WESTLAND, Mich., March 6, 2023 — Coffee shops in Lansing and Detroit received lengthy letters filled with hateful, anti-LGBTQ+ language and threats of harm last week. These threats resulted in the shops closing to protect the safety of their staff and customers. State Rep. Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) issued the following statement after learning of these letters:
“Hate has no place in our state or our country. No one should be a victim of a hate crime because of whom they love. No one should fear going to work, going to a cafe or bar, or being their true authentic self. Everyone should have the ability to live, laugh and love without the fear of being a target of hate.
“It’s long past due that we updated Michigan laws to include civil rights protections for the LGBTQ+ communities. As your state representative, I am committed to supporting legislation to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Lansing to right this historic wrong that should have been corrected years ago.”