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Initiative would add LGBT protections to civil rights law

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A petition campaign will launch this year add LGBTQ protections to the state’s civil rights law.

Fair and Equal Michigan needs to gather a little more than 340 thousand signatures from registered voters. Once those names are certified, the question goes to state lawmakers to approve, reject or ignore. If the initiative is not adopted by the Legislature, it goes on the November ballot, said Trevor Thomas of the Fair and Equal Michigan campaign.

“We believe it is finally time to either have them pass the bill, or hand it off to the people.”

The campaign has announced the support of many civil rights, political and business leaders. The group says that can assure the campaign has the staff and money to succeed – 37 years after the idea of adding LGBT rights to Michigan’s civil rights was first proposed.