Rep. Josh Schriver Targets Elliott-Larsen LGBTQ+ Protections in Latest Attack

Does this on-the-record racist MAGA rep even have a job?

Rep. Josh Schriver. Photo: Michigan Advance/Kyle Davidson

Published: July 30, 2025 | Last Updated: August 5, 2025

He's baaaack. And as per usual, wow, he's messy.

Just months after getting publicly humiliated by State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) for his failed anti-marriage resolution, State Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) is taking another swing at Michigan's LGBTQ+ community.

On July 29, the chaos goblin introduced HB 4751, which would strip sexual orientation and gender identity protections from the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act — essentially trying to erase the hard-won anti-discrimination protections that were expanded to include LGBTQ+ Michiganders in 2023.

Apparently, someone forgot to tell Schriver that his last performance left him publicly humiliated, nationally shamed and literally running from the room.

The legislation, which has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee, has attracted five Republican co-sponsors including Matt Maddock (R-Milford), Joseph Fox (R-Wyoming), Cameron Cavitt (R-Cheboygan), Gregory Markkanen (R-Hancock) and Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers). Because apparently misery loves company.

This latest attack on LGBTQ+ rights follows Schriver's February attempt to urge the Supreme Court to overturn same-sex marriage. That effort spectacularly backfired when Moss, the out state senator who announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in May, confronted Schriver at his own press conference, delivering a passionate defense of marriage equality that left the Oxford representative fleeing without taking questions.

During that February press conference, perennial main character Schriver made inflammatory remarks targeting "gays, queers, transsexuals, polygamists and other perverts," claiming they were advancing "attacks on our children." Because of course he did. Moss, positioning himself defiantly in the front row, later took the podium after Schriver's abrupt departure, calling the resolution "buffoonish" and emphasizing that same-sex marriages "contribute to family security and economic security."

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A post shared by Jeremy Moss (@jeremyallenmoss)

Sen. Moss, we've popped the popcorn and we’re waiting to see what you do with this latest nonsense.

Schriver’s attempted civil rights rollback represents another escalation in his ongoing attacks on marginalized communities. In May, House Democrats introduced a resolution to censure him after he made what they characterized as "racist statements" on the House floor, specifically targeting people from "all the races in Asia, Africa, Latin America" and claiming they were "not acclimating" to American life. Because apparently Schriver's discrimination doesn't discriminate.

During his May 1 floor speech on anti-sanctuary city legislation, Schriver quoted from former Presidential Advisor Patrick Buchanan's book "The Death of the West," telling lawmakers "The chasm in our country is not one of income, ideology or faith, but of ethnicity and loyalty."

The censure resolution, introduced by Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy), emphasized that Schriver's hate "opposes every U.S. citizen's 14th Amendment rights to equal protection under the law, the Michigan Constitution and the Standing Rules of the House."

Schriver's pattern of controversial behavior dates back to last year when he was stripped of his committee assignments and staff by then-House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) for promoting the "Great Replacement Theory" on social media. This racist conspiracy theory falsely claims that white people are being systematically replaced through immigration and low birth rates.

Despite this history, current House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) has defended Schriver, restoring his committee assignments and praising his work. "What I really appreciate about representative Schriver is that he's, you see a difference, I think, between him last year and this year and, you know, we gave him his staff back," Hall said at a May press conference.

Apparently, someone forgot to tell Schriver that his last performance left him publicly humiliated, nationally shamed and literally running from the room.

The introduction of HB 4751 comes at a time when LGBTQ+ advocates are already concerned about potential Supreme Court action on marriage equality. Justice Samuel Alito recently renewed criticism of the Obergefell decision, and he was joined by Justices John Roberts and Clarence Thomas in dissenting from the original ruling.

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, originally introduced in 1976 and signed into law the next year, prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, education and public accommodations. The 2023 expansion to include sexual orientation and gender identity was hailed as a historic victory for LGBTQ+ rights in Michigan, making it the 22nd state to provide such comprehensive protections.

While Republicans control the Michigan House of Representatives, Democrats maintain control of the state Senate and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer remains a strong ally of the LGBTQ+ community. This makes HB 4751's chances of becoming law virtually nonexistent — it's propaganda designed to energize Schriver's base rather than serious legislation. Think community theater, but the cast forgot their lines, the set collapsed and nobody showed up.

Still, the bill's introduction serves as a reminder to stay vigilant. Hard-won civil rights protections require ongoing defense, and extremist lawmakers like Schriver will continue testing the waters with discriminatory proposals. At least he's consistent in his commitment to being consistently awful?

We'll see what happens. For now, let's all contemplate this post on bill supporter Matt Maddock's Facebook page.