institution, he was “constructively discharged.” When he lost his job, he thought that there MUST be laws that protect individuals when they are discriminated against. After filing a lawsuit in federal court, though, he learned quickly that transgender people weren’t covered under any discrimination laws. This propelled him to want to make sure that there were laws that protected others in the transgender community as well as gender non-conforming people of color. In 2012 Kylar made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to testify before the U.S. Senate. He was speaki

Karren Kendra Holmes is a Transgender Activist. Community Service has been a big part of her life before and after her transition to living her authentic life as a woman. She’s a member of The Maryland Defense Force, a volunteer military organization supporting the Maryland National Guard.  In 2012 she received "Soldier of the Year" from the Maryland State Guard Association and The Maryland Defense Force.  In 2013, out of 24 states and 23 thousand soldiers, she was named "Soldier of the Year" by the State Guard Association of the United. Since 2010 she has received multiple awards for her community service including the Willis Greene community service award in 2014. The Award is named after a man who gave back tirelessly to his community This award is presented to individuals who personify this commitment by making significant contributions to community service. Before her transition, she had received several awards for community service including her first the Willis Greene award in 2003.  She has given

Originally from Detroit, MI Charzette has been recognized for her positive portrayals of people whom mainstream media has tried to marginalize. .  She received her B.F.A in Fine Art Photography from the College for Creative Studies. She was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at the world-renowned Maine Photography Workshop. A native New Yorker Danielle grew up in the Bronx during the early days of Hip Hop. Danielle is a musician in her own right. She started playing drums at the age of six and expanded her musical talents to playing other instruments including guitar, bass, saxophone, and keyboards. Together they started their own music production company  “DeeJay & Cats Production." In 2010 Chazette started transitioning from photography into becoming a filmmaker. Danielle also caught the filmmaking bug. They both wanted to learn as much as they could about films. Their first project as content creators was “Jillian’s Peak.” Jillian’s Peak depicts African American lesbians and LGBTQI as positive realis

Moon OneLuv is a Detroit original – an African American vocalist, actress, storyteller, and Trans Activist. Born Erica Shantel Carter, she has a unique sound drawing from personal experience and blending an extremely visual appearance and a dramatic flair with a charismatic presence that draws in her audience into each performance. She has been profoundly inspired by the rich musical climate that Detroit has to offer, and it shows in the diversity of her music. As an actress, she is known for her role as Zunay in the 2016 film “Black Petunia” – a dystopian story about a corrupt government that is erasing people’s memories through contaminated drinking water. An activist in the transgender community Carter has shared the story of her transition speaking openly on how she has embraced her identity knowing the stigma that surrounds trans women. Her message is that there needs to be more conversation involving trans women, that they need a seat at the table and need to be present in more workspaces. In 2016

What does the A stand for in your LGBTQA community? For Nathan William Brown it can stand for Ability or Asexuality and Ally. Nathan is a peer mentor in the community mental health field. Being a peer mentor is a lot different than your typical caseworker/client relationship. Peer Mentors are advocates who have been through the system themselves and know what it is like. They work with the individual to help them learn how to advocate for themselves and become more independent. He recently organized LGBTQ Abilities to help serve the needs of LGBTQ people with disabilities. LGBTQ Abilities is an advocacy and support organization for LGBTQ individuals who are differently-abled and struggled to find real support for our communities. The purpose of LGBTQ Abilities is to bridge the gap between the LGBTQ communities and the disability communities. LGBTQ Abilities will provide advocacy to build networks to connect the LGBTQA and the Disability community, as well as helping create supports within the community whi

Phoebe Hopps became an accidental activist, tiptoeing into politics after the 2016 presidential election by simply creating a website for Michigan women interested in attending the Women’s March on Washington. Originally from Smithtown, New York, she has called Michigan home for over six years. Phoebe studied Business Management at Marymount Manhattan College then went on to study Project Management at New York University. She traded a career in project management and global travel to dedicate herself full-time to community organizing. She organized thousands of women and their allies who took more than 100 buses from around the state to Washington, for the 2017 Women’s March. A few weeks after the 2017Women's March she partnered with other organizations to stage a massive protest at Detroit Metro Airport. Phoebe’s focus is on social justice, civil rights, racial equity, access to healthcare and environmental protection as she prepares for the 2019 march. Participation in women's marches is an affirmation

Roland Leggett is smart, strategic, politically savvy, suave and oh so dapper. This nationally recognized movement leader joins Collections by Michelle Brown-Blog Radio on Thursday, January 10th to share his over two decades of social justice advocacy and management experience He’s worked as an organizer with Obama for America, with the Detroit Branch of the ACLU, Equality Michigan, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Working America and MI Time to Care. He's also an outspoken LGBT advocate serving on the LGBTQ and Allies Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party. Through his consultancy firm "Roland Leggett Strategies" he works at building inclusive communities and making the tradition from artist to activist right here in Detroit Why Detroit? Roland believes it’s because there’s unlimited potential for innovation here. If you are dedicated, if you are responsible, and if you are thoughtful in the way you plan things, you can make incredible things happen here.

Kim has over 20 years’ experience working with grassroots, community-based, and national nonprofit organizations. Her work has been intergenerational. She’s been engaged with the Third Wave Fund ensuring young women, queer, and trans youth of color have the tools and resources they need to lead powerful movements, and that they have a seat at the table within philanthropy. She’s worked with GRIOT Circle Inc.; In Our Own Voices. a community-based, multigenerational organization serving LGBTQ elders of color. Her work has crossed boundaries working with many organizations including Fierce!!, Stonewall Community Foundation’s Racial Equity Initiative; Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues; and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. She has worked with pioneering organizations and is the co-founder of Beyond Bold & Brave, Black Lesbian Conference 2016 and 2018; and founder of Kitchen Table Giving Circle: A Black/African Descent Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Women Philanthropic Initiative. Sh

The National Conference for LGBT Equality: Creating Change is the premier annual event of the National LGBTQ Task Force. Creating Change was started in 1988, one year after the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay rights. The message of the 1987 March was clear: go home and get to work. It was because of this message that the Task Force soon found itself deluged with requests for resources, advice, and assistance. In order to deal with all these requests, they started a national organizing and training conference that organizers and activists could gather and teach each other – and build a stronger movement. The name of that conference was Creating Change. Today, Creating Change has grown to over 3,500 attendees from all over the country, and from all walks of life. And it’s getting bigger every year. The five-day program will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center January 23rd to 29th. A host committee working with dedicated task Force staff work tirelessly to put togeth

Michelle Regalado Deatrick is a poet, a community advocate and an elected official. She lives with her family on an 80-acre farm in southeast Michigan, where she cares for a large organic garden, an orchard and a 20-acre native prairie surrounded by stands of native trees. An activist for the environment, small farm rights, women and fair wages she has served as Vice Chair of the Washtenaw County Commission. In 2017 and 2018, she was a lead organizer of the Women's March in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In October 2018, she was co-organizer of the Stand with Survivors Rally and March, a response to the Supreme Court nomination of Brent Kavanaugh also in Ann Arbor. In 2018 Deatrick ran for State Senate stating she was running for State Senator because we need a leader who believes that politics should be about people, not profit. Deatrick narrowly lost her primary race for Michigan State Senate-District 18 but continues her commitment by working with Michigan One Fair Wage Michigan One Fair Wage has a mission to ma

Originally from Brooklyn, New York Betty Couvertier called the Atlanta area home for many years. Now in retirement, she travels between Georgia and Florida RVing with her dogs. This year her travels gave her a unique perspective of two of the more interesting elections in Georgia and Florida. She witnessed first hand some of the challenges voters had in Georgia. She had to get involved with the postal service and election officials to locate her absentee ballot so her vote would be counted. She joins us to share her experiences and observations on the politics, the candidates and what’s next from her unique perspective. An advocate for grassroots activism, Couvertier believes politicians at all levels must be held accountable. She sees the end of patriarchy on the horizon and a future that will be led by women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community. Couvertier was the founder, producer and host of “Alternative Perspectives,” an LGBT radio show that continues to air on WRFG “Radio Free Georgia

Aundaray Guess has worked in service to the LGBTQ community for 20 years. He is currently the Deputy Director for GRIOT Circle and the Site Manager for the partnership between GRIOT Circle and SAGE USA.  Gay Reunion In Our Time, GRIOT Circle was founded as an informal gathering of elders and was officially recognized as a nonprofit in 1996. GRIOT Circle remains the only organization exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of elder LGBTQ people of color. He helped create and design, ‘Still Standing’, an interactive presentation in which older adults discuss living with HIV. This is a community-wide program and recently was conducted in additional states including New Jersey and California. He also helped create “joy of Intimacy”, a program similar to “Still Standing” that provides an older adult female perspective of living with HIV. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University in Media Studies as well as a Master of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communications. In addition to