Democratic Michigan lawmakers re-introduced a bill to ban discrimination against natural hairstyles—like braids…locks…and twists—today [TUES].
The policy—known as the “CROWN Act”—had been introduced in previous Legislative sessions but never made it to the governor’s desk.
Sponsor Democratic Senator Sarah Anthony says the bill would make things more inclusive for everyone.
Crown0221-2/:16...Black history month.
[We know that hair discrimination is thinly veiled racial discrimination and when we’ve heard stories from men and women and children who have experienced this, we wanted to make sure we prioritize it as early in the legislative session as possible, and what better month than Black History Month.]
Anthony’s bill would expand how race is defined in Michigan civil rights law to include “traits historically associated with race”—including hair and hairstyles.
Similar laws have been passed in over a dozen other states.
