State Grant Aimed at Improving Health Care for Lgbtq+ Patients

"When I came out in the '90s, it wasn't safe," says the director of Transgender Michigan.

"But Michigan is now one of the safest states to come out in."

The state has allocated $10 million to improve health services for LGBTQ residents, the Detroit Free Press reports.

MaryJo Schnell, executive director of OutCenter in Benton Harbor, says the money will help pay for salaries and education workshops that the organization hosts for health professionals.

"A lot of family practices don't have the funds for professional development," she says.

"We didn't want that to be a barrier to their participation, especially if they're coming in the door saying 'we need it.'" OutCenter plans to use the money when it arrives from the state for its LGBTQ+ Competent Healthcare and Patient Safety Project, which will also use United Way funding.

Schnell says many LGBTQ individuals have a fear of seeking medical help because they feel doctors may not understand transgender issues, thus contributing to inequality in health services.

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