MI: Whitmer signs LGBTQ+ non-discrimination bill into law alongside civil rights pioneer Mel Larsen
In a historic and profound moment for LGBTQ+ rights in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday signed legislation to expand a nearly 50-year-old civil rights law to encompass protections for LGBTQ+ Michiganders.
Whitmer put her signature to Senate Bill 4 — which expands the 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to protect against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation — in Lansing alongside LGBTQ+ leaders, officials and lawmakers and one of the two original cosponsors of ELCRA.
“This moment is so long overdue, and too many suffered on the journey to get here,” said state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), sponsor of SB 4. “But … turns out they were waiting for us. They were waiting for a Legislature with the courage to stand up to hate and stand up for equality. They were waiting for members of our own community to tell our story in the chambers of the State Capitol.
“And they were waiting for a governor like Gretchen Whitmer to sign [this bill].”
That came after many Republicans, led by GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon, ran against LGBTQ+ rights in the 2022 election. After proposing book bans and a Florida-style “Don’t Say Gay” law for schools, Dixon lost to Whitmer by 11 points. Democrats also won control of both the House and Senate for the first time in nearly 40 years.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/whitmer-signs-lgbtq-non-discrimination-bill-law-alongside-civil-rights-pioneer-mel-larsen
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