Collections By Michelle Brown

Being transgender, living authentically, especially as a transwoman/man of color, not just in this country but globally, is a threat to one’s safety and longevity. Stepping out in your truth means living with the reality that there is an invisible target on your back and, if you are a person of color, that target has rings not only of transphobia but racism as well and is held together with threads of ignorance. Lilliana Reyes  is a triple threat to bigotry, racism and transphobia. She is outspoken,driven & a true force to be reckoned with in the fight not just for transgender rights but for equality and justice. Lilliana is a trans Latina woman who has extensive history working with marginalized populations including people of color, women, LGBTQ communities, HIV positive communities, and most importantly youth and all their intersections. Growing up in a tight-knit Mexican family with her parents and older brother, she was shaped by principles of faith and feminism. She witnessed racial tensions in her

Rhiannon Chester is a Detroit native. She is, in her own words, unapologetically black, unapologetically a lesbian, unapologetically a feminist and unapologetically the person who is concerned,” about her community. She is passionate about connecting people to resources whether its funds, information or other people. Much of her background is in community organizing and outreach. As program coordinator with LGBT-Detroit she connected people to information and brought resources to the organization’s programs. She facilitated a weekly discussion called “Talk Tuesday,” a monthly conversation called “Woman 2 Woman” and helped manage the LGBT Detroit Leadership Academy program. At LGBT-Detroit Chester says the experience provided her a space where she could be unapologetically all of herself and it was a space where her concerns were not only listened to, but uplifted. Rhiannon earned her Masters in Social Justice in 2016 from Marygrove College. She actively combines her undergraduate degree in photography with

Originally from Bufffalo New York, Thoma "TJ" Rogers now calls Mexican Town in South west Detroit home.  TJ works at Freedom House Detroit. Freedom House Detroit is a temporary home for indigent survivors of persecution from around the world who are seeking asylum in the United States and Canada. Our mission is to uphold a fundamental American principle, one inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty, providing safety for those “yearning to breathe free.”  TJ is passionate about advocacy, and with over five years of firsthand experience providing direct services to asylum seekers, Rogers works to generate awareness about the plight and courage of asylum seekers while encouraging individuals and organizations to increase their support. It was his learning of the Rwandan genocide that sparked a life-long love affair with Africa.  He came to fully appreciated the country's beautiful culture, including traditional dance, food, music, and language. He’s also particularly drawn to Uganda, a country that mos

According to Sykes respect, love and inclusion are our birthrights. It's not the gospel but maybe it should be! Since 1986, he has worked to build on the strengths of individual, families and communities. He uses skills and talents gained while working in direct services and executive leadership roles in the nonprofit arena. Sykes is a play therapist and works with children and adolescents impacted by neglect and abuse. He works to create safety in the therapeutic environment. The Chicago social figure and highly sought-after therapist, launched his website “According to Sykes in 2013 at the uber chic Zhou B Art Center, setting a new standard for intimate entertaining. In 2017, he was recognized at the annual Esteem Awards with the Outstanding Service – Male Award. Each year the Esteem Awards honor local and national organizations and individuals for their continued efforts in supporting the African-American and LGBTQ communities. On receiving this prestigious award John said he believed “that being a partic

Amid the flooding and devastation of Hurricane Harvey Monica Roberts talks about her city, Comic Con, Doubt, history and her passion in eliminate transphobia.  A force of nature in her own right, Monica is a trailblazing leader in the transgender community leader. She works diligently at educating and encouraging acceptance of trans people inside and outside the larger African-American community. Monica is an award winning blogger, history buff, thinker, lecturer and passionate advocate on trans issues. She seeks to not only end the erasure of African-American trans voices from a movement they played significant roles in starting, but get African-American transpeople and other voices of color more involved in empowering themselves. Her activism focus is educating the TBLGQ community and allies about our issues and concerns in addition to shedding light about the struggles of GLBTQ people across the African Diaspora. Her writings about transgender issues from a Black perspective have appeared at Ebony.com,

Fierce, outspoken, dapper, on the road and living her life like it's golden,that's activist, former radio host  Betty Couvertier. Betty believes in freedom for all, fairness, hope in action and equality. She is relentless, outspoken, courageous in providing an authentic voice and alternative perspective. Originally from Brooklyn, NY where she was a city corrections officer she has been a part of Atlanta, Georgia’s LGBTQ scene since the mid-1990s. She has volunteered at WRFG 89.3 FM, a non-profit community radio station, since 2002. She was the founder, producer and host of “Alternative Perspectives,” an LGBT radio show that airs on the community-owned and operated station from 2006 until 2017.“Alternative Perspectives” started from a notion that LGBTQ news was important news and that our voices together could get a message out to the public — to the folks that we work with, play with, shop with, live next to, and go to school with.  Her energy, compassion, insightfulness, and hard work has been an incredib

Say “Vegan” and most will answer “No meat. No Dairy. A person who does not eat or use animal products.”  The ensuing conversation often includes dietary choices, trendy restaurants and an occasional eye-roll. But for Liz Ross our guest on Collections by Michelle Brown being a vegan goes beyond a dietary choice. Originally from Trinidad, Liz has lived many places but calls Los Angeles, CA home. Ross is Co-founder and Director of Vegan Advocacy Initiative, (formerly Coalition of Vegan Activists of Color), a woman-of-color-led nonprofit organization.  VAI is an animal advocacy and vegan food justice organization that creates and events to encourage the public to consider a holistic way of thinking that upholds animal rights.  Their initiatives also encourage others to view animal rights as part of the food justice and environmental justice movements in order to create more sustainable and fair systems.  She is also co-creator of the People of Color: Animal Rights, Advocacy and Food Justice Conference, which t

Beverly Humphrey is a 67-year-old African American woman who was diagnosed with lupus in 1976 at age 26.  She has been living with the disease for 41 years.  Beverly was the first in her family to receive a diagnosis of systemic lupus. Her younger sister was diagnosed two years later and passed away in 2001 from complications related to lupus.   Years later, Beverly's oldest niece was also diagnosed with lupus.  By that time, Beverly had been living with lupus for 27 years and was instrumental in getting her niece to the proper health care services. Like most lupus patients, Beverly has experienced her share of challenges in her determination to live victoriously in spite of this difficult diagnosis.  Some of her achievements include earning her Bachelor's degree in social work in 2006 and just this past May, earning her master's degree in counseling from the University of Detroit Mercy.   Beverly has served as a leader, and speaker for many women’s groups on a variety of topics ranging from spirituality, H

 In 2013 Adam McMath’s documentary “Miss Understud” debuted at the Black Alphabet Film Festival. Fast forward four years and McMath now sits on the BAFF Board as the Vice President & Director of Programming. The festival takes place this year from August 18-19 at The Reva & David Logan Center for the Arts in Chicago. Six films will be screened - “90 Days”, “Missed Connections”, “Jewel’s Catch One”, “Kiki’, “Check It” and “pronouns” -with a Friday night discussion with Nathan Hale Williams and Nic Few from “90 Days.”  BAFF is committed to keeping the African American community informed about new LGBTQ films along with the artists and filmmakers that serve our community both locally and nationally.  Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF) symbolizes the unity and affirming of diversity in gender and sexual expression within the Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) community. The organization’s mission is to empower the community by promoting, nurturing and celebrating the stori

This mother of two adult children is an accomplished film maker, poet, short story writer, essayist, editor and retired higher education administrator. She holds a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education; a Master of Arts in Adult and Higher Education; and a Master of Science in General Administration . She has been invited to speak at numerous workshops and conventions throughout the United States and Canada. As a youth, she spent 12 years in the foster care system and as the old adage goes “What doesn’t break you, makes you stronger!” She shares her personal foster care journey in her memoir IF NOT FOR DREAMS: MEMORIES OF A FOSTER CHILD. Her writing is also included in the anthology GROWING UP IN THE CARE OF STRANGERS. She also penned a novella, Dancing Under the Same Moon and has been featured in several other publications. As a contemporary abstract artist her work has been shown at the Detroit Artist Market, National Conference of Artist Gallery, Jo’s Gallery and The Juanita Ford Gallery and the Charle

Thirty years ago, a group of friends came together to network, have fellowship and enjoy life. They didn’t intend to break barriers but they did by doing community work through entertaining. They called themselves THE BILLIONAIRE BOYS’ CLUB (BBC) The BBC primarily wanted to make sure that everyone had a good time and meet new people. According to Robert Tate, “We never knew we were doing anything special. All we wanted to do was entertain the community. I now realize that we are activists in a different kind of way. Our way was to bring people together and network with community organizations.” In 1996 the BBC in collaboration with numerous LGBT organizations — including the Men of Color Motivation Group, Karibu House and Ladies of a Current Affair started HOTTER THAN JULY metro-Detroit’s annual celebration of Gay Pride for the African American LGBTQ community. HOTTER THAN JULY is one of the oldest Black Gay Pride celebrations in the Midwest and takes place the last weekend of each July every year. This ye

Danielle Woods is a Detroit native and 16-year veteran with the Detroit Police Department. She is currently assigned to the Chief's Neighborhood Liaison unit where she coordinates and oversees the operations of the Citizen Radio Patrol. She recalls responding to a domestic violence disturbance in 2006 that was between two females who were romantically involved. Her male partner at the time made an offensive remark about the couple's sexual orientation. Woods was so upset that she approached her boss about the need for a community liaison officer for the LGBT community. Woods was appointed the Detroit Police Department's first LGBT liaison officer in 2013. She formulated the first LGBT Advisory Board Committee under the appointment of Chief James E. Craig and is a driving force in the LGBT community in her efforts of "Bridging the Gap" between law enforcement and the LGBT community. Woods says her role as LGBT liaison is to "serve as a bridge between the LGBT community and the police department," helping to

Rev. Stringfellow is the Senior Pastor and Teacher at Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit. A Native of Fort Wayne, IN he now calls Detroit home. Rev. Stringfellow works to create dialogs on the topic of LGBTQ equality with congregations as the Director of Ministerial Outreach with the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Sexuality on the campus of Pacific School of Religion. He has conducted multiple workshops on the topics of race, religion, class and sexuality. In 2011, he became licensed with the United Church of Christ and the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) churches, a predominantly African-American denomination with an outreach to LGBTQ individuals. In addition to all of his work within church contexts, Rev. Stringfellow has also worked in the field of education in a variety of capacities including teacher, guidance counselor, college adviser and vice-principal. In 2010, he directed a national African-American faith community outreach (the Umoja Project) working with pas

Author and journalist Jason A. Michael will forever be a native Detroiter. He earned his journalism degree from Wayne State University. He received the Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council in 2005 for his contributions to the community through journalism. After graduating from Wayne State University, he joined the staff of “Between the Lines”, a Detroit-based news and arts weekly serving Michigan’s LGBTQ community.  Jason has a passion for urban music and spent many years working with Grammy-award-winning songwriter and soul diva Betty Wright. Wright rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight is the Night”.He has interviewed everyone from Motown legends Martha Reeves and Mary Wilson to Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle.  In 2007, Jason released his first entertainment biography, “Strength Of A Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story”. The book received much critical acclaim and went on to become an Essence magazine bestseller. After 18 years Jason continues to write for

On Saturday July 1st Chicago will again host the ESTEEM Awards recognizing a cross section of leadership in the LGBTQ community. Today we are talking with the founder and force behind these annual awards Philip Esteem. Phil is proud African American Gay Male. Although he was never formally trained as a writer or journalist Phil believes he was led to share other people’s experiences. In 1998, he started a ZINE called Legends Statements and Stars.  Legends Statements and Stars focused primarily on the ball scenewhere people, especially youth "walk" or compete for trophies and prizes at events known as balls.. In 2000, he started ESTEEM newsletter, a ZINE for the greater gay community. In 2004 Phil was approached by JC Cole about joining forces with her for a website she created called PrideIndex.com.  PrideIndex is a lifestyles and entertainment site for gay communities of color. In 2006, he joined the Windy City Black Pride Gay Pride Awards Committee where he successfully created interest for the Pride Aw

Felix and Paula Sirls, have been married over twenty years and found each other at the most unlikely time.  They are parents, grandparents, great grand-parents and both are HIV positive. Felix was a recovering addict when he was diagnosed. His doctor gave him one year to live. He moved to Detroit to be closer to his family and became a substance abuse counselor and was a facilitator for  the Detroit Health Department. Recently retired he worked as an HIV and substance abuse counselors for over 30 years in three states. He not only continues to thrive but outlived the doctor who gave him that diagnosis of one year to live. Paula was infected by a long-term partner. After his death, she found herself not only HIV positive but also depressed and contemplating suicide. As fate would have it, while going through his belongings she found a card for a HIV support group. The facilitator happened to be Felix Sirls.  In the program, she learned to love herself again and regain her self-esteem. When the program lost

We continue the celebration of LGBTQ Pride with an introduction of an amazing activist couple. Hannah Hartley and Diane Schulz are planning their June wedding. Both also serve on the board of the Gender-Identity Network Alliance (GNA). The purpose GNA is to create positive social change supporting all forms of gender identity and expression through charitable, educational, and service works. who identify as trans, transgender, gender non-conforming, gender-variant, or those in the process of reassigning their gender. GNA hosts, Annual Spring and Winter Potlucks , a weekly support group, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance each November, and on June 24, 2017 the Transgender Day Of Empowerment   at Affirmations Center in Ferndale, MI. Hannah is an accomplished musician and composer. Before moving to Michigan, she lived in Cleveland, OH and Los Angeles, CA where she owned a creative agency and recording studio. Upon moving to Michigan, she continued her marketing wizardry by joining Green Path Financial W

Raised on Detroit’s west side, Marseille always saw community service as a part of life, an example set by her parents who were both youth missionaries. So, it was no surprise to friends and family when she selected Wellesley College in Massachusetts after graduating with its belief that every woman can—and should—make a meaningful contribution to her world. After graduating she served as the assistant to the Majority Counsel for the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee under the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. After September 11th, she followed her supervisor to the Center for Community Change, and then later relocated to Korea to teach English. Upon her return to the United States, she served as a truancy officer until joining the Michigan Department of Corrections. In 2013 while supervising US military Veterans on Felony probation, she co-founded the Oakland County Combat Veterans Treatment Court, one of two combat-only courts in the country. Later she founded the Warriors Trust Fund a nonpr

For many the LGBT community in Metro Detroit is centered in Ferndale, Michigan. It has been the home of Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center since 1989. For many years, the city was the home of Motor City Pride before it moved to Detroit in 2011, and continues to host Ferndale Pride each June. The city, located just north of Detroit, is recognized for its diversity and inclusion, cozy neighborhoods and burgeoning business district. At the helm of “Fabulous Ferndale” is our guest Mayor Dave Coulter. Raised on the east side of Detroit, he broke with tradition moving west & settling in Ferndale. He was elected to the Oakland County Commission and served four terms on the Commission. Coulter was appointed Mayor of Ferndale in January 2011 after his predecessor resigned. He was then elected to the two-year position in November 2011. He was re-elected in 2013 and 2015. He is Ferndale’s second openly gay Mayor. He has worked as a civil engineering draftsman and school teacher. He served as the executive

IMAM DAAYIEE ABDULLAH is said to be one of three openly gay Imams in the world. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he credits his parents with encouraging him and giving him the freedom to find his own spiritual path. His parents supported him and his to find religion despite their personal Southern Baptist beliefs. When he was 8 years old, he visited a Synagogue, a Hindu temple, and an assortment of Christian denominations. He continued to search for a religion he could put his faith into and converted to Islam at age 30.He lectures nationally and internationally on progressive Muslim concepts, intra-faith and interfaith networking, and the development of inclusive and progressive revisions of Islamic theological thought and Islamic law. He actively promotes understanding and awareness of issues of racial, gender and sexual equality as understood in the UN Declaration of Human Rights within and beyond Muslim communities. He is Executive Director of MECCA Institute (Muslim Education Center for Creative Academics), a