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Appeal likely in faith-based clinic challenge to LGBTQ rights law

A new report by GLAAD highlights the high rate of harassment and hate facing LGBTQ users on social media. In this photo, demonstrators rally in favor of LGBTQ rights outside the U.S. Supreme Court in 2019.
A new report by GLAAD highlights the high rate of harassment and hate facing LGBTQ users on social media. In this photo, demonstrators rally in favor of LGBTQ rights outside the U.S. Supreme Court in 2019.

A faith-based healthcare clinic is making plans to appeal a court decision that rejected its challenge to Michigan’s LGBTQ rights law. A federal judge ruled the Christian Healthcare Centers, based near Grand Rapids, failed to show that it’s being forced to operate outside its religious principles. Hal Frampton is an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the clinic. He says the issue is the potential threat of enforcement against the clinic.

“We simply don’t see anything in the law that would allow our clients to practice their ministry in a way that is consistent with their religious faith. So the court was wrong about, our client has an absolute right to defend this unjust law and Michigan has never disavowed enforcing the law against them.”

The next step would be to ask the US District Court to reconsider the decision or go directly to the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network.