95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senate committee holds 1st hearing on LGBTQ rights bill

A first hearing on an LGBTQ civil rights bill was held Thursday before a state Senate committee

The bill would expand Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Efforts over the years to expand the 1977 law have failed. In the meantime, many local governments have adopted LGBTQ rights protections.

State Senator Jeremy Moss is the bill sponsor. He says the Michigan Legislature appears ready to do the same.

“And to get to this moment where we’re on the precipice of doing great things is really significant to our community.”

A similar bill has been introduced in the state House. Governor Gretchen Whitmer also called for expanding the law in her State of the State address.