April 1, 1967 – March 18, 2016
Mary Beth Dietz earned a B.A. in English from Michigan State University and taught English in Wisconsin before returning to school to become a chiropractor. She and LeAnne Ray became the first same-sex couple married in Michigan City, Indiana.
Grosse Pointe News, March 24, 2016
January 12, 1951 – August 10, 1995
A descendant of the Kellogg cereal family, John Kellogg in the 1970s migrated from west Michigan to San Francisco where he worked in gay businesses, including the adult film industry. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 44.
April 9, 1991 – June 12, 2016
Tevin Eugene Crosby owned and operated the Saginaw marketing firm Total Entrepreneurs Concepts. He was killed in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016 at age 25.
June 1, 1984 – June 12, 2016
Detroit native Christopher Andrew “Drew” Leinonen moved to Florida just before high school and made a career as a psychologist. He was killed in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016 at age 32.
August 15, 1945 – September 24, 1996
At the time of her death at age 51, Linda Petersen served as director of client services for AIDS Partnership Michigan.
August 12, 1930 – May 17, 1995
Bramwell Franklin, better known to audiences as “Chi-Chi,” performed comedic routines at the Ten Eleven and other bars throughout Detroit from the late 1940s to the late 1970s.
Died October 23, 2011
Michelle Hilliard, a 19-year-old trans sex worker who enjoyed photography and music, was slain in Detroit in the early morning hours of October 23, 2011.
Between The Lines, November 17, 2011
Between The Lines, December 8, 2011
Trailer for Treasure: From Tragedy to Trans Justice, Mapping a Detroit Story
July 11, 1920 – February 28, 2004
Active in the Lansing women’s community and such groups as Sistrum and PFLAG, Lorraine Leroux helped two lesbians escape from a Minnesota mental hospital in the 1950s.
Between The Lines, April 1, 2004
Lesbian Connection, May/June 2004
December 29, 1949 – December 30, 2004
Deb LeVoir was a co-founder in 1978 of Moonrise, the first organization for lesbians in Flint, and volunteered as a community producer for the radio program Face the Music on public station WFBE.
December 22, 1940 – March 22, 1993
Oak Park resident Mike Love was a quality control supervisor at the Dearborn Engine plant at Ford. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 52.
Michigan LGBTQ Remember 