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CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTION TALKING POINTS

Currently anti-GLBT discrimination is legal in the State of Michigan.

80% of Americans mistakenly believe that GLBT people have protections in employment, housing, or public accommodations. Without this law, gay and straight people have no legal recourse.

House Bill 4956 protects everyone equally.

All people have the same constitutional rights, but the Constitution does not mention discrimination. Only civil rights laws ban discrimination and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act does not include sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Opponents of equal rights for GLBT people charge that such protections are “special” as a dishonest tactic. No civil rights laws mention groups, they mention reasons. Because everyone has a sexual orientation and a gender identity all citizens are protected equally.

Michigan has been a leader in offering more protections than other states.

Michigan has banned discrimination based on height, weight, and marital status in addition to federal protections.

“Sexual orientation” is a medically, legally, and socially defined term.

The term “sexual orientation” is defined in many places in the law and is understood as “adult homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality only.”

Former Gov. Engler, President Bush and Federal courts agree that gays are not protected.

These administrations have admitted that GLBT people are not currently protected from discrimination in Michigan. A Detroit postal worker was harassed and beaten at work because he was perceived to be gay and was told by a federal court that, although he had clearly suffered discrimination, "homosexuality is not an impermissible criteria (sic) on which to discriminate" under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Dillon v. Frank, 959 F2d 403 (6th Cir. 1992)

HB 4956 will make Michigan more attractive to industry, tourism, and families.

Research shows that communities that ban anti-GLBT discrimination tend to attract technology, industry and new development. Communities known for discrimination are less attractive to visit, live or work. Employers frequently offer this protection to be more attractive company for talented GLBT workers.

A majority of Americans and Fortune 500 companies support non-discrimination.

According to a 1999 Gallup study, 83% of Americans believe gay people should have equal job opportunities. Over half the Fortune 500 companies have passed non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation. Data from the year 2000 shows a majority of Republicans even supporting basic workplace equality for gays and lesbians.

Discrimination keeps Americans unemployed when they would rather be working.

If GLBT people face legal discrimination, how are they supposed to support themselves, their families and be responsible tax-payers. Ending discrimination allows people to be judged on merit only.

If you do not prohibit this discrimination, you are permitting it.

Like murder, speeding, littering, or polluting; if you don’t prohibit the behavior you are sending a message that it is O.K.