MICHIGAN: Dem Gov Bans Anti-LGBT Discrimination By State Contractors, Order Has No Religious Loopholes

January 7, 2019 Civil Rights, LGBT News

The Associated Press reports:

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed a new directive to prohibit LGBT-based discrimination in state services or by state contractors, replacing a narrower order that her Republican predecessor issued days before he left office.

Whitmer’s directive, like one signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in late December, says state contracts, grants and loans must include a requirement that the contractor or recipients not discriminate against workers or job applicants — including by considering their “sex,” which the Michigan Civil Rights Commission last year interpreted in the state’s civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Her order, unlike Snyder’s, does not include an exemption for religious organizations that receive state money.

The Detroit Free Press reports:



Newly elected Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is gay, issued a statement praising Whitmer’s order.

“This action is deeply personal to me and I am grateful that Gov. Whitmer has made anti-discrimination one of her top priorities in her first several days in office,” Nessel said. “This is a step in the right direction and I am hopeful that soon our state laws will also reflect the paradigm of equal protection under the law for all Michiganders.”

David Maluchnik, a spokesman for the Michigan Catholic Conference, said the group wants to study the directive before commenting. “We were looking forward to the governor coming out of the gate on issues related to poverty, clean water or criminal justice reform,” he said.

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