Fair and Equal Michigan

Read our statement in full following today's disappointing decision by the Michigan Supreme Court to not hear our case. We are proud of the support we have built for our cause and will continue to push for equal rights in the courts in the legislature.

BREAKING NEWS: Fair and Equal Michigan filed with the Michigan Supreme Court to challenge the State's Bureau of Elections which arbitrarily excluded thousands of petition sheets and tens-of-thousands of signatures of qualified and registered electors for reasons not permitted in law. You can take action right now by supporting the Fair and Equal Legal Fund: https://bit.ly/3jqnRaL

“Fair and Equal Michigan provided numerous examples to the board detailing how a significant number of our signatures were improperly thrown out,” spokesperson Josh Hovey said. “The Board of Canvassers never addressed the issues we raised with the way the Bureau of Election staff handled our petitions, and we are confident that if all our valid signatures were counted then we would easily meet the threshold to move forward.”
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/07/michigan-board-rejects-petition-to-include-lgbtq-protections-in-civil-rights-law-organizers-vow-appeal.html

Michigan board rejects petition to include LGBTQ protections in civil rights law, organizers vow appeal A petition to include additional protections for LGBTQ residents in Michigan’s civil rights law doesn’t have enough valid signatures to move forward, the Board of State Canvassers concluded Monday.

BREAKING NEWS: The Michigan Bureau of Election issued a report alleging Fair and Equal Michigan is short on the number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot. This is our response.

Fair and Equal Michigan Statement in Response to Bureau of Elections Report The Michigan Bureau of Election issued a report alleging Fair and Equal Michigan is short on the number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot. This is our response.

PLEASE SHARE:
A shadowy anti-LGBTQ rights group recently filed a legal challenge to oppose Fair and Equal Michigan’s effort to pass Michigan's first LGBTQ non-discrimination law.

Help us fight back by donating here: https://bit.ly/3wRq3h0

Read the full article at Michigan Advance here: https://bit.ly/3d3kFjd

PLS SHARE! Major local chambers across the state, including small to medium size businesses, have announced support for the campaign to pass Michigan’s first LGBTQ rights law - prohibiting discrimination while growing talent and our economy. Thank you Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Flint & Genesee Chamber, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Midland Business Alliance, Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce, Traverse Connect, who joined Detroit Regional Chamber, Ann Arbor/ Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, Southwest Michigan First

Local Chambers of Commerce Across Michigan Endorse Fair and Equal Michigan

On this day in particular, we would like to thank our transgender brothers and sisters for their bravery. We see you. We honor you as your full selves. And we will not stop until every single person in the LGBTQ+ community achieves full equality.

The public is on our side. We will not give up until every Michigander has a fair and equal chance to succeed without fear of discrimination.

Three-quarters of Americans support LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws Broad majorities in nearly every religious group favor protections for LGBTQ Americans, according to new data from the Public Religion Research Institute.

Another great column on the reality that lawmakers who oppose equal rights will face after they leave office.

"If Chatfield had taken a less high-profile, less public-facing job — say, in government affairs — he'd probably be employed right now. But that's changing, too. And it seems clear that politicians who continue to defend discrimination against LGBT people will find their own prospects narrowing when they leave elected office."

Ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield is a cautionary tale for term-limited politicians | Opinion Ex-Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield defended employers' right to discriminate against LGBT workers. Now he's out of a job.

"The implosion of Chatfield's first post-Legislature job is a cautionary tale for other legislators contemplating their next move after they hit the term-limits wall."

Commentary: Chatfield's short-lived CEO gig changes calculus on term limits How does a 32-year-old northern Michigan native who taught at his father's Christian school in his early 20s before serving six years in the Legislature land a lucrative job directing economic development activities for Southwest Michigan?That's the nagging question Southwest Michigan First's board....

Big thanks to Kalamazoo Commissioner
Erin Knott for engaging Southwest Michigan First about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Her advocacy helped bring their CEO Lee Chatfield to the point of embracing equality and our citizens bill. We will continue to engage both Mr. Chatfield and the organization on ways they can support our efforts.

Lee Chatfield fought LGBT rights in Lansing. He’s on board in Kalamazoo. | Bridge Michigan As Republican Speaker of the House, Chatfield rose to political prominence through his opposition to gay marriage. But after backlash to his hire as CEO of an economic development group, Chatfield said he’ll support the group’s endorsement of adding LGBT protections to state law.

BREAKING: As reported in Bridge Michigan, we applaud the support of Southwest Michigan First and their CEO and former Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield for our citizens bill to add LGBTQ protections to Michigan's civil rights law. More details below!

Fair and Equal Michigan Applauds Southwest Michigan First and CEO Lee Chatfield for Support of LGBTQ Citizens Bill FAEM supported by former MI House Speaker Lee Chatfield