Suits and the City, a social network for everyone
Suits and the City was founded in 2004 as a non-profit, social-networking organization for LGBT professionals in the greater Lansing area. Since then, Suits has evolved to be more inclusive (for example, LGBTQ+), both in terms of membership and sponsored activities. Suits and the City is a registered 501C3 organization with a board of directors that oversees its activities and direction. Our current board consists of three females and four males, and includes cis, trans, gay, bisexual and straight persons.
Currently, we sponsor monthly social-networking events at local bars, restaurants, hotels, shops and art galleries which are open to people from all walks of life. Monthly events are generally held on the first Wednesday of every month, from 6-8 p.m. Event attendees are inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations, and we welcome cis and straight allies as well.
In addition to monthly networking socials, Suits and the City has participated in numerous annual LGBTQ+ events including the Michigan Pride celebration, the Lansing Area Aids Network (LAAN) Gala, the Transgender Day of Remembrance, the City Pulse Inclusion Awards, and the LansingOut Holiday Concert.
Our board members serve on a variety of other local boards such as Sparrow Hospital Pride, Advocates and Leaders for Police Community Trust (ALPACT), Old Town Commercial Association, and newly-established Lansing Pride. We also support local sister organization financially, including donations to: The Salus Center, LansingOut, LAAN, and Teens Respecting and Understanding Each Other (TRUE).
In recent years, Suits and the City has sponsored two special events, a Turkey Waddle (on the day before Thanksgiving) and a St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl, to raise money for a scholarship fund. Suits and the City scholarships will be awarded to local LGBTQ+ high school students enrolling in a trade school, community college or four-year university. We are clearly more than our monthly networking event.
Our connection with local law enforcement has become closer this year. Suits and the City has been contracted by the Lansing Police Department to implement training sessions for police and correctional officers on LGBTQ+ issues. The first set of training sessions in 2021 was well received and has led to negotiations for further sessions in 2022.
During the pandemic, Suits and the City shut down its social activities and events, while continuing to meet (over Zoom) to discuss and plan future activities. We are at a crossroads in terms of our future service to the LGBTQ+ community of Greater Lansing. We plan a board retreat in 2022 to hash out where want to take the organization in the future.
A major interest is in adding advocacy to our existing networking activities. Many issues surround the LGBTQ+ community, including employment, homelessness, addiction, family rejection, etc. These issues are often intertwined and we are well positioned as a long-standing LGBTQ+ organization to contribute to solutions.
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In celebration of Suits and the City’s emergence from the pandemic, we are hosting a special Holiday Gala on Wednesday, Dec.1 at the elegant La Fille Art Gallery in downtown Lansing from 6-8 p.m. The Holiday Gala will include an array of free appetizers representing a Taste of Lansing. Local restaurants providing yummies include Gregory's, The People's Kitchen, Piazzano’s, Grand Cafe Sir Pizza, Corey’s, Midtown Brewing, and Bake N’ Cakes, all locally-owned establishments.
Sponsors for the event are: LBWL, MSUFCU, Michigan First Mortgage, Rise Up Heating and Cooling, Harmon Insurance, City Pulse, Sparrow Hospital, Plant Professionals, Café Caliente, Mayor Andy Schorr, State Sen. Curtis Haertel, Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon, State Rep. Sarah Anthony. Don some holiday attire (or not) and join us for this very special event!
Lorenzo Lopez is chair of Suits and the City.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Suits and the City is more than just a social network
