Happy Pride Month!
Strong unions offer strong protections to LGBTQ+ workers. We celebrate the contributions of queer workers to our labor movement. In our own state federation, the growth of our Queer Caucus has highlighted just how many local leaders and rank-and-file union members across the state are also members of the LGBTQ+ community! Our AFT Michigan Queer Caucus has become a space for LGBTQ+ workers to learn together about rights, protections, strategy, and organizing, as well as to build relationships of fun and solidarity within our broader efforts to advance justice on the job and in our unions for BIPOC workers, international workers, and queer workers. The Queer Caucus is open to any AFT Michigan union member (including new locals in formation) or local staff members.
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and diverse, it is essential that our classrooms reflect this by fostering understanding, acceptance and unity. AFT’s Share My Lesson has a collection of teaching resources, blogs and professional development webinars dedicated to the crucial task of integrating LGBTQIA+ topics into PreK-12 education.
AFT Michigan Pride Party
AFT Michigan’s Queer Caucus kicked off Pride Month with a Pride House Party in Ferndale on Saturday, June 1. We gathered together to celebrate our annual event with fellow queer union members, family members, friends, and non-queer allies. After delicious food, yard games, and conversation, we walked to Ferndale Pride festivities and continued to have fun and uplift the broader LGBTQIA+ community. Thanks for a wonderful celebration!
The next Queer Caucus zoom meeting will be on Wednesday, August 28, at 5pm. If you are interested in learning more about the caucus or joining, please fill out this form or contact field representative Erin Lavin (they/she) at elavin@aftmichigan.org.
Motor City Pride Parade – June 9
Join over 50,0000 participants in Michigan’s largest pride celebration – The Motor City Pride Parade on June 9, 2024, step off at 12 noon. For more information click here.
June is PTSD Awareness Month
AFT offers Free trauma counseling exclusively for AFT members who are actively working or on leave to provide help and healing for our members.
Please visit our Members Only benefits page to get started.
A Word to the Wise on Mental Health – An Open Letter by Jeff Whittle
Jeff Whittle, former President of the Macomb ISD Fed of Paras and member of our Ad Board, has a powerful piece on the AFT Voices blog:
https://aftvoices.org/a-word-to-the-wise-on-mental-health-an-open-letter-602e76352dff
#EndGunViolence – Wear Orange this Weekend
Wear Orange Weekend is June 7-9, when we wear orange to remember those we’ve lost to gun violence. Please wear orange that weekend and post photos to social media with the hashtags #WearOrange and #EndGunViolence
From creating an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, to funding community violence intervention programs, to helping to pass the first bipartisan gun safety law in decades, the Biden administration has made important strides to reduce gun violence. But this effort is under attack from MAGA politicians, who want to repeal the Biden expansion of background checks as the first step toward implementing a Trump-National Rifle Association gun agenda.
We can’t let that happen. Tell Congress to protect background checks here.
Last year the administration expanded the definition of who is considered a firearms dealer and therefore is required to conduct background checks of potential buyers. A repeal of this expansion, which may cover 20,000 dealers, is being pushed in Congress by Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Andrew Clyde and has been endorsed by 44 Republican senators and more than 90 members of the House of Representatives.
Support Delta Airline Workers
AFT Book Club: Hear from Mike Hixenbaugh – June 9
June’s AFT Book Club session features AFT President Randi Weingarten and author Mike Hixenbaugh discussing Hixenbaugh’s new book, They Came for the Schools: One Town’s Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America’s Classrooms. Dive into an enlightening conversation as the author shares his insights into the intense educational battles shaking communities. He and Weingarten will explore contentious school board elections and how local conflicts are related to national trends. Don’t miss this crucial dialogue on the future of American education.
Contribute to the AFT Michigan PAC Today
AFT Michigan fights for our members, students and communities all year round and we need your help. Can you donate $1 a week to aid us in this fight? Please visit the AFT Michigan website to contribute and make a big difference in protecting public education and building a better Michigan future!
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
