Local Group Fights For Pro-Equality Legislation
DETROIT (WWJ) - A local group is fighting for legal equality for all people in Michigan, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Equality Michigan said they have released a four-year plan to urge lawmakers to amend laws in order to protect gays from being discriminated against.
Michael Gregor with Equality Michigan explained as the current state law stands, discrimination against gays is not prohibited in certain aspects.
"Our state-wide law does not prohibit discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity," Gregor said. "This means that in many places in Michigan you can be fired for being gay, you can be evicted for being gay and you don't have any legal recourse under current state law."
Gregor said although Michigan is far behind the rest of the country when it comes to discrimination laws against gays and transgenders, the group is confident they have the support they need to make a change.
"We actually know that nearly two-thirds of Michigan voters favor the addition of anti-discrimination protections for gay and transgendered people in Michigan. So the majority of Michiganders are with us. Now it's just a matter of bringing laws up to date to add these protections," Gregor said.
Part of Equality Michigan's four-year plan includes engaging in two-way communication with communities to build strength in support of pro-equality change, and increasing its presence across the state by maintaining three offices: Lansing, Grand Rapids and Detroit.
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