TRAVERSE CITY –
Municipalites around Michigan are making known their strong opposition to H.B. 5039 bill introduced last October by republican state Rep. Tom McMillin (Rochester Dist. 45). The bill aims to prohibit local government bodies from expanding non-discrimination laws beyond what is currently spelled out in Michigan's 1976 civil rights law. It essentially targets any localities that have moved to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. The current Elliot-Larson law fails to protect LGBT citizens and McMillin wants to keep it that way.
On Jan. 4, the Traverse City commissioners represents the most recent municipality in the state to take up a resolution recommended by the city's Human Rights Commission, opposing H.B. 5039. It passed unanimously. Last November, 63 percent of the city's voters upheld a nondiscimination measure that prohibits discrimination in housing and employment.
Traverse City rejects anti-gay bill H.B. 5039
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