Detroit police to hold annual LGBTQ chat Wednesday

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On Wednesday Palmer Park will host the third annual Detroit Police Department and LGBTQ community chat at 6 p.m.

The event's purpose is awareness and address concerns with this year's theme "What's Your Role."

"It's about getting people involved, finding out what's your role in the community and stepping up to help create the change you want to see," said Cpl. Dani Woods, Detroit police LGBTQ liaison.

The first two years of this event have been a success and chats like this help move the conversation forward.

"Any kind of discrimination or hate crime for just wanting to live your truth, that bothers me the most," Woods said. "People just trying to be their authentic selves and live their life as they want."

Since 2013 the Detroit police report discrimination and crime against the LGBTQ community is trending down.

"I think it's because people are being more vocal about things and Detroiters are showing support for the LGBTQ community for those that visit our city and live in it," Woods said. "We are an inclusive city."

And the Detroit Police Department wants to include allies of the LGBTQ community to this Wednesday night chat as well.

"Even for people who just don't understand or don't know, we're here to help you," Woods said. "We're here to teach you the culture, let you know what it means. It's not something that's new but people are afraid of what they don't understand. We're here to help."