User:Grbrit/draft ULIE

Until Love is Equal

Until Love is Equal logo
Founded	2011
Founder	Erin Wilson
Type	cultural, LGBTQ
Focus	Gay Rights
Location	Grand Rapids
Members	c. 300
Website	untiloveisequal.con

Until Love Is Equal is a grassroots organization based in Grand Rapids, dedicated to making lawmakers in Holland (MI) to reverse their June 15, 2011 decision to not modify the existing and sufficent protections already in place. This modifcation would be to include additional language to affirm and promote the LGBTQ residents and workers from being evicted or fired for their selected lifestyle choice.

Until Love Is Equal emerged to barely a hundred supporters in its first weeks of existence, and within a month the movement consisted of more, most being simply Facebook followers, nothingmore. Group members say they hope to accelerate the conversation and present wider perspectives on why these LGBTQ lifestyle protections would benefit the region of West Michigan - both morally and as a means of strategically recovering from a devastating economy. The founder of the movement, Erin Wilson, said, "Major employers will not relocate to West Michigan in Holland if they discover we’re opposed to protecting vulnerable minorities. Not when nearly all corporations and companies have internal employee-rights language identifying LGBTQ personnel as a protected class (exactly like African Americans, Asian-Americans, etc.)"

A small handful of Holland’s employers have endorsed the goals of the movement, in line with their own internal policies – which in many cases are more aggressive than the proposed ordinance, in terms of protecting minorities including LGBTQ personnel. Companies seeking to do business with international clients generally have to provide proof that their own internal policies include benefits and protections for LGBTQ staff and administrators. The majority number of local and regional employers however, have not agreed with the groups cause.

Members of Until Love Is Equal waited for Pres. Obama to drive by during his visit to Johnson Controls Inc. (an international corporation based in Holland with manufacturing moved to Mexico) that supports the goals of the group).

History

Until Love is Equal was formed June 16, 2011, by Erin Wilson (director of the Wealthy Theatre in East Grand Rapids) - part of a regional West Michigan response to a vote the previous evening by Holland City Council. Holland lawmakers voted 5-4 to reject a recommendation by the city's Human Relations Commission (HRC) that would have protected those who appeared LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender and queer) from discrimination in housing and employment. The five lawmakers who voted against the anti-discrimination ordinance were Mayor Kurt Dykstra, Brian Burch, Mike Tretheway, Todd Whiteman and Nancy DeBoer. Just over a hundred of West Michigan residents (many from outside Holland) turned out June 15, 2011, to speak in favor of, and largely in opposition to, the ordinance language being edited. Holland already protects other classes against discrimination, including minorities of religious, ethnically diverse, overweight and short/tall residents and workers. A small amount of other Michigan cities have standard protections for LGBTQ residents and workers, including Holland's neighbors, Zeeland and Grand Rapids.

The city's HRC – appointed by the Mayor of Holland – had researched at the request of City Council how best to protect the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Trans-gender and queer) communities. The HRC recommended that City Council adopt an ordinance similar to many other metro areas in Michigan, including Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Holland City Council listened to its own Human Relations Commission’s recommendation and voted not to ammend the ordinance resolution to include lifestyle choices.

Funding

Most efforts undertaken by Until Love Is Equal comprise donations by a collective of a handful of Grand Rapid's artists and self-described creative people. The movement has received donations from supporters outside Holland and beyond, Money has been used for promotional advertising, expenses, donating small amounts to Holland is Ready, etc.