LGBTQ+ Rights
‘They were full and beloved people’: Vigil honors those lost to anti-trans violence
In spite of a blustery day, as the sun refused to make an appearance from behind the low gray clouds, nearly two dozen people gathered Monday in downtown Ann Arbor Monday to mark 2023’s Trans Day of Remembrance. The annual observance is held on Nov. 20 to honor the memory of those transgender people whose […]
Dept. of Civil Rights issues discriminatory charge to Traverse City salon for anti-trans posts
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) has issued a charge of discrimination against Studio 8 Hair Lab, the Traverse City salon that drew national attention in July for anti-trans online posts made by its owner, Christine Geiger. Geiger declared in an initial Facebook post in July that her salon would deny service to transgender […]
Bills aim to remove requirements for name changes, codify expanded gender markers on official docs
Democratic lawmakers in Michigan introduced bills this month to remove requirements for name changes on official documents. In addition, they would affirm Attorney General Dana Nessel’s recommendation to remove the requirement for a letter of certification of “sex-reassignment surgery” to change the sex on a birth certificate and the Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s decision […]
National museum of LGBTQI+ history and culture proposed by Wisconsin congressman
WASHINGTON — Proposed federal legislation could add LGBTQI+ history and culture to the Smithsonian Institution’s museum tapestry. U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, introduced two bills in late October that would begin the process of creating a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture. Both bills would need to be signed into law […]
Federal lawsuit argues Hamtramck’s LGBTQ+ Pride flag ban is unconstitutional
A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges the city of Hamtramck’s Pride flag ban violates free speech rights and numerous other state and federal laws. The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Detroit was filed on behalf of former Hamtramck Human Relations Commission members Russ Gordon and Cathy Stackpoole. The Hamtramck residents were fired from the commission […]
U.S. House GOP in spending bills takes aim at federal LGBTQ, racial equity policies
U.S. House Republicans are continuing to use government spending bills to engage in culture war battles, with legislation debated during the past week that would ban pride flags on some federal buildings, strip funding from a new museum for Latino history and target certain LGBTQ and racial equity policies and programs. The hot-button provisions in […]
Hamtramck candidate doubles down on comments about Holocaust, child marriage and homosexuality
Updated, 12:23 p.m., 11/6/23 A Hamtramck City Council candidate on Thursday defended his disturbing social media comments about the Holocaust, child marriage and homosexuality. Nasr Hussain, who is among six people running for Hamtramck City Council, suggested on Facebook on Monday that the Holocaust was “advance punishment” for Israel’s “savagery” against Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war. “A […]
Michigan is the only state that criminalizes surrogacy contracts, but bills aim to change that
It took nearly two years for Tammy and Jordan Myers of Grand Rapids to adopt their biological children, who are twins, after they were born via a surrogate in 2021. It was a process, Tammy Myers told lawmakers on Wednesday, that was “heartbreaking, offensive and extremely costly.” Michigan’s current laws don’t allow for contracts for […]
Senate advances bills adding Obamacare health protections to state law
The Michigan State Senate on Monday voted to advance a set of bills that would bring aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into state law and prevent insurers from discriminating against individuals based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to expanding discrimination protections, House Bills 4619–4623 would bring key consumer protections […]
First Amendment advocates fight growing number of U.S. book bans
WASHINGTON — One of Thomasina Brown’s favorite books is a memoir about a girl who deals with the grief of losing her father and struggles with her sexual identity. Brown, a 16-year-old student at Nixa High School in Nixa, Missouri, said in an interview that she felt a connection with the book, as she grieved […]
How some Michigan Muslims united with extremist Republicans against LGBTQ+ rights
Standing at a microphone inside a packed school board meeting in Dearborn in October 2022, Brian Stone wasn’t sure he’d make it out alive. The 36-year-old wrote a will, put an emergency contact card in his pocket, and told his partner he loved him. Behind him, a furious mob of conservative Muslims shouted gay slurs, […]
Legislation to end ‘gay panic’ defense in Michigan gets House hearing
Beaten. Blinded. Bludgeoned. According to the American Bar Association, LGBTQ+ people have been subjected to an assortment of violent crimes — but those actions have been successfully defended in courts, lessening or even throwing out criminal charges when the assailant claimed the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity led to their violent actions. That’s commonly […]