OutCenter Southwest Michigan Responds to Executive Orders Regarding Our Transgender Community Members

As we noted in our November 2024 post-election press release, the stakes for LGBTQ+ equality have never been higher. OutCenter encourages every person across Southwest Michigan to understand both the enormity and the shortcomings of the recent Executive Orders (EOs) coming from the new administration. OutCenter stands committed to the safety and well-being of all our community members and allies, especially our transgender siblings, and we ask everyone to stand with us to foster safe, diverse, and equitable communities. For an overview of the EOs, please read this article in PrideSource.

The “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism” executive order will face legal challenges in the weeks, months, and even years ahead, potentially delaying the worst of its effects indefinitely. It is important to note the severity of this order’s potential ramifications, and its disingenuous framing as a measure to allegedly protect women. Throughout the order, we see examples of the administration's paternalistic and misogynistic view of women. This view has historically been informed by extremist religious patriarchy and authoritarian gender complementarianism. In this EO, we see the worldviews of toxic masculinity and Christian nationalism attempting to infantilize women while simultaneously othering a minority by framing them as predatory and dangerous.

These attacks are exceptionally cruel and demeaning to queer individuals. These messages also threaten our core values of fairness and freedom. The defense of LGBTQ+ rights, in the face of political agitation and intolerance, is a defense of the dignity and humanity of our entire community of Southwest Michigan.

We encourage everyone to understand the impacts of these EOs on our community and on your LGBTQ+ friends and family. Let them know you are a safe person, and activate your allyship. Here are ways to get involved:

• Monitor how the city you live in is responding to these threats.

• Get involved in your school district by attending school board meetings and advocating for LGBTQ+ students.

• Attend your town’s commission or council meetings and advocate for nondiscrimination policies for LGBTQ+ people and their families.

• Check in with local businesses you patronize to ensure they have inclusive nondiscrimination practices in place.

• Volunteer for causes in our area.

At OutCenter, we are even more driven to attain our goal of creating safe and affirming spaces for all people. Through training, workshops, consulting, direct action, and advocacy, we will continue our life-saving and necessary work in our local municipalities, schools, organizations, faith groups, and the public square. Contact us today to learn how you can support LGBTQ people and their families across Southwest Michigan by visiting our website at outcenter.org.