Michigan contineus to rank among the bottom states for LGBTQ protections, according to a new report.
The annual report, from the Human Rights Campaign, found that Michigan ranks among the bottom 28 states for its failure to achieve basic equality.
Sarah Warbelow is the Legal Director for Human Rights Campaign.
“Sadly there hasn’t been a significant amount of meaningful improvements in the state of Michigan in over a decade,” she said. “In fact under the prior administration when the Governorship was under Republican control there was actually some backsliding.”
According to Warbelow, Michigan fails to provide basic protections.
“Essentially, all of the little components that make up our lives, Michigan isn’t gauranteeing that if you are an LGBTQ person you can go about your life without fear of discrimination.”
Specifically, the report found that a lack of explicit civil rights protections means people can be fired from jobs, evicted from homes, or denied services because they are LGBTQ.
Warbelow said the state legislature needs to amend the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to make clear that LGBTQ people are protected under law.