Discussions continue at the State Capitol over whether to expand protections offered by Michigan’s Elliot-Larsen anti-discrimination law. That’s the landmark 1976 measure which legally bans discrimination in the state based on religion, race, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial and marital status. Several factions have emerged. Democrats and some Republicans appear to be united behind an expansion that would protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender persons. Other Republicans favor a measure that would not include trans persons, but include the others.Some Republicans remain opposed to any expansion of Elliot-Larsen, and there’s been a call by Speaker Jase Bolger to pass a “religious freedom” measure he says is needed to balance any expansion of Elliot Larson.
Current State talks with Democratic State Representative Adam Zemke and Amy Hunter, a political strategist with the group Equality Michigan and a transgender woman from Kalamazoo.