Planting Seeds: 2022 Annual Report to the Community

We are pleased to announce the release of our 2022 Annual Report, highlighting our efforts over the past year as well as taking a brief look at our financial position. Planning for CFM began in April 2022, with the Articles of Incorporation approved by the State on May 17th, followed by an official launch on June 1st, 2022. This year, we celebrated our anniversary on May 17th at the 1st Annual Dandelion Dinner & Awards, which also happened to be the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia. It was wonderful to gather as a community on this special day to take a look back over the past year, as well as a look ahead. Additionally, we were able to celebrate members of our community who have been advocates for our community.

A few highlights of the annual report include:

1. Our Planting Seeds launch fundraiser raised enough funding to cover all of our start-up costs.

2. Partnering with the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan to gather signatures to petition the FDA to rescind the MSM blood donation ban, which they did this month.

3. Encouraging pro-equity State House & Senate members to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include explicit protections for sexual orientation & gender identity, which they did earlier this year.

4. Despite start-up costs & only having a partial year to begin seeking funding, we ended the year net positive- a difficult task for any new organization or business.

The full report can be viewed here.

Most importantly, we want to thank the community for their support over the past year-whether it was through a donation, attending an event, donating volunteer hours, or hiring us for a DEI workshop. We hope we can count on your support as we continue to grow, together.

Statement on FDA Easing Restrictions on MSM Blood Donations

Over the past year, CFM has been active in working with the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan to petition the FDA to overturn the blood donation ban on men-who-have-sex-with men (MSM) & women-who-have-sex-with-MSM. We applaud the FDA decision to end this ban, instead replacing it with a general risk-assessment. Protecting the public health can be balanced with non-discrimination by recognizing that anyone engaged in non-monogamous sexual behavior is at higher risk of HIV & it is not exclusive to gay or bisexual men. The message the MSM ban always sent was one of discrimination & placed further stigma on gay & bisexual men.

CFM recognizes that although this updated policy is progress, that many LGBTQ+ people will still have to wait 3 months after each sexual encounter to donate blood if they are on PrEP. It is clear further studies & further conversation needs to occur to determine whether PrEP medications truly impact the results when testing blood for HIV prior to a blood transfusion. In the meantime, this updated language will allow women-who-have-sex-with-MSM to donate blood without additional restrictions, as well as men who only have monogamous sex with their spouse. The refocus on sexual behavior instead of sexual orientation is an important step forward. In the midst of recent blood shortages, we hope this change in policy will help to increase the blood supply & save lives.

Please help us continue to advocate for improvements by making a tax-deductible donation at chosenfamilyofmichigan.org

Statement on LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Protections Becoming State Law

Chosen Family of Michigan celebrates the expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act being signed into law by Governor Whitmer. Expanding our state's civil rights law to explicitly include sexual orientation & gender identity/expression is long overdue. Although we still have work to do to enshrine protections in federal civil rights law, today's signing has brought us one step closer to CFM's vision of creating "a Michigan that uplifts the LGBTQ+ community through equity, understanding & opportunity." We will continue the work of building acceptance & inclusion not just in law, but in the hearts & minds of our fellow Americans.

Please help us continue to fight by making a tax-deductible donation at chosenfamilyofmichigan.org