Liz Achanta
Based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Michéal Franklin is a personal finance and insurance expert. With his domain TheMichealFinancialGroup.gay, he is helping to elevate the needs and the visibility of LGBTQ communities within the financial services industry.
We got in touch with Michéal for a #DotGayQAndA about his many hidden talents, his values as a business owner, and improving inclusivity in the field of personal finance.
Hi Michéal, tell us about who you are and what you do!
I am a published author (M/M romance, fantasy, action-adventure), poet, singer, songwriter, musician, voice actor, ordained minister, and the owner of The Michéal Financial Group LLC, a multi-service company. I do financial services, life and health insurance, administrative and technical services, voiceovers, and custom music (jingles). I am also an IRS Certified Tax Preparer and e-filer (ERO). Oh yeah, and I just happen to be gay!
Why is it important to you to be proudly and visibly OUT in your professional life?
Believe it or not, I am not completely "out" to everyone; that's a work in progress. Being “out” with who I am as a person is a new and ongoing process for me. Over the years, I've come to realize how important it is for businesses owned and operated by LGBTQIA+ individuals to be visible and accessible to our community. As a business owner, my core values are honesty, integrity, and equality. For me, that means being true in who I am as a business.
As a business owner, what made you decide to get a .gay domain?
While not saying "I'm a Gay Business," I am saying "I'm a business that is LGBTQIA+ owned and operated, and invested in the well-being of our community." This being part of The Michéal Financial Group's public truth is vital to who we are.
What difficulties do LGBTQ communities face regarding taxes and insurance, and how can LGBTQ inclusivity in your industry make a difference?
Many companies are still trying to figure out how to be inclusive in their wording and product offerings for the LGBTQIA+ community. Also, many are not trying at all. Most traditional insurance agencies are set up for heteronormative situations and have no variables or offerings for the LGBTQIA+ community. Being inclusive and helping to spotlight these issues is vital to finding solutions and fostering change.
When it comes to taxes, the IRS has made several adjustments to include different LGBTQIA+ families. Sadly, there are still large numbers of tax preparers that will not take LGBTQIA+ clients or don't do their best work for them. I want everyone in our community not only to have their taxes done right but to know they are truly seen, appreciated, honored, and represented.
Why is it important to help create a safer internet for LGBTQ people?
The internet can be a wonderful space, and for many, it is the only place where they can be "out" and truly be themselves. Creating a safer internet is vital to the mental, emotional, and even physical safety of many of our LGBTQIA+ families. Sadly in many places, it is still very unsafe to be "out," and being found out (outed) through something you did online can be extremely dangerous for some. I'm excited that all of The Michéal Financial Group’s services are virtual and confidential. We need to push for laws prohibiting the selling or sharing of our personal information without our consent or tracking our activities through any digital format.
Elizabeth Achanta
How CATS.gay grew from an online community into a nonprofit serving hundreds of transfeminine people across the Eastern United States.
Liz Achanta
While Pride Month brings visibility and celebration to the LGBTQIA+ community with parades and events worldwide, authentic pride isn't limited to just 30 days a year. In our digital world, there are countless creative ways to celebrate, support, and express LGBTQIA+ pride every day of the year. This article explores how individuals can cultivate meaningful digital pride experiences that transcend the calendar and create lasting impact.
Elizabeth Achanta
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For nearly three decades, Logan Lynn has built a career rooted in radical transparency. The Portland-based musician, writer, filmmaker, and mental health advocate first emerged as a teenager, signing a record deal at just seventeen years old using songs he had written and recorded years earlier. Since then, Lynn has released a deep catalog of music spanning indie rock, synth-pop, and electronic influences while building a reputation for emotionally raw songwriting that explores identity, grief, addiction, love, recovery, and survival.
