Dow Chemical, Other Companies Oppose Bathroom Legislation

MIDLAND – As a response to much talked about legislation by state Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, that would require Michigan students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their assigned gender at birth, Dow Chemical Co. and other Michigan-based companies have come out in strong support of trans youth.
While the legislation has yet to be introduced, Casperson did author a letter on his website discussing the State Board of Education's proposed set of voluntary guidelines that recommends inclusive policies in K-12 schools for LGBT students, specifically trans students.
"In the pursuit of social justice, this so-called draft guidance document creates numerous problems, from the elimination of parental authority and notification to threatening student safety and beyond. My bill would stop this policy dead in its tracks," Casperson wrote.
Casperson's legislation has caught the attention of large Michigan companies such as the Bernstein Law Firm, Kellogg Co., Michigan Competitive Workforce Coalition and Dow Chemical.
"At Dow and on behalf of our 25,000 employees across the nation, we support full inclusion of our LGBT colleagues, friends, neighbors and family members," Andrew Liveris, Dow's chairman and CEO, said in an emailed statement to OurMidland.com. "That's why we are calling on lawmakers to not only oppose any legislation that would permit discrimination, but to focus on policies that ensure fairness and opportunity for everyone."
The final hearing for the "State Board of Education Statement and Guidance on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students" was held May 10 and the comment period has ended. The State Board of Education is expected to make a decision to approve or reject the guidelines sometime in August.