An archival history of the early political organizing efforts by the Grand Rapids LGBTQ community – Part III

In Part I, I looked at the people from Grand Rapids who went to the LGBT march on Washington in 1987, how that was a catalyst for the creation of the Lesbian and Gay Community Network of Western Michigan. I also looked at archival records to show that one of the first priorities of The Network, was to organize a Pride Celebration in Grand Rapids.

In Part II, I looked at the archival history of how the Mayor of Grand Rapids refused to support the first few years of Pride, the exchanges between the Mayor and members of The Network, plus the ironic support they received from the Mayor of Holland, Michigan.

In Part III, I will look at the campaign to get the City of Grand Rapids to expand their anti-discrimination ordinance to finally include sexual orientation as something that could not be matter of discrimination. 

Once the Lesbian and Gay Community Network of Western Michigan had firmly established the annual Pride Celebration in Grand Rapids, they next set their sights on getting the City government to included sexual orientation in the local anti-discrimination ordinance. 

The campaign to include sexual orientation into the anti-discrimination ordinance began and 1991 and was finally won in 1994. There was a tremendous amount of pushback from people who saw the campaign as the LGBTQ community asking for “special treatment” instead of expanding civil rights. You can see from the video included here that there were huge public hearings held, along with a changed strategy after it was initially defeated.

Once the ordinance campaign was successful, the Lesbian and Gay Community Network of Western Michigan gathered for a celebration, which is reflected in the photos below.

In Part IV, I want to look at the AIDS organizing that was being done in the 80s and 90s in Grand Rapids, along with the obstacles that the LGBTQ community had to over come.