1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Michigan Humanities' investment in the "Century of Progress" exhibit at the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center is exactly the kind of work our state should be funding more of. This exhibit documents over 100 years of LGBTQ life in Michigan — oral histories, 2,000 digitized photographs and documents, and a timeline connecting local stories to national milestones like Stonewall and the 2015 marriage equality ruling. That history deserves a permanent home and sustained public support. The Saugatuck-Douglas History Center has been doing this work since 2006, partnering with Grand Valley State University and recording 40 hours of interviews with community members. Stories like those of Glenna DeJong and Marsha Caspar — who fought the state of Michigan in Caspar v. Snyder to have their marriage recognized — are Michigan history, full stop. Please support continued state funding for LGBTQ history preservation and humanities grants that make projects like this possible.