Welcome to the Equality Michigan Action Network, the non-partisan political advocacy voice for Michigan’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community. Equality Michigan Action Network has been Michigan’s premiere political advocacy organization serving the LGBTQ+ community for over 25 years and counting.
Equality Michigan Action Network engages, educates, and moves political leaders and voters to take action on the issues that matter most to LGBTQ+ Michiganders. We provide policy expertise, political acumen, and broad-based relationships across the political spectrum to propel our mission: To achieve full equality and respect for all Michigan residents regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Equality Michigan Action Network’s 2025 Impact Report highlights our ongoing commitment to political advocacy for Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community. The report features key statistics about our work and takes a deeper dive into our programs. None of this would be possible without the hard work and commitment from our staff, volunteers, and supporters.
Erin Knott is the Executive Director at Equality Michigan Action Network. She is a progressive activist, who has dedicated herself to championing social and economic justice and equality for all. Erin has extensive experience working on high-impact campaigns, involving a combination of legislative, public education and organizing strategies. She began her career investing resources and human capital into Kalamazoo’s urban neighborhoods, and has nearly two decades working on issue campaigns at the local, state and federal levels.
Erin served as the Michigan State Director for Enroll America where she worked in collaboration to coordinate enrollment efforts in the Michigan Marketplace. She previously served as the Michigan Political Director for America Votes and Deputy Director for Michigan Citizen Action. She has forged and strengthened collaborative efforts with advocacy organizations, labor unions, student groups, communities of color, faith-based organizations, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities by working in coalitions across all levels.
Erin has made Kalamazoo her home for over twenty years. She served on the Kalamazoo City Commission for six years, and served as the Vice Mayor from 2017 – 2019.
Emme is a dedicated advocate for equality, having committed herself to wide range of LGBTQ+ organizations and causes. She has grown her advocacy and civic engagement-résumé and invested in her community over the last decade, taking integral roles in candidate campaign management, statewide caucus leadership, progressive coalition advisory, non-profit board service, and enhancing LGBTQ+ issue awareness and protections in the private sector.
As a transgender woman, who too often relied or had to rely on self-advocacy, Emme’s passion is in coalition-building, empowering fellow-LGBTQ+ Michiganders to enter the advocacy arena, and making sure the community is well-represented at the tables where decision-making is happening about their lives and well-being. She is a former board member at Stand with Trans where she still facilitates a monthly support group for young trans women, and she most recently served as co-Chair and Vice Chair of the #HateWont Win Coalition and the Michigan Democratic Party’s LGBT&A Caucus, respectively.
Emme was raised in Bay City, graduated from Alma College, spent five years living in Ann Arbor, and now has her roots firmly planted in the Metro Detroit area.
Leila Farwana is an experienced community engagement specialist and has spent her entire career as a champion for progressive social causes, including researching solutions for the opioid crisis, community organizing for clean water in Flint, fundraising for affordable housing and to house individuals experiencing homelessness, ending hunger in Metro Detroit, and of course, fighting for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.
Leila began her post-graduate career in an assistant position at Equality Michigan and is so thrilled to rejoin the team as Director of Community Engagement. She is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive strategy to engage Equality Michigan’s community of supporters and beyond, and manages Equality Michigan’s online profile and impact across all communications platforms.
Leila graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Neuroscience and Women’s Studies. She remains deeply involved with the University and serves on the LSA Young Alumni Council. She lives in Ferndale with her husband and dog.
Axel Jayce is a proud transgender man who knows first hand the impacts of denying trans youth dignity and medical care. As a teenager, Axel fell in love with welding and was awarded for “Breaking Boundaries in Non-Traditional Careers” by the Governor. So, Axel went to college for Welding Engineering, but kept running into barriers in housing, employment, and bigotry for being openly trans and queer. In response, Axel pivoted and dug into the systemic issues impacting him and others. He helped establish LGBTQ+ housing, changed outdated policies, and was President of multiple organizations to educate & advocate for our community. He is an Outstanding Graduate with a B.S. in Communications with a focus in Public Advocacy.
Today, Axel uses his experience to advocate for other trans youth and queer Michiganders. Axel knows that stories are one of our most powerful tools! By having authentic conversations and uplifting the stories and lives of real people, we change hearts. Ensuring that those who have been silenced find their voice again and yell back. Axel dreams of a world where every trans youth gets a childhood and a full life.
Axel is a major dork who loves Star Trek, The Muppets, too many podcasts, and video essays. He can often be found with his headphones on doing two things at once or being distracted by his latest fixation.
Abby is a skilled community organizer and passionate LGBTQ+ member and advocate, with over a decade of experience in civic engagement. Her journey started as an Americorp VISTA in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and she later served as a city commissioner from 2017 to 2021. With a strong background in community organizing and fundraising, Abby firmly believes in the power of community engagement and volunteerism to create lasting, positive change.
Now, as the Northwest Campaign Manager for Equality Michigan (EQMI), Abby is thrilled to merge her LGBTQ+ advocacy with her dedication to improving Michigan. Her enthusiasm for driving change is palpable, and she looks forward to engaging, informing, and educating our communities on LGBTQ+ legislation and policy.
In her role, Abby’s goal is to empower individuals with knowledge and resources, fostering a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ rights and issues. She envisions a future where discrimination is a thing of the past, and all Michiganders can live authentically without fear of prejudice. Together, she believes, we can make this vision a reality.
Ricky became an activist and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community at age 16 after attending a local theatre production of The Laramie Project, the same production that inspired him to come out to his best friend.
In 2011, Ricky graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and set his sights on community organizing. Ricky got his first job with Planned Parenthood of Michigan where he worked as an educator and community organizer, teaching comprehensive sexuality education to high schoolers and their parents.
After eight years at PPMI, Ricky applied to graduate school to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy, largely influenced by their time at PPMI. After graduation, Ricky has worked as a political organizer on the Elizabeth Warren for President campaign, a constituent services representative for the U.S. Senate, and, in Lansing as a registered lobbyist for a nonprofit committed to expanding voting rights and good governance.
As part of a tight-knit community of queer, gay, and/or trans friends and chosen family, Ricky will not be silent – or silenced – while their community’s existence comes under ferocious attack. Outside of work, Ricky is an avid gardener, a doting dog and cat parent, a backyard chicken keeper, and happily married to his husband, who moonlights on weekends as a drag queen.
Kathryn Scott (she/her) brings over a decade of experience in political fundraising, donor engagement, and nonprofit development to her role as Major Gifts and Political Giving Officer at Equality Michigan. She has raised more than $3.17 million in support of progressive causes across the state – from congressional and state legislative races to local advocacy efforts. Her work is grounded in deep relationships, sharp strategy, and a strong belief in equity and justice for all Michiganders.
Throughout her career, Kathryn has led fundraising operations for a wide range of campaigns and organizations. She has built donor systems from the ground up, managed high-performing events, and cultivated lasting relationships with supporters, partners, and community leaders. Known for her attention to detail and follow-through, she thrives in roles that require both strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
Kathryn is passionate about connecting people to the causes they care about, and she brings that same energy to her work at Equality Michigan – helping grow the organization’s impact through major gifts, political giving, and long-term donor relationships.
A proud LGBTQ+ parent and lifelong Michigander, Kathryn lives in Kalamazoo with her family.