(CANTON, MI, 3/2/2023) – The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today voiced its serious concern over yesterday’s vote by Michigan State Senate to expand the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) without the inclusion of language that would adequately protect the rights of religious organizations.
The Michigan State Senate’s vote seeks to expand sexual orientation and gender identification as protected classes under ELCRA. Unlike 22 other states, the senate’s version lacks adequate language to protect religious organizations from undue litigation.
SEE: Michigan State passes historic bill to protect LGBTQ rights (Detroit Free Press)
SEE: Long and Walid: Civil rights include religious protection (Detroit News)
“If the state house passes this bill as is and it is signed by the governor, the amendment will lead to people of faith being a new class of discriminated people and will force non-profit religiously-guided organizations into costly litigation,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “True inclusion cannot result in the exclusion of people of faith’s bona fide religious beliefs protected by the First Amendment.”
Walid also stated that CAIR-MI simply asked legislators to include specific language that is included in other states’ bills and did not call for the erasure of language within the senate bill.
He further encouraged constituents and fellow Michiganders of consciousness to contact their state house members to request inclusion of robust language to protect people of faith similar to other states’ legislation.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 248-842-1418, adoukoure@cair.com