Thank you for your support.

Please donate at http://www.transgendermichigan.org/contribution.html

Transgender Michigan's (TGMI) reason for being is to give all year, serving the transgender and gender non-conformist communities throughout the state. Regrettably, in order to continue the mission of giving, we need to receive. Not surprisingly, that's where you come in. We need you.

If you're already a member, friend or sponsor of TGMI, you're familiar with our work. If not, this is what we do:

• Transgender Michigan is a lifeline and communications link for the statewide transgender community. The transgender person—or one approaching that crossroads—often needs someone to talk to who has been through that complex journey. S/he might be seeking practical advice, guidance, a referral, emotional support—or just the sympathetic ear of someone who has endured the peaks and valleys of transition. Through our 24-hour TGMI Hotline, we lend that ear, free of charge to the caller. But, of course, not free. http://www.transgendermichigan.org/help-line.html
  
  
• Transgender Michigan is a strenuous advocate and coalition builder for transgender issues. We work closely with other organizations, such as Equality Michigan, Affirmations, Transgender Detroit, the Michigan AIDS Coalition and others. Our joint project with theMichigan AIDS Coalition in support of transgender people with AIDS continues; as does our work with Equality Michigan's victim advocates and lobbying arm. Your help in these and other efforts would be invaluable.   http://www.transgendermichigan.org/advocacy.html
  
  
• Transgender Michigan stages, promotes and participates in events throughout the year. In addition to maintaining a presence at Pride festivals across the state, TGMI sponsors and operates the annual—and vital--Transgender Day of Visibility, Transgender Pride in the Park, theTransgender Health Fair, and, of course, Rachel's Infamous Birthday Party.http://www.transgendermichigan.org/events.html
  
  
• Transgender Michigan is a voice serving the transgender community. Our Speaker's Bureau travels the state, offering education and inspiration to transgender persons and the people who love them at little or no charge. We seek to expand this growing program even further in the coming year and you can help.  http://www.transgendermichigan.org/sb.html
  
  
• Transgender Michigan is a billboard, maintaining a detailed online Calendar of Events—social and informational--of interest to the transgender community for every day of the year throughout the state. We maintain and continually update the TGMI TransPages, a directory of public and private services and resources available to Michigan's transgender communities. We created and service TGMI TransNet, a state-wide web of transgender volunteers who serve as contact points or form local chapters, directing people with transgender issues to support groups, advisory groups and even the liveliest parties of the like-minded—a vital function, particularly in under-represented areas. We plan to improve these services and provide more, if we can count on you.
  http://www.transgendermichigan.org/calendar.html
  http://www.transgendermichigan.org/transpages.html
  http://www.transgendermichigan.org/transnet.html

This is a snapshot of the work we do every day on behalf of the transgender, but our efforts to unify and empower transgender and gender non-conformist individuals and communities does not end there. As part of our mission to educate, support, advocate, lobby and build coalitions, we publish informational materials free for the asking, and also distributed free to all comers at every function. We bust transgender myths, address questions unique to the logistical, social and health problems encountered by the transgender person or aspirant specific to his or her situation, and pay special attention to the education and support of significant others and the families, friends and allies so needed by the transgender individual. We tirelessly seek the social equality and inclusion of those in the broad community we serve, and look forward to a society where they are judged based not on what lies beneath their clothing or the content of their wallets, but what lies inside their hearts and the content of their character.

We can achieve this...but we cannot do it alone. Your taxes do not support our work, but your gifts do. If you support our mission—if you support equal justice and opportunity for all, recognize the necessity of inclusion for the betterment of common humanity, and believe in a world where these things are not only desirable, but possible—please, in this time of giving, back that belief and support that mission with a gift of your choosing. “Tis the season. Thank you.

Please donate at http://www.transgendermichigan.org/contribution.html

Postcard from the Help Line

The Transgender Michigan help line has been very busy including many calls from the city of Detroit.

People often call the help line because they feel lonely and isolated. We had a call from the city of Detroit this afternoon. The caller was looking for any type of resources and someone they could really talk to. They stated that they could not find the info that they were looking for and that we were the only phone number that actually answered.

People also call because they really want to help out. Transgender Michigan has found wonderful volunteers that way.

We will be having a focus group very soon to make sure that we are doing everything we can for transgender people in Detroit.

We also receive many calls from all over the state of Michigan. Lately we also been have receiving calls from other from different parts of the country.

Jumping Through Hoops: Changing Your Name in Michigan

On September 1st, I changed my name. It was a liberating experience, one that a lot of trans people go through. I had the assistance of a friend, J, who had been through the process years before, but I know some people might have to go it alone. I can't do a step by step guide here (I'm not a lawyer and can't offer legal advice), but I can share my experience and hopefully improve someone else's foray in our court system, specifically the 3rd Circuit Court of Wayne County. The procedure in other counties will be similar, not identical.

On June 30th, I went down to the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit to file my paperwork. Upon going to the County Clerk's office (room 201) to check where I was supposed to go first, I found that all of the forms I electronically filled out and printed off the 3rd Circuit Court's website were not useable. For whatever arbitrary reason, the exact same forms had to be filled out by hand, in person, so I had to ask for the forms at the counter.

After filling out the required forms, J and I took the elevator to the ninth floor. In room 928, I filed the petition for name change and another form, paid the $150 filing fee, and received stickers with my case number and assigned judge, to go on each piece of paperwork (they gave me around twenty, when I only needed four, but I found I needed a few more later). I also had a brief chat with the clerk helping me; they regularly see trans people changing their names, so it's nothing new to any of them.

Now, because I am only 20, I didn't need to have a formal background check done. The County Clerk does their own quick file check (marked on the forms as requiring a separate trip to the basement Records Room, even though they now do the check in 928 when the forms are filed. They haven't updated the forms to tell anyone this, of course).

The Michigan State Police and the FBI do their own record checks if the petitioner is 22 or older, and that step adds weeks to the process. The procedure is outlined on the instruction form provided by the County Clerk, for those needing to do it. If you have a criminal record, you also have to prove that your name change is not with fraudulent intent.

Able to skip the background check, J and I went directly up to the 15th floor. I filed the praecipe (request for a formal order) and the name change petition with the court clerk, and received my court date. I had to postpone it two weeks due to (what I thought was) a training conflict, so my date was scheduled for August 26th.

From the courtroom, J and I went down to the 13th floor, to the reception area of the Detroit Legal News. There, I filed my Notice of Hearing, which was basically a short blurb declaring that I was changing my name and for any interested parties to show up. The fee is $71.30; unlike the County Clerk, which takes some debit and credit cards, Detroit Legal News only takes cash. Cue me rolling my eyes, and making a trip down to the ATM on the third floor.

After paying, I was done for the day. All I had left to do was wait. After a week, my published Notice of Hearing arrived, so I had proof to take with me to the courtroom.

Three weeks later, I received a notice from the court, informing me that my court date had been postponed to September 1st. The letter was delivered on a Friday, which meant I spent the whole weekend worrying if there would be a problem with my published Notice of Hearing now showing the wrong date. A call on Monday with the court clerk confirmed I had nothing to worry about, after all, since the court had changed the date, not me. Finding that I had to wait another week, after requesting a later date anyway due to a schedule conflict, was maddening, but there was nothing I could do.

Finally, the day arrived. I woke up early, got ready, and left for the hearing, with my sibling R in tow. We went to the County Clerk's office on the second floor, and I paid the $10 Entry of Order fee. Then, we went up to the fifteenth floor to wait in the corridor.

The courtroom opened almost half an hour late, but R and I had someone to talk to--A, who I had met through Affirmations, had coincidentally had her name change hearing schedule at the same time as mine. Upon entering the courtroom, I went and checked in with the court clerk. She asked for a few of the the case number stickers I had left over, and had me to check that the order was filled out correctly, and everything seemed fine. R and I sat down and waited for my turn.

I was nervous, but not too much--there were only seven or eight other people in the courtroom waiting to go before the judge. A friend's hearing in Oakland County took place in a packed courtroom, a marked contrast.

My name was called, and I went up to the podium. The judge asked me a few questions, and signed the order, wishing me the best of luck with my transition. The next case was called, and I went over to the clerk to pick up the signed order. I saw to my horror that there were glaring spelling mistakes--in my new AND old names! The order didn't even legally apply to me!

The clerk told me that I had seen the order when I checked in, and had already told her there were no mistakes. I admit I hadn't noticed the misspelling in my new name when I first saw the papers, but she hadn't even shown me the page with my old name misspelled! After 20 stomach clenched minutes, the clerk checked with the judge, who said she would just resign a new order.

The worst was over, but the clerk kept misspelling my name--it was three printouts later that she finally got it right. Relieved, R and I left with the new papers--two copies of the official order.

We took the elevator to the basement, and got copies of the order made in the Records Room. It was ridiculously expensive--the copies ran $4 per page (it probably costs them less than 5 cents per page for the black ink and paper), plus $11 for each certified order. I got two copies made, and had all four orders certified, so the total was close to $70. In retrospect, I really could have gotten by with the original two copies of the order, but it's always better to have spares.

Later that day, I went to the Secretary of State, and waited for two hours to see a clerk. When I finally got to the counter, it took less than five minutes and only $8 to have my driver's license updated, then I went and got a new ID photo taken. I didn't attempt to change my gender marker at that time, but I will once I can get a passport (since I can get one with an F on it, and have a piece of government-issued ID when I go to the SoS again). Afterwards, I went to my credit union to update my accounts.

A few days later, I went to the Social Security office, and had my name changed there, as well. If you can, it's best to do it the same day as the SoS, because driver's licenses are connected to Social Security numbers, and if the name attached to the SSN doesn't match, processing is delayed, or the name change for the ID can even be denied.

Now, I'm basically done. I might have a few other things left to change (library card, store member cards, etc), but I am now legally Emma--I even got my new Voter ID card yesterday. I don't have to be nervous about being outed when showing my ID, and anybody who actually notices the 'M' usually brushes it off as a typo. My photo now matches my current appearance, as well. My old license was from 2009, pre-transition, so the difference between the photo and my appearance sometimes caused confusion: When I voted last year, the volunteers working the polling location initially thought I was using my brother's ID. Hilarity ensued.

I have not had my name changed on my birth certificate yet. Michigan law requires a letter confirming an individual has had genital surgery, unfortunately, and it would be pointless to have just the name changed now if I can get the whole thing corrected in a few years. As an additional maddening requirement, you have to talk to one specific person in the Lansing office to have the proper forms mailed to you, then you have to deliver them to the Lansing office in person. Way to go, bureaucracy...this really screws trans people living in the upper peninsula who don't have the time to drive down, and any trans person who can't afford a car, unless they can get a ride from a friend and afford to miss one or two days of work, if they're lucky enough to be employed.

There isn't too much else to tell, but there is one thing that the court fails to mention anywhere on their forms or their website. If the filing fee would be a significant financial burden, you can apply for a waiver of the fee. I don't know how to do so, but it would be worth doing a bit of extra research, even if it's only for the $150 filing fee, and doesn't cover anything else. Your best bet would be calling the County Clerk's office and asking for more information.

TransGender Michigan's new mission statement!

By Steph Turner
Michigan Trans Empowerment Taskforce

TransGender Michigan has reworked their mission statement to try to keep up with the changing times:

“Transgender Michigan’s primary mission is to provide advocacy, support and education while serving to create coalitions in the state of Michigan to unify and empower transgender and gender nonconformist communities.”

Their previous mission statement was drafted at a different time in the movement. To keep up with the times, TransGender Michigan is working with the Michigan Trans Empowerment Taskforce to develop a strategic plan to help one another keep up with the changing times. This mission statement update is its first milestone. More is to soon follow.

Thanks to all who have given their input into this mission statement. We received 50 responses to the Survey Monkey survey, and the results expressed broad support for this rewording. Exceptions were noted and continue to inform the development of the full strategic plan. Unlike a business plan, the strategic plan is an elastic document. It is meant to adapt to ongoing changes. It is not written in stone.

We intend to remain engaged with you, the community, to be sure this evolving and dynamic strategic plan speaks to your needs and includes your voice. That’s because this plan is not so much about TransGender Michigan, but about you, the trans communities!

Preparing for Hormone Therapy

At the Transgender Health Fair Rachel Crandall and Robin Sexton presented on Preparing for Hormone Therapy.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Rachel Crandall to speak to the East Lansing Human Relations Commission

Contact: William Sawyer-Todd For Immediate Release

Phone: 517-708-7929

Email: southernemigre@gmail.com

Rachel Crandall will speak before the East Lansing Human Relations Commission on Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 PM at East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road. Members of the public and the media are encouraged to attend. Attendees should enter from the rear of the building. For information on the commission, see:

http://www.cityofeastlansing.com/Home/Departments/BoardsCommissions/HumanRelationsCommission/

Champion of Transgender People

to Speak in East Lansing

Rachel Crandall Returns to Mid-Michigan to Raise Awareness

Lansing, Michigan -- There are many forms of courage. Men and women in uniform who face danger in Afghanistan are certainly one example. Firefighters, running toward a disaster when others run away, are another example of bravery and nerve personified. Then, there are more subtle forms of courage. Rachel Crandall has courage of her own.

Rachel was born to Jewish parents in the ‘60s and was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome. To a casual acquaintance, it is most apparent as a pronounced stutter. Inside, there are far more challenges. Learning was particularly difficult.

Over time, she graduated from high school and Michigan State University with a masters in Social Work, married, started work, and bought a house. However, another issue began to confront her head on; an issue that would wipe out many of her gains and change her life forever. Rachel, who identified and was brought up as a male, began to realize she was far more comfortable inside as a female; she thought of herself and was, in fact, a female. Later, she found out that the term for this is “transgender”.

At the time the word was almost unknown to the public and she knew she would face huge discrimination and further challenges. She didn’t let it stop her from “coming out of the closet” as a transgender person.

“I was finally true to myself,” she said, “but, I lost marriage, my house, and my job. I was completely devastated.”

But the ever-resilient Rachael Crandall faced this challenge like she had many others and continued to push her life forward. She prepared for the next great leap as an advocate and a leader.

Rachel grew to understand that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with her awareness of herself as female. “To me, it was perfectly normal and natural. The issues were how others viewed my gender identity.”

She began her new undertaking by greatly increasing communications with other transgender people in Michigan, a population that, at the time, was largely closed to outsiders. She taught other people like herself to have pride in who they are, she shared her life’s story and challenges with them, and helped to instill self esteem in many who had very little. She taught them to strive toward equality with other citizens, to fight back against discrimination. She was breaking very new ground.

Outreach to the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community seemed logical. She sensed that there was common ground with others who are confronted with sexual/gender issues and who are often marginalized by the general population. She founded a first of its kind organization, TransGender Michigan, an advocating association for transgender people as well as a place to bring together lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals to further the cause of civil rights. A website and seemly endless round of public speaking helped to reach her allies in her local community and opened many eyes to what it means to be a person who is transgender.

A few years ago, having left her Mid-Michigan friends for Ferndale, Rachel married and set down new roots there. She continues to work and advocate as much as her disability will allow -- and then pushes it some more. She’s a part time clinical specialist at Affirmations, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community center near Detroit. She makes speaking engagements whenever she possibly can; she has brought so much assistance and acceptance to her peers. Her drive to bringing understanding and acceptance for all LGBT people is relentless.

Yes, there are many forms of courage, but holding one’s head up in the face of adversity, banding with others and teaching them to believe in themselves, has to be one of the most important kinds that there is. Rachel Crandall has her own special brand of courage.

###

A Portion of Rachel’s Involvement, Awards, Recognitions, and Initiatives:

Founder and current executive director of TransGender Michigan

Current clinical specialist for Affirmations LGBT Helpline

Creator of the International Transgender Day of Visibility

Former director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Hotline of Greater Lansing

Former vice president of the Lansing Association for Human Rights (LAHR).

Former vice president of Crossroads (the principal crossdressers group in Michigan)

Former co-diversity Chair for the Human Rights Campaign

Former co-vice president for Pride at Work

Winner of the State Bar of Michigan Liberty Bell Award (2008)

Winner of the Greater Lansing LGBT Prism Award (2000)

Transgender Michigan at PFLAG Flint.

The panel

  We were asked to participate today at the PFLAG Flint meeting.

  The meeting started by breaking into subgroups including a transgender support group attended by about 14 people.

   After the small groups we reconvened and we presented as part of a panel with representatives from GLSEN and Equality Michigan. We each discussed the services offered by each of our groups.

  We talked about our help line, how we get calls from all over Michigan and beyond.  We talked about how most states do not have a statewide transgender organization and how we have helped other state start their organization.  We also discussed how we provide consultation services to doctors, nurses, lawyers, police, etc. within Michigan and beyond. And we discussed the needs of the transgender community.

  We received much positive feedback regarding our services.  People asked many questions and showed a lot of support for the transgender community. 

  After the meeting we had dinner and networked with some of the leaders of the transgender community in Flint.

Transgender Michigan at PFLAG Holland.

West Michigan Pride

Myself (left) and three of our volunteers: Ami, Steph, and Seth (Christine was behind the camera).

On June 18, I had the opportunity to attend West Michigan Pride in Grand Rapids, MI.

The Saturday morning drive up from Detroit was fantastic. I was accompanied by one of our regular volunteers, Ami, and we chatted excitedly and enjoyed the rural scenery along I-96. Rain had been predicted in the morning hours, but we didn’t encounter a single drop during our trip.

After checking into our hotel, we headed over to Comstock Riverside Park. Not having been to West Michigan Pride before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, although I had heard last year’s location had not been very pleasant-lots of dirt and little shade. Riverside possessed an abundance of trees and made a fairly comfortable location, much to my relief. My only complaint was with the distant parking areas, though large golf carts were provided to shuttle vendors to-and-from their cars with their supplies, negating the distance.

By chance, our table was adjacent to that of Public Reality Radio, a local talk radio station, and they expressed interest in interviewing TGMI for one of their segments. Be sure to watch our website for further information!

As at every Pride event, we chatted with members of the local trans community, many of whom expressed interest in volunteering in the future, and networked with the several trans-specific/trans-inclusive groups that attended. Creating a more unified effort between Grand Rapids groups and TGMI is on our "to-do" list.

Overall, while we didn’t run out of brochures like we did at Michigan Pride in Lansing, we still spoke to a large number of people, many unaware of our existence. I even got contact information from a local gender therapist who wasn’t on our TransPages! Every little bit helps.

At the end of the day, all of us-Ami, Steph, Seth, Christine, and myself-were tired, but very satisfied. The event had gone very well. Now, we are excited to start networking with other groups in Michigan and planning TGMI’s future.

Michigan Pride, Lansing

By Rachel Crandall

Today we were at Michigan Pride and it felt a bit like a family reunion.  I used to live in the Lansing area for many years before moving to the Detroit area.

Sara, Emma, & Rachel at Michigan Pride

I got to re-unite with many old friends and meet with many new friends.

However there is a shortage of support groups in Lansing.  It is definitely clear that there is a demand for a support group in the Lansing area.  In fact we had more traffic and requests for information at our booth in Lansing than we did at Motor City Pride.

But today we made a number of contacts which may lead to a viable support group, including a local church that is interested in hosting the group.  Hopefully we will be able soon to announce the successful start of this group.

Lansing Meet & Greet



Rachel Crandall before Meet & Greet

Thank you everyone who came to the Transgender Michigan Lansing area Meet & Greet last night.

Some important networking was done. We hope this leads to a stronger transgender community in Lansing.

Prior to this event none of the attendees had met each other.  It is with events like this we strive to bring transgender communities together.

Can We Talk?

Due to public demand we are starting the Transgender Michigan Blog.

Here we will talk about issues important to the transgender communities of Michigan. Please let us know what you want to talk about.