Shannon Gonyou

“You belong here whether you want to jam on the stage at Pride, join a book club, attend a webinar, or just connect with other queer people.”

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Since commencing law school in 2015, Shannon Gonyou has been committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Now serving as the secretary of the Jim Toy Community Center’s board, she brings a deep passion for creating safe spaces where queer individuals can access resources, build connections, and celebrate their identities.

Her journey with the Center began when she saw firsthand how many LGBTQ+ individuals struggled to navigate the legal system alone. That realization sparked a commitment to advocacy and support. She began working with other students to provide free legal clinics to LGBT community members, a project that lives on today. When she returned to Michigan from NYC in 2024, joining the board was a natural next step. “The JTCC is known for being that safe space every queer community needs, striking the right blend between fun events and helpful programming and education,” she says.

For Shannon, being involved in the center has been personally enriching, offering a sense of purpose in the face of political uncertainty. Planning events and educational programs isn’t just a way to give back—it’s also an antidote to the anxiety that many in the LGBTQ+ community experience. With the center’s newly opened physical space, she envisions a welcoming hub where queer people of all ages can gather, learn, and simply be themselves.

Her message to the community? You don’t need a specific reason to get involved—just show up. “You belong here whether you want to jam on the stage at Pride once a year, join a book club, attend a webinar, or hang out and connect with other queer people socially.”

One simple way to support the center today? Share your skills. Whether it’s leading a legal name change workshop or organizing a community discussion, every effort helps strengthen the network of support.