LGBTQ Groups Praise Proposed Expansion Of Civil Rights Protections

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LGBTQ state lawmakers and their supporters this week introduced an amendment to the state’s Civil Rights Act to add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in Michigan. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, passed in 1976, makes it illegal to discriminate in matters of housing, public accommodation, and employment due to religion, race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age, height, weight or family status. Sam Inglot of the group Progress Michigan says LGBTQ Michiganders also should have legal recourse if they experience discrimination.

“To extend civil rights protections to the community will go a long way in holding people accountable and making sure that folks are able to live full lives, true to who they are.”

The proposal would give LGBTQ people a legal remedy when making a complaint to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Similar bills have failed almost a dozen times in Michigan.