Emily Dievendorf

Emily Dievendorf (born October 1) is an US American LGBT human rights activist, political lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Emily is currently the Director of Policy at Equality Michigan and has been working in Michigan politics since the early 2000s.

Prior to joining Equality Michigan, Dievendorf worked in the Michigan House of Representatives for Democratic state legislators Alexander C. Lipsey of Kalamazoo and Andy Coulouris of Saginaw. She served as Chief of Staff to Rep Coulouris, the Chair of the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services. While in this position she focused on developing banking legislation, notably Michigan’s Foreclosure Lifeline legislation.

She began engaging on civil rights issues in elementary school, where she planned racial justice actions that led to both referrals and detentions. When she took a strong stand in favor of equal marriage rights while serving as editor of the Kalamazoo Central High School newspaper, a group of parents attempted to have her removed from the position. She has since been active in numerous progressive issues, particularly LGBT equality, race relations and equality, women’s rights, and HIV/AIDS. Dievendorf marched on Washington with the Congressional Black Caucus for the opening of the University of Michigan affirmative action case.

Dievendorf is a graduate of the James Madison College at Michigan State University with a degree in social relations. While in college, she was the chair of the university's first LGBT residential caucus, volunteered for the Lansing Area AIDS Network, and facilitated a race relations student organization. She currently serves on the Ingham County Women’s Commission.

She has been awarded the MSU Institute of Public Policy and Social Research and James Madison College Daniel Rosenthal Award and was named legislative intern of the year.