LANSING — On Monday, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission met and voted to begin accepting cases of LGBTQ rights violations. In response, Democratic Floor Leader Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills) issued the following statement:
“Michigan is at its best when all of us have the same opportunity to succeed, no matter what color our skin is, no matter how we worship, no matter what language we speak at home and no matter who we love. The decision by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to hear the cases of Michigan lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals whose rights have been violated means that they will have a measure of legal protections in the workplace and in housing, even though our Legislature has so far failed to codify those rights into law. As lawmakers, it’s up to us to finish the job that the Civil Rights Commission has started by expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to once and for all ensure that our LGBT friends, co-workers and neighbors won’t be discriminated against because of who they are.”