After four-decade fight, 373,000+ residents, including those in Washtenaw County, finally poised to receive long-awaited protection and recognition
LANSING, Mich. (March 31, 2023) — Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp) and the Michigan Legislature continue to make history and tackle longstanding policy needs, including passing Senate Bill 4 to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to provide protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Legislators have been working for more than four decades to see Michigan’s civil rights law explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity. With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature, the bill officially became a public act on March 21, 2023.
“No resident in Michigan should feel they have to hide their identity to ensure job security or successfully purchase a new home. This legislation protects individuals from harmful discrimination that has no place in our community,” said Sen. Shink. “I’m proud to be a part of a diverse body of legislators that understand discrimination based on sexual orientation, identity, or expression is an issue that needs to be prioritized and swiftly addressed.” Nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ+ Americans report having experienced discrimination in their everyday lives. Twenty-two states and more than 100 cities have adopted these common-sense, inclusive and comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ people, and Michigan is now the 23rd state to adopt comprehensive non-discrimination laws.
To celebrate this historic achievement and step towards building a more equitable Michigan, Ann Arbor legislators will be hosting a happy hour at the North Star Lounge in Ann Arbor on April 4th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Phillis Englebert, owner of the North Star Lounge states, “I and the entire staff of North Star Lounge are honored to host this celebration of civil rights, and human dignity; we applaud our legislators for saying no to discrimination and yes to the freedom to be who you are and to love who you choose to love.”
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