Michigan Supreme Court says anti-bias law bans discrimination on sexual orientation, protects LGBTQ+

Court voted 5-2 that ‘sex’ applies to sexual orientation, not just gender

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Supreme Court said that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s sexual orientation, a win for the LGBTQ+ community.

The court voted 5-2 that the word “sex” in Michigan’s civil rights law applies to sexual orientation and not just gender, according to the Associated Press.

The lawsuit Rouch World LLC et al v Michigan Department of Civil Rights et al, was brought by businesses that denied services to customers who were either a same-sex couple or an individual who was transitioning their gender identity.

In October, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a bypass application in the Michigan Supreme Court on behalf of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) and the director of the MDCR. Nessel argued before the court on March 2.


About the Author:

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.