by Roland Leggett
Eye on Equality
There is no question that we are in challenging economic times. Around the country, families are struggling to make ends meet, workers can't afford to retire and recent college graduates are unable to find jobs. The struggles that the country has been experiencing over the last several years have been particularly potent here in the Midwest. I'd argue that here in Michigan, we've been hit the hardest. Michiganders are hardy folks, and we often tackle adversity with a sense of humor. We have a saying that when the nation's economy catches a cold, Michigan's catches the flu. On top of this, many of Michigan's best and brightest workers have been forced to seek employment in other states with a more inviting economic climate.
The exodus of some of our best workers has gone a long way toward making our own economic comeback that much more difficult. It's because of this that I was very disheartened to read a study released by the American Journal of Sociology recently that found that employers in the Midwest are less likely to interview openly gay men for job openings. The Harvard University study found that "gay men encounter significant barriers in the hiring process because, at the initial point of contact, employers more readily disqualify openly gay applicants than equally qualified heterosexual applicants." Combine this with the fact that in Michigan, it is legal to fire someone because they're gay, and you have one of the most hostile employment environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees in the country.
Michigan's non-discrimination law – The Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act – prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations for a variety of categories of residents. However, the law does not include the LGBT community. The study underlines the importance of ensuring that the LGBT community be included in our non-discrimination laws. This is particularly important because these laws affect everyone in Michigan, not just the LGBT community. In addition to affecting individuals, Michigan's discriminatory climate hurts efforts to position the state as an inclusive and welcoming place to do business. In fact, 89 percent of the nation's Fortune 500 employers. Without a welcoming employment environment, these companies have a tough time attracting top talent, making it that much more difficult for them to do business in the state. All of this has made me wonder – if we want to turn our economy around, shouldn't we be adopting the best practices of some of our most successful businesses?
I know that despite our challenges, Michigan has a unique opportunity to establish itself once again as a center of innovation here in the United States. We are more than just the birthplace of the automotive industry – arguably, we are the birthplace of the middle class. What made our economy so robust over the course of the last century was not only our ability to support and encourage innovation, but also to provide a fair and safe work environment. That means that we fostered a workplace where an employee was evaluated based on the quality of their work, not based on who they love.
We are now at a crossroads where we must decide if we are a country defined by innovation and equality or divisiveness. Updating Michigan's Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression will go a long way toward protecting all families and supporting our economic comeback. Passing employment non-discrimination on the federal level will help to send the message to employers around the world that we are a country that values fairness and equality. As a nation, one of our greatest strengths is our ability to rise to a challenge. Our challenge now is not only to restore ourselves as being the world's premier economic engine, but also the place where all things are possible for all people.
