Kreuzer Commits to Continued Leadership at LGBTQ+ Advocacy Nonprofit

Rickie Kreuzer, Executive Director & Board President, He/Him/His

Chosen Family of Michigan is excited to announce that they have officially hired Rickie Kreuzer as their Executive Director. Kreuzer, who also serves as the Board President, has been the part-time Executive Director on a mostly volunteer basis since the founding of the organization in May of 2022. With a recently approved strategic plan, 2 fundraising galas completed, and an intensive summer grant-writing process, the Board of Directors is proud of the direction of the organization and is thankful for the support of the community that has allowed them to officially hire a paid Executive Director. While the Board focuses on governance & guiding the organization, the Executive Director will focus on day-to-day operations and programming as the organization continues to grow.

“I am excited to continue serving our community in this expanded capacity. CFM has many exciting initiatives ahead and I look forward to partnering with the Board and our community partners to combat the attacks on our community and to uplift LGBTQ+ people into safety and opportunity.”

Kreuzer is degreed in Business Administration, and has worked in various LGBTQ+ advocacy & voter education/organizing positions in the past 5 years. He currently serves on the Michigan HIV/AIDS Council within the Department of Health & Human Services, as well as on the Policy & Advocacy Subcommittee. He also serves on the American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan’s DEI Committee. In 2022, Kreuzer was appointed by Governor Whitmer, with Senate consent, to the State Board of Nursing, where he additionally serves on the Education Subcommittee, the Rules Subcommittee, & the Disciplinary Subcommittee.

Chosen Family of Michigan is an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, providing diversity, equity and inclusion workshops and consulting services, policy and advocacy programs including a volunteer-led Policy Squad, and a soon-to-be launched homeless youth initiative entitled “Dandelion Homes.” In the midst of unprecedented attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, the need to build understanding and respect in communities is needed now more than ever. To learn more or to support our programs with a tax-deductible contribution, go to www.chosenfamilyofmichigan.org

Additionally, CFM has two additional openings on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us at info@chosenfamilyofmichigan.org Individuals of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply!

Name Change Guide- Out Now!

We are excited to announce the release of our Name Change Guide! Although the same process is utilized for anyone looking to change their name, this Guide was developed as one our 2023 Policy Squad (formerly known as the Policy Committee) initiatives in order to help answer a frequently asked question from transgender members of our community- "Where do I begin?" The volunteer who took the lead on this initiative identifies as transgender & is navigating this name-change process herself! This guide not only provides step-by-step information, but also has a QR code that brings you to a landing page that has all of the relevant court forms linked for you to download & complete! You can find the guide & all of the court forms here.

Of course, we can only provide legal information, not legal advice. If you need legal counsel, we are happy to refer you to a gender-affirming attorney. Use the "Get In Touch" page for any referrals or further inquiries.

The name-change process not only serves as an important part of gender affirmation for many transgender individuals- helping to reduce suicide rates- but also provides legal documents that match your chosen name which can help prevent discrimination, hate crimes, or unintentional outing caused by the mismatch between your chosen name & your legal documents.

We know the name-change process itself could be improved. An example of this is that your name-change court date must be posted in your local paper, rather than just on the court website like many other types of cases. This type of direct outreach could "out" people in their own communities, leading to potential safety issues or harassment, which might prevent some transgender individuals from wanting to go through this process. Although CFM understands the importance of public hearings & posting dates, it is our belief that if posting the dates on the court website suffices for other types of cases, it should suffice for this type of case as well. Additionally, having to post this in your local newspaper comes with additional financial costs that other types of cases wouldn't have.

Ultimately, we hope this guide helps you. If you need a more accessible version, please contact us & we can send a version that can be used by screen reading software.

If you are interested in working on initiatives like this, please consider joining our Policy Squad. Other initiatives this year include LGBTQ+ book-ban prevention & gender-affirming healthcare. Meetings are monthly, via Google Meetings. Sign up here!

Statement on the Establishment of the Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission

Governor Whitmer signed an Executive Order on Sunday at Motor City Pride in Detroit establishing an LGBTQ+ Commission. This commission will advise the Executive Office & the Director of Labor & Economic Opportunity on issues involving health, safety, economic opportunity & talent retention for the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout 2023, we have seen the state take initiative on celebrating diversity, pass equitable laws & now has taken the additional step to work towards inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. As an organization that focuses on DEI, we applaud this step. It fits directly into our vision of "a Michigan that uplifts the LGBTQ+ community through equity, understanding & opportunity."

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