Yesterday, the Michigan State Senate, by a vote of 23-15, voted to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) by adding “sexual orientation, gender identity or expression” to the list of items for which discrimination is prohibited.
Specifically, SB4 creates LGBTQ+ protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations.
The entire Democratic senate caucus voted for the bill joined by three Republicans.
Senator Ed McBroom and Senator John Damoose, the two northern GOP lawmakers, opposed the expansion of ELCRA. While Sen. Damoose did not offer public comment, Sen. McBroom delivered a lengthy speech in which he complained that, "This legislation will create impossible-to-resolve conflicts for churches, employers, and employees."
Sen. Jim Runestad offered two amendments, one of which would have ensured that “religious orientation, religious identity or expression” are protected. That religious conscience amendment failed.
After the vote, Sen. Runestad expressed his dismay: "... every state that has expanded its civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity has included religious protections. These states include California, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington. Without my amendments, Michigan would be an extreme outlier even among our nation’s most liberal states. This is the wrong direction for Michigan.”
The bill now goes to the Michigan House where it's expected to pass, and signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. However, Faith2Action suggests contacting the following reps (who barely won their seats), and let your voice be heard.
The list:
Rep. Matt Koleszar (D) - (517) 373-0854 MattKoleszar@house.mi.gov
Rep. Jamie Churches (D) - (517) 373-0478 JamieChurches@house.mi.gov
Rep. Joey Andrews (D) - (517) 373-0827 JoeyAndrews@house.mi.gov
Rep. Jim Haadsma (D) - (517) 373-2616 JimHaadsma@house.mi.gov
Rep. Jennifer Conlin (D) - (517) 373-7557 JenniferConlin@house.mi.gov
Rep. Nate Shannon (D) - (517) 373-1794 NateShannon@house.mi.gov
Rep. Denise Mentzer (D) - (517) 373-1774 DeniseMentzer@house.mi.gov
Rep. Betsy Coffia (D) - (517) 373-3817 BetsyCoffia@house.mi.gov
Sex, race or sexual orientation is inherent to an individual. Religion is a choice. You're free to practice your beliefs and act on those as long as you don't infringe on another's individual rights by listed in our secular constitution. Your religion isn't allowed to break those laws in name of "religious liberty."
Sad, but not unexpected. As was famously said by Barack Obama, "elections have consequences." Obama was right. Elections do have consequences, both good and bad. In this instance, both houses of the Michigan legislature switching in January from Republican to Democrat control, and with a far-left Democrat governor, Gretchen Whitmer, the passage of this bad piece of legislation will be followed by other bad pieces of legislation.