LGBTQ Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is a small college town, but it has a relatively large LGBT population. According to some sources, Ann Arbor ranks as the second most gay-friendly and LGBT family friendly city in Michigan, behind East Lansing and ahead of Ferndale. Here are a few LGBT venues to explore in Ann Arbor.

Spectrum Center might be a good place to start. Located on the third floor of the Michigan Union on S. State Street, at the heart of Central Campus, Spectrum Center will provide you with a bunch of useful LGBT resources on campus. Here you will learn about various LGBT-specific student organizations, workshops, grants and scholarships, and opportunities to volunteer.

Apart from Spectrum Center, the University of Michigan has more than 20 LGBT-specific student groups, ranging from TransForm, devoted to providing resources and activism for the trans community, to Asexual Support and Visibility Group. Ask for the list of LGBT student groups at the Spectrum Center.    

Department of Women's Studies, Lane Hall, 204 S. State

For those of you interested in LGBT and queer theory as an academic field of study or just want to explore how the questions of gender and sexuality are addressed in humanities and social sciences, the Department of Women's Studies (located at the Lane Hall at 204 S. State St on Central Campus) will be a real asset. The Department is home for some of the best contemporary scholars in the field of gender and sexuality studies and it runs numerous workshops and events through the academic year. The events are normally open to the public. For more information, stop by the Lane Hall or subscribe to newsletter online.  

Slightly away from campus, at the heart of downtown Ann Arbor (also known as Kerrytown), you will find Common Language, a local self-identified LGBT bookstore, one of a few in the nation.  

For those of you eager to explore nightlife in Ann Arbor, Aut Bar (centrally located in Kerrytown just next to Common Language bookstore) is an attractive space that functions both as a nightspot and a bistro-type restaurant. The Necto Dance Club hosts a Pride Night on Fridays and Live is a place for the LGBT community on Thursday nights. Have fun!  

K. Mishuris

PhD Student at the University of Michigan