Lawmakers face ‘reckoning’ on expanding LGBT protections in civil rights act, supporters say
Updated Mar 08, 2021;
Posted Mar 08, 2021
A rainbow flag was photographed on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., Tuesday, June 21, 2016. (Bryan Bennett / Kalamazoo Gazette)
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Whether it’s through legislation or at the ballot box in 2022, expanded civil rights protections for Michigan’s LGBT residents are coming, advocates said during a Monday news conference.
Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act currently protects people from discrimination based on several factors when it comes to employment, housing and public accommodations: religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status.
But House and Senate leaders made no commitment on Monday to consider the Democratic-backed legislative proposal.
State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, and Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, were joined by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to announce the most recent attempt to amend the state s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to clearly prohibit discrimination based on a person s sex, including gender identity or sexual orientation.
The issue is ripe for new consideration by the Legislature, either through the bills that Moss and Pohutsky are proposing or if the Fair and Equal Michigan petition initiative makes its way to lawmakers.
The petition s signatures currently are under review by the Michigan Bureau of Elections ahead of potential certification of the ballot initiative.
Westland police seek missing girl, 17, last seen entering unknown vehicle
Auriana Thomas was last seen at her Westland home on March 5
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Westland police are looking for Auriana Thomas, 17, who was reportedly last seen leaving her Westland home at about 3:40 a.m. on Friday, March 5. Photo provided by the Westland Police Department. (WDIV)
WESTLAND, Mich. – Police are seeking help from the public to locate a missing 17-year-old girl who was last seen early Friday morning.
Westland police are looking for Auriana Thomas, 17, who was reportedly last seen leaving her Westland home at about 3:40 a.m. on Friday, March 5. Officials did not provide the address of her home.
Schoolcraft College to host vaccinations for Plymouth, Canton residents
Vaccination clinics for residents 65 and older
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LIVONIA, Mich. – Canton city officials announced they have a limited number of vaccination appointments available March 10-12.
The vaccination appointments are available to residents of Canton, Plymouth and Plymouth Township who are at least 65 years old.
The appointments will be at Schoolcraft College’s VisTaTech Center, located on Haggerty Road, just south of Seven Mile Road.
COVID-19 aid, confidentiality agreements, guns and LGBT rights: The week in Michigan politics
Updated Mar 06, 2021;
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The push and pull over COVID-19 aid continues in Lansing, with the Legislature approving $4.2 billion in pandemic relief, but with strings attached that would limit the governor’s executive authority.
Meanwhile, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week faced questions about confidentiality clauses included in separation agreements with multiple state workers, including former Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon, who resigned abruptly in January
The questions came as she announced easing building capacity limits for businesses and raising the number of people who can legally gather in Michigan.