KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan voters could decide on a new proposal after activists have launched a new ballot initiative to protect LGBT residents from discrimination in the state.
The Fair and Equal Michigan Ballot initiative would extend protections for sexual orientation and gender identity under state law, amending provisions of the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights act which currently does not include those categories.
State Representative Jon Hoadley, who represents Kalamazoo in the legislature, is throwing his support behind the new proposal. “No Michigander should live in fear of being fired from their job, evicted from their home, or denied service at a restaurant for who they are or who they love,” Hoadley said.
The democratic lawmaker also mentioned previous legislation he’s introduced to the house floor, that would directly expand the existing law, “The Legislature has everything it needs to act immediately to prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination, except for the willingness of the majority party. We need to fix that in 2020.”
The civil rights group Fair and Equal Michigan announced on Tuesday, January 7th that they were pursuing the citizen led initiative after the legislature has so far failed to act on enacting further protections.
Currently the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act only protects people on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status and maritial status. The new act would redefine the category of sex to include gender identity and sexual orientation, while additionally defining religion as ones individual beliefs rather than denomination.
Advocates say if put in to law, the ballot initiative will protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination in housing and employment.
While efforts begin to get the proposal on the upcoming state ballot, organizers are still leaving the possibility open that the state legislature can directly amend the law instead.
