Christine Yared is a speaker, writer, attorney, and educator. She penned the award-winning book, Private Love, Public School – Gay Teacher Under Fire, and has actively battled discrimination based on LGBTQ+ identity, gender, race, ethnicity, and against sexual harassment, in the courtroom and community. She is a highly sought-after speaker.
Christine serves as chair of the State Bar of Michigan LGBTQ+ Law Section and has served in leadership roles within various nonprofit and grassroots organizations, helping shape policy and advocacy. As an adjunct professor, she has taught LGBTQ+ Law, Constitutional Law, Gender Studies, Cultural Communication, Sexuality, Justice & Advocacy, Life Journeys, and Civil Rights History.
More About Christine
Christine A. Yared, PLC, Attorney & Counselor at Law, Grand Rapids, MI, established law practice specializing in LGBTQ+ law, civil rights, employment law, family law and criminal law; litigated civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts, 1987--present
Representative Cases
Employment Law discrimination, sexual harassment, & retaliation based on sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, race, and ethnicity against police agencies, cities and corporations; one police officer retaliation case highlighted as one of Michigan’s top ten cases of 2004 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, January 24, 2005
Family law custody, separations and divorce specializing in LGBTQ+ cases; lesbian parenting rights cases covered nationally, 2015 case covered as groundbreaking by Michigan Lawyers Weekly; represented children in parental abuse/neglect and delinquency cases.
Criminal law represented criminal defendants in crimes based on HIV/AIDS status, police sting operations involving gay men, criminal sexual conduct, drug, embezzlement and violent crimes
Assistant City Attorney, City of Grand Rapids, MI, prosecuted domestic abuse, assault & battery and drunk driving cases; resolution of contract disputes, provided legal advice to city officials and Historic Preservation Commission, 1985-1987
Public Defender's Office, 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida, 1984 Special Assistant. Public Defender, 1984
U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1983, law clerk, federal criminal & civil law cases
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Adjunct Professor & Assistant Professor, taught courses throughout the years since 1993 in Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies, Women and Gender Studies, Criminal Justice and Business departments
Courses Taught
Constitutional Law
LGBTQ+ Law
Sexuality, Justice & Advocacy
Gender Studies
Civil Rights Movement
Intercultural Competence & Communication
Life Journey
Business Law
Civil Litigation
Criminal Law and Procedure, GVSU Police Academy
West Publishing Company
read and wrote critiques of new textbooks prior to publication; textbooks: Family Law (1999), Women and the Law (1996), Legal Research and Writing (1996), Analysis and Writing for Legal Assistants (1995) and Legal Research (1994)
Davenport College, Grand Rapids, MI, Adjunct Professor, taught Civil Litigation, 1991-1992
Christine has spoken to nonprofits organizations, professional associations, corporations, colleges and universities, government agencies, and religious organizations about LGBTQ+ legal and social issues and other topics including sexual harassment, hate crimes, racial and gender-based discrimination, free speech, obscenity laws, police shootings and other issues in the criminal justice system.
Additionally, she has spoken extensively about her book, Private Love, Public School – Gay Teacher Under Fire, and related topics including, discrimination against LGBTQ+ teachers, the rights and health issues of LGBTQ+ students, sanitized LGBTQ+ and race-related curricula and book bans
"Story of Gay High School Teacher," interview, Stateside with Cynthia Canty,
Michigan Public Radio, December 17, 2014
"Lesbian is Equitable Parent of Her Non-biological Child," Michigan Lawyers Weekly,
interviewed by Traci R. Gentilozzi, December 12, 2014
Christine is currently writing Enlightened Education – Book Banning and Whitewashed Curricula. Christine delves into the heart of a contentious debate: the battle over what children learn in K-12 public schools. As controversies surrounding book banning and sanitized curricula reach a fever pitch, this timely and incisive work offers a powerful rebuttal against censorship and whitewashing.
The New Pronoun Court Rule: Providing Dignity and Fairness for All, Labor and Employment Lawnotes, Michigan Bar Association, vol. 33, no. 4, Winter 2024.
Representing Transgender Clients, Michigan Bar Journal, February 2022, vol. 101, issue 2.
Shirley Chisholm: Catalyst for Change, The Political Bandwagon, 35(4), September 2018.
Shirley Chisholm: Fearless & Feisty, The Political Bandwagon, 35(2).3, July 2018.
Where Are the Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Teachers? Human Rights, American Bar Association, 24, 22-24, Summer 1997.
Father, Living with Memory Loss, anthology, The University of Michigan Medical School, anthology, 2013.
The Play. Living with Memory Loss, The University of Michigan Medical School, anthology, 2013.
Custody Games: You Are The Weakest Link, Michigan Family Law Journal, Alternative Dispute Resolution Special Edition: 39-41, 2002.
Prisons, Jails, and Reformatories. Encyclopedia of Gay Histories and Cultures. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, Inc., 2000.
Blended Families--When One or More of the Parents Are Lesbian or Gay, Michigan Family Law Journal, Second Marriages, Special Edition: 47-51, 1999.
Core Curriculum in Higher Education - Thoughts About the Journey, Grand Valley Review, March 1994.
Public Speaking
Christine has spoken to nonprofit organizations, professional associations, corporations, colleges and universities, government agencies, and religious organizations about LGBTQ+ legal and social issues and other topics including sexual harassment, hate crimes, school bullying, racial and gender-based discrimination, free speech, obscenity laws, police shootings and other issues in the criminal justice system.
Additionally, she has spoken extensively about her book, Private Love, Public School – Gay Teacher Under Fire, and related topics including, discrimination against LGBTQ+ teachers, the rights and health issues of LGBTQ+ students, sanitized LGBTQ+ and race-related curricula and book bans.
State Bar of Michigan LGBTQ+ Law Section, Chair, 2023-2024, Council 2020-2024
Healing Children of Conflict, founding member, non-profit formed to provide medical treatment for children injured in conflicts involving the United States, and to educate about root causes of the conflicts; brought Iraqi boy who lost a leg during the war, to Grand Rapids for medical treatment three times over 6 years; 2008-2018
West Michigan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Chamber of Commerce, founding board member, 2014- 2015
HIV Criminalization Group - formed and led West Michigan working group to educate about Michigan law criminalizing HIV status; 2012-2013
American Civil Liberties Union, West Michigan Chapter, Lawyers' Committee, 2010-2013
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), West Michigan Chapter Co-Chair and Board of Directors, several years, adult leader at national Camp GLSEN conferences for chapter leaders and high school students, Maine (2008), New York (2009)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Coalition of West Michigan, coalition of LGBT groups to address issues in West Michigan, 2003
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee, Michigan Bar Association, 2002-2003
Grand Rapids Against Discrimination, co-chair, group formed to oppose "Citizens Voting YES for Equal Rights Not Special Rights" campaign to overturn City gay rights ordinance, 2000
Grand Rapids Civilian Appeal Board, appointed by Mayor, heard citizen appeals of decisions by Grand Rapids Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit, approximately 1998-1999
Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Committee, Michigan Bar Association, 1998
Riverside Elementary School PTA, President, 1998-1999
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community Network of Western Michigan, President (1997-1998), Board of Directors (1995-1996)
American Civil Liberties Union, West Michigan Chapter, served on board, 1997-1999
Program Committee, Grand Rapids Bar Association, 1994-1997
Legislative Roundtable Committee, Grand Rapids Bar Association, 1994-1997
Michigan Campaign for Human Dignity, served as co-chair of Legal Committee, statewide organization formed to oppose anti-gay ballot measure, 1994
Legal Aid Pro Se Divorce Clinic, Working Committee, 1994
Elementary Education Program, Grand Rapids Bar Association, 1986
West Michigan Women Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 1986-1987
Pro Bono Committee, Grand Rapids Bar Association, 1986-1987
Young Lawyers Section, Grand Rapids Michigan, Executive Board, 1985-1986
Character & Fitness Committee, Michigan Bar Association, served on 3 person-panel to conduct hearings and make recommendations regarding candidates seeking to be licensed as attorneys in the State of Michigan, 1980s
"People’s History of the LGBTQ Community in Grand Rapids," interviewed for documentary produced by Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy, with support of the GVSU Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, https://grandrapidslgbthistory.org/ (2012)
"Representation of Arabs and Muslims in American Film," interviewed for documentary, Tell Me Who I Am - Race Representation in Film, by Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy, February 2003
2000 Update: Sexual Orientation, Law and Policy Issues in Criminal Justice, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, New Orleans, LA. March 2000.
Gay and Lesbian Inmates in Prison and Jail, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Orlando, FL. March 1999.
Integrating Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Scholarship in Curricula, Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Colleges, Chicago, IL. February 21, 1998.
Criminal Sodomy Laws: Relic of the Past or Foundation for the Future?, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Albuquerque, NM. March 1998.
Integrating Sexual Orientation Issues Into Criminal Justice Curriculum, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Albuquerque, NM. March 1998.
The Impact of Same-Sex Marriage on the Constitutionality of Criminal Sodomy Laws, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Las Vegas, NV. March 1996.
Using History and Policy to Enhance Law Curriculum, American Association for Paralegal Education, Atlanta, GA. October 1996.
Disclosing to the Jury the Defendant's Election to Remain Silent: English and American Legal Considerations, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Boston, MA. March 1995.
Grand Valley State University
developed first LGBTQ+ Law course, 1997-1998, taught course for several years
obtained grant from GVSU Center on Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, developed and taught course, Voluntary Action and the Law, about role of social justice nonprofit organizations in the evolution of the law, included study of NAACP, ACLU, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 1994
Legal Studies Program, evaluated and revised curriculum, established Legal Studies Advisory Board, developed new courses for program
American Association for Paralegal Education Task Force
part of working group tasked with developing a national model syllabi for two paralegal courses: Employment Law and Interviewing and Investigation, 1995