"If Michigan LGBTQ folks do make the decision to attempt to get LGBTQ rights on the 2016 ballot, how do we ensure that transphobic scare tactics don't divide voters, like what we're seeing with Houston's 'No on Prop 1?'
"Perhaps Fair Michigan has already started reaching out to EQMI and other Michigan LGBTQ orgs … but the fact that they're not yet on board and that the decision to pursue this petition drive was made without them — might that indicate that the Fair Michigan committee also doesn't have the foresight to anticipate anti-trans rhetoric and how to proactively counter it?" – LGBTQ Action Michigan
"I'm not overly keen on having either the Legislature or the general electorate vote on civil rights. Theoretically, civil rights should be innate. But since the Legislature has shot it down for over a decade, I'd be in favor of trying the referendum route. Haven't got much to lose and everything to gain. To not support just because some folks beside local LGBT 'leadership' initiated the effort is ludicrous. It's about getting the job done, not who gets credit." – Cindy C.
"What's taking so long? Grab your pocket books and your picket signs. We can do side work or begin it by talking to voters. Bring back the gay liberation movement." – Frank V.
"Rep. Jim Dressel introduced this bill back in October of 1983. It ended his career as a Republican politician. Thirty-three years is a long time to wait for basic protections against bigotry, without any progress and the knowledge that we have enemies who will campaign on stopping or repealing any progress we make. This lLegislature can't even fix our roads. Last year's train wreck didn't add any hope that this change to Elliot-Larsen will happen anytime soon. It all comes down to how badly we want this? If the LGBT grassroots is willing to put its heart on the line, and do the courageous work necessary, than we will have a shot at change. I don't think we can afford to let LGBT leadership claim ownership of this challenge. That train has already left the station." – Rosemary R.
"I'm sensitive to the argument about putting my rights up for a vote, and it would be sweet to have a legislative solution, but lets be honest with ourselves here, how likely is it to get anything through the present Legislature without a huge carve-out for religious sensitivities, and how likely is it that the Dems will win both houses of the Legislature any time soon? So waiting for the Legislature to act means waiting a long time or else accepting a very flawed version of civil-rights legislation. And in any event, even if a robust civil-rights bill passed the Legislature and was signed by the governor, I would full expect our opponents to subject it to a referendum, so we'd still be in a position of having the public voting on our rights." – Don K.
"When I think about Dana Nessel's and Fair Michigan's ballot proposal to amend Michigan's constitution to include gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation protections, I worry that their decision was made in a vacuum without consulting leaders in the LGBT community. This is especially troubling for the Trans community, which continues to be the community most at risk. Trans people must speak for Trans people." – Char Davenport
