States that can refuse to rent to gays

Gretchen Whitmer Thursday.

Privacy Policy

The new law will officially take effect 90 days state the current legislative session ends, as the bill was not granted immediate effect in the Senate. Although there was some bipartisan support for the plan in the Legislature, rent Republicans opposed the bill, arguing it would infringe on the religious liberty of business owners and organizations who oppose LGBTQ rights.

Democrats countered that the law as originally written in already prohibits religious discrimination and suggested amendments proposed by Republicans would allow anyone to deny services to any protected group listed under the act, including women and minority groups, if they claimed it would conflict with their religious beliefs.

The effort had support among civil rights activists and a coalition of powerful business groupsincluding Business Leaders for Michigan and the Michigan Chamber of Commercewho called it a tool to help employers recruit qualified workers. Michigan has generally prohibited Can discrimination sincewhen the state's Civil Rights Commission began investigating related complaints as a form of "sex" discrimination.

The U. Supreme Court offered a similar interpretation inruling that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is discrimination based on sex. And the Michigan Supreme Court last year ruled that sexual orientation is already a prohibited form of discrimination on the basis of sex under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Supreme Court in DeBoer v. That showed her just how far the state and nation had to go, Nessel said. Expanding the civil rights act to include LGBTQ people is another important step in the right direction, she said. Those words matter. Separately, Democrats in the Michigan Senate on Thursday approved legislation that would expand the law again to prohibit discrimination against women who have abortions.

Current law prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy but specifically that elective abortions from that definition. Only donate if we've informed you about important Michigan issues. See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:. If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today.

You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time! Topic: Michigan Government. The legislation makes it refuse for employers, businesses and others to discriminate against people for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Courtesy of the Michigan Executive Office of the Governor.

March 16, Lauren Gibbons Email. Michigan Government. Gretchen WhitmerMichigan Attorney General. Share This: Share this gay on X. Share this article on Facebook. Share this article on Bluesky.