1. What Michigan Legal Help is doing right now.
Michigan Legal Help has recognized that the family landscape for same-sex couples has changed dramatically in the last three years. Prior to June 2015, it was illegal for same-sex couples to get married in Michigan (see DeBoer v. Snyder). When the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples had a fundamental right to marry in Obergefell v. Hodges same-sex Michiganders were then permitted to marry. This also opened the door to traditional legal issues that can accompany marriage. These issues include divorce, Personal-Protection Orders, custody disputes, asset disputes, and others. After June 2015, Low-Income LGBTQ individuals who encountered legal issues in their marriage needed pro-se legal services.
Michigan Legal Help has responded by writing articles that help same-sex couples navigate the legal terrain that can accompany marriage. These articles link to “Do-It-Yourself” tools that will populate court forms for family matters related to divorce, custody, and other legal issues. The articles do not just focus on the breakdown of a marriage, but they also focus on how same-sex couples can grow their families through adoption and custody. The articles also link to other parts of the website that will help individuals complete court forms. Ultimately Michigan Legal help has done a good job of putting resources on its website so that same-sex couples can access pro se tools. The tools do not use gendered pronouns and they allow for individuals to choose their spouse as being the same or different gender.
2. How I would improve what Michigan Legal Help is doing.
Michigan Legal Help is doing a great job of meeting the legal needs of low-income LGBTQ individuals, but there is always more that can be done. Family law is certainly the area where most of the specific issues for LGBTQ individuals will appear. All of the forms that are utilized by Michigan Legal Help are for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. I would survey courts, communities, and individuals to find out what the legal needs are for the LGBTQ community. I understand conceptually why there are unique legal issues in family law in Michigan because the law has changed drastically in the last three years (and that is why we have developed two articles focusing on same-sex couples in family law). But there are certainly other issues that LGBTQ individuals are facing, and it is silly to believe that we can answer those needs by guessing at what the community needs. Rather, it is smart to focus the energy Michigan Legal Help into the areas that are in the most need. You cannot find the areas that are in the most need unless you survey.
The LGBTQ community serves such a diverse population that articles focusing on the family are certainly missing other important legal aspects of the community. But again, it is silly for me or anyone else to speculate on what those areas are. The areas of need should be researched and then tools and articles should be developed to meet those needs. What I am advocating for is using the limited time, resources, and manpower of Michigan Legal Help in a smart and efficient manner. By reaching out to the LGBTQ community and letting the community tell Michigan Legal Help what it needs, then we are bringing those individuals into the fold and allowing them to have a greater voice. This builds a more inclusive and diverse environment.