Michigan

Celebrating Michigan’s transgender community in a time of angst and uncertainty

Published

6 months ago

May 6, 2025

Celebrating Michigan’s transgender community in a time of angst and uncertainty

Stand with Trans, a southeast Michigan organization established to help transgender young people with counseling and support, is to celebrate its 10^th anniversary at a gala on May 17 — a milestone its leader, Roz Keith, says is especially important to commemorate, considering the angst and upset members of the transgender community are experiencing as the result of President Donald Trump’s anti-trans executive orders.

Stand with Trans facilitates mental health counseling for transgender young people throughout Michigan, offers virtual and in-person support groups for them and their families, and acts as a national clearinghouse for information on trans issues. Keith, who serves as the group’s executive director, founded Stand with Trans because she and her family were unable to find resources when her son came out as transgender at age 13.

The Free Press interviewed Keith ahead of Stand with Trans’ first-ever gala, scheduled to be held at the Henry Ford Health Pistons Performance Center in Detroit. The group planned a 5-year celebration but scrapped it due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We knew we couldn’t let a decade go by without celebrating in some big way,” Keith said. The event, called Love Transcends: 10 Years of Trans Empowerment, is sold out. For information on the organization: standwithtrans.org.

Keith’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.

On the significance of Stand with Trans’ gala:

“We couldn’t have known what was going to happen when we started the planning, but especially given what’s going on, there’s so much upset and anxiety that this is just such a great way to celebrate the joy and celebrate trans identities. And also, 10 years is a big deal. There are small nonprofits that don’t make it 10 years and we are specifically focused on this marginalized community and there’s been so much over the years … Just the battles, whether it’s about the bathroom … or using the right pronouns for a child in school, rights, access to gender-affirming care, there are so many potential complications and roadblocks and just a lot of barriers to access for the community. So the fact that Stand with Trans is here 10 years later. We’ve grown. We are providing resources, we are helping thousands and thousands of people. The work is really lifesaving. … People all over the country can contact us and say, ‘I’m looking for a therapist or I need to know how to get my name changed or (ask) what’s going on with passports right now.’ “

On the climate for transgender people:

“It’s really, really scary. We know that executive orders don’t equal the law, but nonetheless, it’s scary and people are worried that their gender-affirming care access is going to be taken away, (that) they’re not going to be able to get their life-saving hormones, that they’re not going to be able to access legal documents that reflect who they are. I mean, could you imagine if you’re asked for your ID and the picture and the name don’t have anything to do with who you are? … I keep saying we’re living in dystopian times. But people are really frightened. … I have to work on keeping morale up among my staff. …Most of the staff are part of the community… They’re struggling just like everybody else.”

On gala sponsorship in the current climate:

“We are getting a lot of nos from corporate partners and we’re getting smaller contributions from corporate partners, if we’re getting anything. There are still some who are right there with us. But we’re getting a lot of corporate speak about how priorities have shifted. … Sponsorship is definitely off from what I had hoped. … The last event we had was before the election, in October … things were off a bit, but not in the way they are now. … We’re probably about 20% off from what I projected.”

On inquiries from people looking for help:

“We’re getting more. I think the first couple of weeks after the inauguration our website visits went up by 150%. … People are desperate for information and they’re desperate for help.”

On whether the climate for transgender people will change for the better:

“I have to believe that, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed. But I think it’s going to take a lot of loud voices. A lot of the rallies, the work that the ACLU is doing and Lambda Legal and Equality Michigan and all of the Equality federations across the country and really smart Supreme Court justices who, as we know, we have a conservative majority but they also are representing the law and the Constitution and so, if nothing else, we need to hang onto that lifeline, that we do have a constitution in place. So, fingers crossed, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for a few years, but I think we’re going to get out of this.”

Contact Georgea Kovanis: gkovanis@freepress.com

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Michigan

Lake effect showers continue across part of Michigan today, then we’ll see a switch

Published

7 hours ago

October 24, 2025

Press Room

Lake effect showers continue across part of Michigan today, then we’ll see a switch

We can expect some scattered showers this morning as the last of the soggy weather moves across Michigan. But then a high-pressure system will be moving in.

This will bring dry weather and a chance for daytime temperatures to warm up a little bit for the weekend.

Some areas of the state could brush 60 degrees by Sunday.

Here are the forecast highlights from the National Weather Service offices across Michigan:

Rain showers will persist across eastern and northern Michigan through Friday afternoon, with some wet snowflakes possibly mixing in over the high terrain of the Upper Peninsula.

Temperatures will remain cool statewide with highs in the 40s to low 50s.

The most persistent shower activity will be in the eastern Upper Peninsula and northeastern Lower Peninsula, particularly in western Alger County where up to 0.40 inches of rainfall is expected.

Northwest winds of 15-25 mph will gradually diminish through the day as high pressure builds across the region.

Frost and freeze conditions are likely Friday night, especially away from the lakeshores, with temperatures falling into the upper 20s to mid-30s across most of Michigan. The growing season has already been declared over for all Michigan counties, so no additional freeze warnings are anticipated.

The weekend will bring improving conditions statewide as high pressure settles overhead. Saturday will feature diminishing clouds and temperatures in the low to mid-50s. Sunday looks even milder with highs reaching the mid to upper 50s across most of Michigan, with some areas approaching 60 degrees.

The extended forecast shows continued mild temperatures into early next week, with highs near 60 degrees on Monday. Dry weather will prevail through Monday before precipitation chances gradually increase by midweek as a complex weather pattern develops.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from the National Weather Service. It was reviewed, edited and expanded by MLive staff.

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Michigan

Fox’s Joel Klatt picks winner of Michigan vs. MSU, best bet for the game

Published

1 day ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

Fox’s Joel Klatt picks winner of Michigan vs. MSU, best bet for the game

Michigan will enter East Lansing as a sizable favorite over rival Michigan State this weekend. The Wolverines have defeated MSU in the past three contests and Michigan is expected to do the same this weekend. Now, with rivalry games, anything can happen, but there is a clear talent discrepancy.

Michigan knows it has to win out if the Wolverines hope to make the College Football Playoff and MSU has really struggled, losing its last four games.

While Michigan is expected to win the game, who covers the spread? The Wolverines are now a 14.5 point favorite, and Fox analyst Joel Klatt helped break down the game and gave his opinion on the line.

Klatt believes Michigan is going to win this game, but again, it’s a rivalry game, and the Spartans should throw everything at the Wolverines. Jonathan Smith could go deep in the playbook to pull out some trickery. While Klatt sees Michigan winning the game, he thinks Michigan State will cover.

“The only thing for me on the Michigan State side is that this is a kitchen sink type of game. You throw the kitchen sink at Michigan, you’re at home. It’s a rivalry game,” said Klatt.

“And let’s face it, Michigan has not run away from anybody this year. So the 14.5 looks like a big number. The score that I land on is Michigan 30 -17, which means a 13-point win, which means I’m going to take the home points for Michigan State.”

Klatt talked about how Michigan unlocked the ‘Rubik’s Cube’ last weekend against Washington. It was a vintage Michigan win. The Wolverines blocked well, ran the ball hard, and QB Bryce Underwood played as efficiently as he had all season. Andrew Marsh has emerged as a top target for Underwood and the Wolverines’ defense was fantastic.

Michigan State doesn’t do anything well on the defensive end. Run defense is poor and Jordan Marshall could be in store for a big game. While Klatt is correct that MSU could pull out all the stops, Michigan is still the better team.

14.5 points is a lot on the road against a rival, but if the Wolverines play their game, against a struggling MSU defense, Michigan should be able to get it done.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Michigan small businesses benefit from overseas trade missions

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2025

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Michigan small businesses benefit from overseas trade missions

TROY, Mich. (FOX 2) – The backbone of Michigan’s economy has and continues to be manufacturing, which is why two times a year the state sends 10 small businesses overseas only to return with new customers.

Big picture view:

It’s all thanks to Troy’s Automation Alley and it has worked to the tune of $2.3 billion in new business.

This story starts in the middle with, well, the middle man.

“We want to see our children stay here like everybody,” said Tom Kelly, the CEO of Automation Alley. “And we have to create vibrant communities. One of the backbones of Michigan is manufacturing.”

Kelly leads the team at Automation Alley in Troy. Think of them as the bridge that brings Michigan manufacturers directly to the customers.

“There are 12,000 manufacturers in Michigan, we have 4,000 as members,” he said.

He says they have a formula that is proven – and works.

“We take them to these foreign countries, we set up appointments with companies that want to buy their products, and we help them close the deals,” he said. “Since we started, we have generated over $2.3 billion dollars for small manufacturers.”

The two trips coming up with take ten of these small businesses to Querétaro, Mexico in February and Paris, France in June of next year.

“By the way, here’s the kicker, it’s actually subsidized by the State of Michigan,” Kelly said. “So we can cover up to half of your travel expenses on these trade missions because guess what? It’s a huge win for the State of Michigan if you become a net exporter of your product to other countries.”

For those who may be thinking this is only a free trip – think again. Automation Alley has been putting on these trade missions for years.

“We have the relationships, we know who they should be meeting with, and people are people all over the world,” Kelly said.

Those relationships usually lead to lasting relationships, he added.

Automation Alley is an non-profit funded through donor businesses who know the value of Michigan manufacturing.

While the trade missions are important, it’s not all the only thing that happens here.

“Trade missions are only twice a year,” Kelly said. “We have programming all year long that helps you understand Artificial Intelligence, help you make a choice on what robot should I buy. What kind of systems do I need to consider, what are my peers doing in manufacturing that I can emulate and be successful like them.

“All of these things are available free of charge to all 12,000 manufactures in the State of Michigan.”

If you’d like to find out how to sign up your business to take advantage of the trade missions or other programs, just visit automationalley.com