Update from the Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy (MPIPP)
A cooperative program of the Michigan Psychological Association, the MPA Foundation, The American Psychological Association and The Rockway Institute at Alliant International University.

7/2/09

From Sara Van Wormer, Project Coordinator

We are very excited to announce the Kalamazoo anti-discrimination ordinance was unanimously passed by the city’s commissioners on Monday night. According to Amy Hunter of the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center, it was educational material provided by MPIPP that likely contributed to the 7-0 vote. Opponents of the ordinance are already working to petition for the ordinance to be rescinded and the issue be put on the November ballot. Our project will continue to be involved in educating the community of the negative mental health consequences of discrimination against the LGBT community. If you are interested in helping with this effort in Kalamazoo, please let me know.

On June 13^th, I traveled to Grand Rapids to speak at an anti-reparative therapy rally organized by the Grand Rapids chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Truth Wins Out. Among others, attendees included George Heartwell-Mayor of Grand Rapids, Wayne Besen-Executive Director of Truth Wins Out, Colette Beighley-Assistant Director of GVSU’s LGBT Resource Center and Ashley Nickels-President of the Grand Rapids NOW chapter. I presented information about how the mental health and medical community denounces and rejects so-called “reparative” or “conversion” therapy. The rally was hosted to counteract the claims by Love Won Out and other ex-gay ministries that gays and lesbians can become straight through these “therapies.” Special thanks to Ashley Nickels and Colette Beighley for inviting MPIPP to speak at this event.

May 29^th marked the publishing of an op-ed collaboratively authored by MPIPP staff and volunteer Patrick McAlvey in the Lansing State Journal. I have attached the print version of the piece which details the devastating mental health consequences of children being bullied because they are perceived to be gay or transgender. Project volunteers are encouraged to submit follow-up letters to the editor supporting the piece. Suggestions would be to include either your professional experiences working with victims of bullying or research/data demonstrating the negative impact of bullying on LGBT youth. If you are interested, please contact me.

Finally, we are happy to report that the Arcus Foundation invited us to submit a grant proposal for  another year of funding. We sent the proposal in last week accompanied by several strong letters of support from organizations and community leaders we have worked with this year including the Triangle Foundation, Michigan Equality, PFLAG, ACLU and the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center. It is clear that our project goal of providing sound, psychological research and data regarding the LGB T community is making a strong impact in our state.

Enjoy the holiday and stay tuned……

Sara Van Wormer, MA
Project Coordinator
Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy (MPIPP)