All About Michelle Fernandez The President Of Outlaws At Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, MI.And Information About Second-Year Law Student, LGBT Community, LGBT Students, WSU Undergraduate LGBT Group And More.

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Michelle Fernandez: President of OUTlaws at Wayne State
University Law School, Detroit, MI
[By Charisse Dengler]
Michelle Fernandez is much more than just a second-year law student. Fernandez, who is President of Wayne State University
(WSU) Law School’s OUTlaws, is a passionate supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights who spends
the bulk of her time educating her fellow law school students on LGBT issues and fighting to win freedom for members of the
LGBT community.
As President of OUTlaws, Fernandez is The OUTlaws have two main goals. The group was delighted to hear Montgomery voice
in charge of coming up with activities, strives to create a safe environment for LGBT his interest in creating a legal department
overseeing the group’s monthly meetings, students as well as bringing LGBT issues to within the Triangle Foundation. Shortly after
working on the group’s website, and the attention of WSU students and faculty. their conversation, Montgomery did indeed
welcoming people into the group. Generally, develop the department, and Fernandez was
though, she works hand in hand with the “The OUTlaws want to show people that able to come aboard as an intern.
group’s vice president on each of these tasks being gay will not ruin your life and that
and anything else that might come up. things really need to change,” Fernandez “The experience thus far has involved me
said. “Striving towards these two objectives tackling the much needed clerical work.
“The most important part of the OUTlaws has caused us to collaborate with other After all, a business can not run smoothly
is making a safe environment for LGBT schools, such as the WSU undergraduate without a concrete system to rely upon. Since
students, as well as having allies,” LGBT group, University of Michigan OUTlaws, the project is new, we are in the midst of
Fernandez said. “It is important to make the University of Detroit LGBT group, and developing the aforementioned system,” she
students feel safe. We are a support group Cooley’s group as well. Working together said. “Our goal is to personally help clients
when necessary and can easily become a with similar organizations helps ensure our coming to us and also continue to refer them
study group during finals. We also work issues will permeate all areas and not just to lawyers, social workers, shelters, etc. that
to bring LGBT issues out in the open to within the scope of the WSU law school.” will look beyond their sexual orientation and
the students and faculty of Wayne State help with the matter at hand. Triangle has
University.” Throughout the year, the OUTlaws try to been working diligently from the beginning
hold as many school-wide meetings and to ensure that the LGBT community is given
For Fernandez, creating a climate of discussion groups as possible in order to the proper attention. Homosexual individuals
acceptance and support within the OUTlaws bring LGBT issues to the forefront of the are discriminated against enough as it is,
is of utmost importance because it was the law students’ minds. They also attend the and Triangle has taken the stance to help
group’s initial acceptance of her that led to Lavender law conference, sponsor Diversity ameliorate the problem.”
some of the most valuable friendships she Day, and host panel discussions with notable
has today. speakers and LGBT representatives. Upon graduation, Fernandez plans to
continue her fight on behalf of the LGBT
“I began law school as a nervous first In addition to her responsibilities as both community as a civil rights attorney. In this
year like most and needed somewhere to a law student and president of a student role, she hopes to be able to put her law
feel comfortable,” she said. “I saw a flier organization, Fernandez is also currently school education, real-world experience, and
advertising the OUTlaws’ first meeting of the interning for the Triangle Foundation, a personal interests into practice in order to
year. I searched for all of the courage I could state-wide foundation dedicated to advocacy make a difference for LGBT people.
muster and went to the meeting not knowing on behalf of LGBT people. When Fernandez
what to expect. I went in with the fear of met Jeffrey Montgomery, the organization’s “I want to bring these people in and let them
being ostracized, and I left with some of the director, and began talking with him about know that it will be ok and personally be part
best friends I have ever had.” her opinions on current legal issues, she of making them feel better. I understand that
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the courts are not that cut and dry, and I’m ON THE NET
not going out there to learn that; but this is
something I have a passion for, and I want The Triangle Foundation
nothing more than to dive in,” she said. www.tri.org
“I am vehement about LGBT issues or any Wayne State University Law School
other discriminatory cases for that matter. I www.law.wayne.edu
want to help those who have been wronged
and help change the law so people can finally Wayne State University Student
be treated with equality,” she said. “I’m Organizations
definitely not naïve and understand that I am www.law.wayne.edu/current/student_
not going to save the world, but I would like organizations.html
to use my legal knowledge for this purpose
and claim self-worth along the way.”
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