By Alethia Kasben
Managing Editor
Posted: August 23, 2017 1:38 PM

As the Civil Rights Commission considers issuing an interpretive statement on the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and if its protection from discrimination based on a person’s sex extends to sexual orientation and gender identity, it has received hundreds of pages of public comment.

Many urging the commission to issue the interpretive statement said they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and still face discrimination in the state. Multiple commenters said even though they are legally allowed to marry their partners now, they could also be fired from their job.

Many local human rights groups and some religious leaders also submitted comment in support of the change.

Those urging the commission not to issue the statement had two main points. One being that the commission should not circumvent the Legislature, which has not taken action on expanding ELCRA. The other is more religiously motivated, that being LGBTQ is a lifestyle choice that is not accepted by God, and religious leaders and business owners could face discrimination under the policy change for their sincerely-held beliefs.

Former Rep. Tom Hooker, now Byron Township supervisor, also urged the commission not to make the statement, as he would urge legislators and others to “totally defund” the commission if it does.

Richard Zeile, State Board of Education co-president, also wrote to the commission opposing the statement. Mr. Zeile noted Michigan voters chose the presidential candidate “who opposed the Obama administration’s re-interpretation of the Title IX to include sexual minorities such as transgenders.”

“When it comes to Michigan’s civil rights law – a person’s choice of sexual activity is not the moral or legal equivalent of immutable characteristics such as race, color or sex,” he wrote.

Many Democratic lawmakers also wrote individually and collectively in support of the statement, including Rep. Andy Schor (D-Lansing).

“The commission has concluded that anti-LGBTQ discrimination ‘exists and is significant,’ which gives the commission an obligation to act and address this discrimination,” Mr. Schor wrote. “This discrimination can take the form of LGBTQ Michiganders losing their jobs, being denied housing or being denied service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is not equality under the law.”