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    "html": "<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For generations, LGBTQ+ communities have organized for legal protections, safety, recognition, and equal treatment under the law. Voting, advocacy, public accountability, and community organizing have all been part of that work.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Pride Month continues, VAAC’s next Friday Community Meeting will focus on the connection between LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, voting rights, and democracy.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This week, VAAC will be joined by:</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">🌟 <strong>Roland Leggett</strong>, Election Protection Manager, Michigan League of Conservation Voters<br>🌟 <strong>A. Nzere Kwabena</strong>, Executive Director, LGBT Detroit</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The discussion will include <a href=\"https://equalitymi.org/michigan-passes-the-elliott-larsen-civil-rights-act-amendment/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22551137013&amp;gbraid=0AAAAA_SpbyCmxKYtew1XZ3O-LUE3U5Tg_&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwrs7RBhDuARIsAIVfBD1aS-ruPKwQvMP9cngruIW2Y-xZZssT4fMbx0EYTW8L8gp4oKYLbi4aAnuqEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act</a>, which protects people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. <a href=\"https://equalitymi.org/michigan-passes-the-elliott-larsen-civil-rights-act-amendment/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22429636003&amp;gbraid=0AAAAA_SpbyD3tEl7Q3c7CC7X8TSBEPuOR&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwrs7RBhDuARIsAIVfBD0Mw-qizLy5GKxRQv55JTGtYbw0wnXz_vm7EjbC6nI7AIFruirVjf4aAgf2EALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In 2023, Michigan expanded the law to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.</a></p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This meeting will look at what these protections mean in everyday life, how civic engagement helped expand them in Michigan, and why voting rights remain connected to civil rights protections.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Join Voting Access For All Coalition (VAAC) on June 26th from 12:30 – 1:30 PM EST, virtually on Zoom at <a href=\"https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85166367346?pwd=rOgR4lGRTvRDjeEQMI3IpvotOgqxlj.1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bit.ly/VAACFridays</a> for this community conversation.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This meeting will cover:</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">• The connection between LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and voting rights<br>• Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act<br>• How civic engagement helped expand LGBTQ+ civil rights protections in Michigan<br>• Current challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities<br>• Community discussion and questions</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VAAC Friday meetings bring together directly impacted people, organizers, advocates, and community members from across Michigan to connect, learn, and build collective strategy.</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone is welcome! ✨</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creating space for conversation, healing, and community. Your voice is important!</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upcoming meeting dates:</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">🗓️ July 17</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">🗓️ July 31</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">🗓️ August 14</p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">🗓️ August 28</p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https://votingaccessforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-VAAC-Meeting-26-June-2026-guest-speakers-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-252833\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7998128780031409;width:623px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https://votingaccessforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-VAAC-Meeting-26-June-2026-guest-speakers-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://votingaccessforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-VAAC-Meeting-26-June-2026-guest-speakers-240x300.jpg 240w, https://votingaccessforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-VAAC-Meeting-26-June-2026-guest-speakers-768x960.jpg 768w, https://votingaccessforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-VAAC-Meeting-26-June-2026-guest-speakers-10x12.jpg 10w, https://votingaccessforall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Friday-VAAC-Meeting-26-June-2026-guest-speakers.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" /></figure>"
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  "description": "Today’s VAAC Friday Community Meeting, From Civil Rights to Voting Rights: Democracy and LGBTQ+ Communities, will feature Roland Leggett of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and A. Nzere Kwabena of LGBT Detroit. The Pride Month conversation will focus on LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, voting rights, democracy, Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and current challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities.",
  "path": "/2026/06/next-vaac-friday-community-meeting-from-civil-rights-to-voting-rights-democracy-and-lgbtq-communities-on-june-26th/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-26T04:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:k2t36bznnetjq4xqb4he4nb4/site.standard.publication/3mp5c7ij3jte2",
  "tags": [
    "Events",
    "LGBTQIA+",
    "Pride Month"
  ],
  "textContent": "For generations, LGBTQ+ communities have organized for legal protections, safety, recognition, and equal treatment under the law. Voting, advocacy, public accountability, and community organizing have all been part of that work. As Pride Month continues, VAAC’s next Friday Community Meeting will focus on the connection between LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, voting rights, and democracy. This week, VAAC will be joined by: 🌟 Roland Leggett, Election Protection Manager, Michigan League of Conservation Voters🌟 A. Nzere Kwabena, Executive Director, LGBT Detroit The discussion will include Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which protects people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. In 2023, Michigan expanded the law to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. This meeting will look at what these protections mean in everyday life, how civic engagement helped expand them in Michigan, and why voting rights remain connected to civil rights protections. Join Voting Access For All Coalition (VAAC) on June 26th from 12:30 – 1:30 PM EST, virtually on Zoom at bit.ly/VAACFridays for this community conversation. This meeting will cover: • The connection between LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and voting rights• Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act• How civic engagement helped expand LGBTQ+ civil rights protections in Michigan• Current challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities• Community discussion and questions VAAC Friday meetings bring together directly impacted people, organizers, advocates, and community members from across Michigan to connect, learn, and build collective strategy. Everyone is welcome! ✨ Creating space for conversation, healing, and community. Your voice is important! Upcoming meeting dates: 🗓️ July 17 🗓️ July 31 🗓️ August 14 🗓️ August 28",
  "title": "Today’s VAAC Friday Community Meeting: From Civil Rights to Voting Rights: Democracy and LGBTQ+ Communities | June 26th",
  "updatedAt": "2026-07-02T18:56:22.000Z"
}