'Don't Run Away': Garlin Gilchrist's Message to LGBTQ+ Allies as He Runs for Governor
Lt. governor emphasizes unwavering support for the queer community as he campaigns across Michigan

Marching through the streets of Detroit in the 2025 Motor City Pride Parade on June 8, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist marked his 10th consecutive year at the festival — not just showing up for a photo opportunity, but celebrating, listening and continuing a journey of allyship that began decades ago with a beloved uncle and a pair of custom MC Hammer pants.
Now running for governor, Gilchrist brings to his campaign an extensive track record of LGBTQ+ advocacy rooted in personal experience and unwavering conviction that puts our collective soul first.
"I don't think it should be difficult for people to stand for humanity," Gilchrist told Pride Source during a recent interview. "That's why I have been and will always be proud to stand tall alongside the community as an ally."
The lieutenant governor spoke candidly about his commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and the challenges facing the community under what he described as "a scary and dangerous time for so many people in the LGBTQ+ community." His approach, he emphasized, is multifaceted — both defensive and proactive.
"My administration will be vigilant in making sure that we have our eyes open so that we can see these kinds of attacks when they come and we'll be able to respond to them forcefully," Gilchrist said, referring to potential federal policies under the Trump administration that could target LGBTQ+ rights.
One of Gilchrist's proudest moments as a state leader came during the passage of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act expansion, which added LGBTQ+ protections to Michigan's civil rights law after a 50-year fight. As president of the state senate in his role as lieutenant governor, he briefly handed the gavel to Sen. Jeremy Moss, an openly gay state senator, to preside over the historic vote.
"We had made [LGBTQ+ discrimination] illegal by expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and that's a fight that's been going on for 50 years. We're proud to get that across the finish line," Gilchrist said. "It was tremendously moving to be in the chamber to do that."
Legislative victories are just one element of Gilchrist's vision for supporting LGBTQ+ Michiganders. He emphasized the need to address specific challenges facing the community, including higher rates of homelessness, housing insecurity, substance abuse and mental health challenges. He praised the work of local LGBTQ+ chambers of commerce in places like Detroit and Grand Rapids, linking economic empowerment to community well-being.
"We have LGBTQ+ people who experience higher levels and rates of homelessness and houselessness. We have LGBTQ+ people who experience higher rates of challenges when it comes to drug addiction or mental health," Gilchrist explained. "By investing in resources that can be made more available and partnering with organizations like those chambers of commerce and other advocacy organizations around the state, we can make sure people have what they need to be successful in Michigan."
When asked about politicians who struggle to be vocal allies due to political considerations in their districts, Gilchrist offered clear guidance and a strong personal example of unwavering leadership. After all, he represents every Michigan county, spanning diverse communities with varying political leanings.
"I represent the state of Michigan, all 83 counties across both peninsulas. We are a big, broad state with a diverse set of people, communities, ideas and identities," he said. "There's not a version of public service that should be OK with discriminating against people. I don't care whether you live in a district that's considered a swing district or not."
His message to those officials was uncompromising: "What's important is, do the people who you serve feel like they can be their best self in their jurisdiction? Do they feel like they have access to opportunity? Do they feel like they have access to education, and that they have access to the economy?"
For allies looking to make a difference, Gilchrist's advice was both straightforward and empathic.
"Don't run away. Don't turn your back," he urged. "Allies have to be allies on a consistent basis — it means being willing to show up, willing to listen, willing to use the space that you occupy to make sure that someone else has space. That's what allies do."
He emphasized that effective allyship requires action beyond good intentions. "For me as a public servant and a problem solver, my job is to make sure that I am listening to members of the community and understanding what's important, what people are excited about as well as what people are worried about and then do my best to either solve those problems, work with them to find solutions or build solutions."
Allies, Gilchrist said, need to ask, "How can you help? Don't shy away from that."
Gilchrist's commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy extends back decades and is deeply personal. That foundation was built early through his relationship with his Uncle Glen, his father's youngest brother, a fashion designer in Los Angeles. In a 2022 interview with Pride Source, Gilchrist recalled how Glen would receive "a hero's welcome" whenever he came home to Detroit, and how young Garlin cherished their bond.
"I remember begging him to design me a pair of MC Hammer pants. He did that and gave them to me. And it was magical, as a child," Gilchrist said in that earlier interview. Uncle Glen, who died of complications from HIV in the late '90s, became more than family to Gilchrist — he became an early teacher about the importance of love without conditions.
"Being exposed to members of your family who may be LGBTQ+ is a way to gain an understanding of that at an early age," Gilchrist said at the time. "I was very blessed to have that experience in different parts of my family, whether it's distant relatives or immediate family members."
That personal connection evolved into public action as Gilchrist built his career in activism and later politics. In 2019, responding to a homophobic social media post by an NAACP official, Gilchrist delivered an address on Black gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin at the organization's Flint fundraiser, using the moment to educate others about Rustin's crucial role in the civil rights movement.
More recently, at LGBT Detroit's 30th anniversary gala in October 2024, Gilchrist delivered what would become one of his most quoted statements about allyship. "You can't be an ally to people you don't respect," he told the audience, emphasizing that true allyship requires genuine relationship-building, not just ceremonial appearances.
As Michigan approaches the 2026 gubernatorial election, Gilchrist is highlighting a lifetime of consistent advocacy, from a child who loved his gay uncle unconditionally to a public servant who has used every opportunity to advance equality.
"The LGBTQ+ community have made really important contributions to our communities, to our culture, to our economy, to our education,” Gilchrist said. “Michigan is better when everybody has a place today and a place tomorrow — it’s how we move forward as a state."