Henry Ford College provides resources and support for the LGBTQ+ community

Henry Ford College is proudly a Welcoming College. This includes welcoming our students, faculty, and staff who identify as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community.

HFC is also proud of being a place where everyone can be safe to learn and grow in a respectful way, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

HFC's goal is to provide a safe environment for all students, free from intimidation and discrimination, and with an open and welcoming stance toward all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. HFC prohibits and will take prompt action against discrimination, harassment, and violence.

Pride Awareness Month

June is Pride Awareness Month, which recognizes the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on equality and civil rights locally, nationally, and globally. It aims to increase understanding of and reduce violence and discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people.

Pride Awareness Month commemorates the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June in 1969. The Stonewall Riots were a series of demonstrations by members of the LBGTQ community in response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village in New York City.

Police raids on gay bars were commonplace in the 1960s. However, the NYPD quickly lost control of the situation at the Stonewall Inn, where tensions between gay residents and the police erupted into protests that ran for several days and nights. Greenwich Village residents formed activist groups to concentrate efforts on establishing places for homosexuals to be open about their sexual orientation without fear of being arrested.

On June 28, 1970, the first gay pride marches occurred in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Several years after the riots, gay rights organizations were founded across the nation. In 2016, the Stonewall National Monument is the first U.S. National Monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and history.

HFC Internal Resources

There are many resources on the HFC campus to support LBGTQ students to get the most out of their time here at College.

SAGA (The Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club): For more information, contact Troy Gibson at tgibson3@hfcc.edu.

SAFE@HFC: is a campus organization comprising faculty and staff LGBTQ+ allies and community members who are spreading awareness on campus, providing support, and connecting students and employees to resources. To learn more about employee resources and getting involved, contact safe@hfcc.edu

Campus Safety: When threatened or confronted with an emergency, call Campus Safety at 9911 from a campus phone or (313) 845-9630 from an outside phone. Campus Safety can also be reached through your HFC Reach Out App and by email at campussafety@hfcc.edu.

Counseling Center: HFC provides both academic and personal support to support your success as you pursue your education.

Student Outreach and Support (SOS): Contact Dr. Brenda Hildreth at 313-845-96111 or bjhildreth@hfcc.edu.

The Office of Student Conduct and Title IX: Any student who believes he/she has been subjected to any type of discrimination or sexual harassment must report the incident(s) to the attention of the Student Title IX Coordinator. HFC will investigate each complaint thoroughly and confidentially. Contact: Munira Kassim at 313-845-6301 or mmkassim@hfcc.edu. For additional resources, visit https://www.hfcc.edu/student-rights.

HFC External Resources

There are also services and resources outside of HFC available to LGBTQ+ students. These services and resources are not specifically endorsed by HFC; they are provided for informational purposes.

They are identified as having a mission to serve, or provide assistance to, the LGBTQ+ community and individuals. Some resources will also be of use to non-LGBTQ+ individuals, who are welcome to access these resources as well. These resources are listed below.

Crisis Hotlines
• The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) National Hotline
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• The National Runaway Safeline

Anti-Violence and Crime Victims Resources
• Equality for Michigan
• First Step
• The Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission (CVSC)
• Turning Point
• Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office – Victims Unit

Youth-Oriented Services/Older Adult Services
• The Trevor Project
• The Ruth Ellis Center
• The Ozone House
• The Covenant House
• Vista Maria
• Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

Latino/a Services
• Community Health and Social Services – LA VIDA

Advocacy and Support
• Affirmations of Ferndale
• Transgender Michigan
• Easter Seals of Michigan

Food Pantries and Clothing (Church and Non-Church Affiliated)
• Help’s on the Way Food Pantry & Clothes Closet
• Mother’s Pantry
• New Hope United Methodist Church
• Trinity Community Presbyterian Church
• First Assembly of God Church
• Sharon 7th Day Adventist Church
• St. Stephen AME Church
• Salvation Army – Dearborn Heights
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Homeless Shelters
• United Way of Southeastern Michigan
• Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS))
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
• Wayne County Family Center
• Cass Community Social Services
• United Way of Southeastern Michigan