ASpeaking OUT Against BullyingThe GLBTRT Roundtable of the American Library Association has published a list of resources in response to the recent suicides of eased and bullied LGBTQ teens. The list includes links to the 24 hour hotline THE TREVOR PROJECT and other great resources for youths and families and friends!!
At our January meeting, we discussed the following as goals for 2010 :
----Continuing with our involvement with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and our membership on the Community Respnse Subcommittee of MI Alliance Against Hate Crimes.
----Continuing our ongoing drive to encourage and assist the City and County of Lapeer in developing a Community Response to Hate Crimes System.
-----Present Educational and Community Development Projects regarding Militant Groups and "Hate" Groups and ongoing LGBT issues of Equality.
----BULLYING seminar.
----Present Hate Crimes educational classes to train the community regarding what hate crimes are and their legal implications.
----Assist with the ongoing efforts to improve State Hate Crimes and Bullying Legislation.
We will be electing new officers and those Board members whose terms are expiring this Spring....
HERE IS THE STATEMENT YOUR CO-CHAIRS SENT TO THE PRESS AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS:
We are appalled by the recent Michigan Court of Appeals ruling that interprets the same-sex marriage amendment as calling unconstitutional domestic benefits to same-sex couples working in Michigan universities and local government. This is another action by Michigan officials demonstrating a callous disregard for the well-being of GLBT persons and families.
This ruling will greatly compromise the health and well-being of same-sex partner families and is dismally short-sighted and discriminatory. It is disturbing that a Michigan court does not support basic Equality for GLBT persons.
Proponents of the amendment clearly stated that they did not intend the amendment to apply to benefits, even when challenged on this issue during the runup to the vote. We do not believe that Michigan voters wanted this to be a consequence of that amendment. LCERA will continue to be a presence in Lapeer County working on advancing Equality for GLBT and all persons.
ELLIOTT-LARSEN AMENDMENT HB 4956 --We have no state or federal law prohibiting discrimination based upon gender identity or expresson, or sexual orientation. HB 4956 can provide that protection... A note from your chairperson... click here to read more...I
"The civility of no race can be perfect whilst another race is degraded. It is a doctrine alike of the oldest and of the newest philosophy, that man is one, that you cannot injure any member, without a sympathetic injury to all the members." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844 --
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST BULLYING!!! 
