house resolution no.281

Reps. Hoadley, Brenda Carter, Anthony, Clemente, Stone, Pohutsky, Yancey, Wittenberg, Witwer, Guerra, Warren, Lasinski, Ellison, Hood, Brixie, Hertel, Elder, Cherry, Chirkun, Liberati, Tyrone Carter, Manoogian, Tate, Hope, Hammoud, Koleszar, Byrd, LaGrand, Kuppa, Pagan, Haadsma, Cambensy, Kennedy, Cynthia Neeley, Sabo, Coleman, Bolden, Greig, Garza, Camilleri, Love, Cynthia Johnson, Sowerby, Garrett, Shannon and Brann offered the following resolution:

A resolution to recognize June 2020 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Pride began 50 years ago in 1970 with the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. In 1969, a black trans woman named Marsha P. Johnson, along with other LGBTQ individuals, risked their lives to protest the over-policing of the LGBTQ community and the injustice that threatened their existence on a daily basis. This multi-day protest became known as the Stonewall Riots and is credited by many for starting the modern-day LGBTQ equality movement; and

Whereas, That movement has marked by tragedy, especially the slow and insufficient government response to assist those with HIV/AIDS; by celebration, including the historic Obergefell Supreme Court decision in 2015 which affirmed marriage equality nationwide; and by struggle, notably the ongoing effort to include discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community in state and federal law; and

Whereas, Michigan’s LGBTQ community is not protected from discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodation. The decades-old push to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression among the existing protected classes in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act has never been put up for a vote in the Legislature; and

Whereas, Everyone in Michigan benefits from the multiple talents, viewpoints, and cultural backgrounds of all of its residents. Expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act would preserve the freedom, worth, and dignity of those in the LGBTQ community from people who seek to do them harm; and

Whereas, Michigan should expend all efforts to attract and retain talent. Amending the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act would signal to the nation we are welcoming to those who wish to contribute to the economic vitality of our state; and

Whereas, The people of Michigan understand, appreciate, and value the cultural, civic, and economic contributions of the LGBTQ communities to the greater community of the state, and affirm a celebration of love, living authentically, and accepting ourselves; and

Whereas, June is recognized and celebrated as LGBTQ Pride Month throughout the country and worldwide; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize June 2020 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month in the state of Michigan.