![]() I was feeling burned out by big city life, so I decided to chill in Ann Arbor for a bit. These are their stories:Įmily: I moved to Ann Arbor from Chicago a few months ago. Well, as is “Queer Girl City Guide” tradition, this guide was initially compiled by Emily and Sierra, two Autostraddle community members. With Dana Nessel on our side, it feels like anything may be possible next! At the time of writing, LGBT activists are fighting and asking for clarification in existing state civil rights legislation - because in May 2018 The Michigan Civil Rights Commission determined LGBT discrimination is illegal under state law - with the hopes that those laws may be interpreted to include protections for the LGBT community. Michigan just elected its first lesbian Attorney General, Dana Nessel, so some of this might soon be changing for even better. ![]() ![]() Although it’s not LGBT-specific, it’s worth noting that Ypsilanti also became the first city in Michigan to pass a living wage ordinance in the 1990s. Ypsilanti has had those protections since the late ’90s. In 1972, Ann Arbor became the first community to pass comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people including housing, employment, and public accommodations. There are few state-level legal protections for LGBT Michiganders, but in most cases, local ordinances fill in the blanks. It’s not what it could be (yet), but it feels like Michigan is slowly making its way on the right track. Washtenaw County, where Ann Arbor/ Ypsilanti are located, and the Ypsilanti School District flew trans pride flags on the International Transgender Day of Visibility in 2017. The local leadership is definitely supportive of the community (shout out to Ypsilanti’s newly elected lesbian mayor Beth Bashert!). Outside of designated LGBT spaces, overall the Southeastern Michigan area is fairly queer-friendly. Until December of 2018, Ann Arbor also boasted one of the few remaining brick-and-mortar LGBT bookstores in the United States. Even better, despite being a relatively small town, the LGBT community is very visible and active. Its a wonderful place to live or to visit: cute shopping, incredible dining, museums and parks.There are trees, flowers and art everywhere you look. (Grand Rapids is first.) Some have said that Ypsilanti is to Ann Arbor as Brooklyn is to Manhattan, but I guess your mileage may vary on that.Īnn Arbor’s primary employer is the University of Michigan, which means most of the town’s residents are liberal academics. ![]() ![]() It also has the second-largest contiguous historic district in the state of Michigan. Ypsilanti (Ip-sah-lan-tee) is about one-tenth the size of Ann Arbor in population, but is attractive in its own right and has a culture all its own - plus it’s been rated the #1 most racially and economically diverse suburb in Michigan! Italso has an out lesbian mayor,Beth Bashert, has a vibrant history of African-American political activismand is becoming an increasingly queer hotspot as rents continue to climb in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor (A2 for short) is a liberal, affluent, busy college town. The neighboring communities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti make up such a friendly little bubble in the Mitten State less than an hour outside of Detroit. The 200 Best Lesbian, Bisexual & Queer Movies Of All Time.LGBTQ Television Guide: What To Watch Now. ![]()
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