Diversity Rules Magazine

Fair and Equal Michigan, the campaign to pass Michi- gan's first LGBTQ equal rights law, applauded South- west Michigan First and its new CEO and former House Speaker Lee Cha ield. As reported in Bridge Michigan, Mr. Cha ield has made clear his support for Fair and Equal Michigan's proposed amend- ment to Michigan's Ellio -Larsen Civil Rights Act that would prohibit discrimina on against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in employment, housing, public accommoda on, public services, and educa on. Statement by Fair and Equal Michigan Co-Chair Mira Jourdan: "Kalamazoo and southwestern Michigan has long stood up for equal rights and the move to support the ci zens' ini a ve by Southwest Michigan First and CEO Lee Cha ield should be applauded. We look forward to his ac ve engagement on the issue as we con nue to work with the Legislature to pass this ini- a ve. "By working together, including the leadership of Kalamazoo Commissioner Erin Kno , we have the unique opportunity to finally prohibit the discrimina- on of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. More than 500,000 people signed a pe on calling on the State House and Senate to pass the ci zens' bill as wri en by Fair and Equal Michigan. LGBTQ people have been fired from their job, kicked out of their house, or denied basic services simply for who they are or who they love. By working to- gether, we can move toward equal rights for all and be on the right side of history." Fair and Equal Michigan is supported by AFL-CIO, Ann Arbor/Ypsilan Regional Chamber, Apple, Busi- ness Leaders for Michigan, Bells Brewing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Capitol Fundraising Associ- ates, Carpenters and Joiners of America, Consumers Energy, Delta Dental, Detroit Lions, Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Com- merce, Dominos, Doner, Dow, DTE Energy, Dupont, Dykema, Equality Michigan Ac on, Fair Michigan, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Flagstar Bank, Ford, Founders Brewing, General Motors, GLAAD, Google, Hemlock Semiconductor, Herman Miller, ITC Holdings, Jackson Na onal Life, Jim Toy Center, Kellogg Company, Kelly Services, LPAC, Mar n Waymire, Michigan Educa- on Associa on, Masco, Motor City Pride, Na onal Organiza on for Women, Pfizer, Rock Holdings, SEIU Michigan, Siebert Williams Shank & Co., Steelcase, Switch, TCF Bank, Trans Sistas of Color Project, Tril- ogy Interac ve. Addi onally, 37 na onal groups announced support for the effort last week: h p://bit.ly/FAEM-Na onal- Support Background: For the first me ever, 530,000 Michi- gan ci zens – including business, philanthropy, and leaders from both sides of the poli cal aisle – joined LGBTQ advocacy groups to proclaim: Every Michigan- der should have an equal chance to succeed. The ef- fort collected ci zen signatures to introduce a bill to finally prohibit LGBTQ discrimina on, make Michigan a talent a rac on hub and grow Michigan jobs. Current Status: Once the ci zens' pe on is cer fied it is transmi ed to the house and senate floor; no amendments are permi ed. Lawmakers have limited op ons on the people's bill: Pass it and it becomes immediate law without the governor's signature or send the ques on to the 2022 ballot. Lawmakers cannot write over the people's bill at a later date without 3/4ths of both house, senate and signature of governor. Key Milestones: Held 1.2 million pro-equality, ci zen conversa ons; Collected approx. 530,000 signatures; Submi ed 483,461 signatures of 340,047 required by law; Michigan - Con't on page 19 14 |Diversity Rules Magazine| Mar 2021 Effort to Add LGBTQ Protections to Michigan's Civil Rights Law Fair and Equal Michigan Applauds Southwest Michigan First and CEO Lee Chatfield for Support of LGBTQ Citizens Bill

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