transgender

How do anti-discrimination laws affect your business, job, and community?

Lindsey Smith — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 19:50:51 +0000

Michigan’s Department of Civil Rights is studying how current laws and policies regarding gay and transgender people affect people’s lives, jobs, communities and businesses. Though state laws ban discrimination in housing and employment based on some factors – people who are gay or transgender are not included.

The department will hold a public hearing in Holland Tuesday.

Minister fighting for gay rights in Holland appears in court

Lindsey Smith — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:21:33 +0000

An Ottawa County judge is considering whether to dismiss a case against a minister who has stood up for gay rights in the City of Holland.

Muskegon considers laws protecting gay or transgender people

Lindsey Smith — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:19:29 +0000

The City of Muskegon seems likely to pass local laws protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination in housing and employment.

The state and federal government do not offer this protection, but almost 20 Michigan cities do.

Roberta King lives in Muskegon. She was "pleasantly surprised" no one opposed the local law when she asked city commission to consider it this week.

Young people promise to march “until love is equal” in Holland

Lindsey Smith — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:39:55 +0000

A group of young people marched through Holland Wednesday night to protest a vote city council made in June against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to its anti-discrimination laws.

These laws would protect people from getting fired or kicked out of their houses because they are gay or transgender. Federal and state laws protect people from discrimination – but not based on a person’s sexuality or gender identity. The debate in Holland has not died with that vote.

About 150 people marched as part of an ongoing effort to demand Holland City Council change its decision. The march was organized to show young people in Holland support the effort.

Holland considers adding sexual orientation, gender identity to anti-discrimination rules

Lindsey Smith — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:55:34 +0000

Gender identity and sexual orientation are a hot topic right now in the city of Holland. That’s because Holland city council is considering adding local laws that protect people against discrimination for being gay or transgender. The ordinance would give them protection from discrimination by employers and landlords. The issue is extremely divisive in the generally conservative city.

Reverend Ralph Houston reads passages from the bible to city council at an informal meeting last night. He says passing the ordinance would lead to moral chaos.

Michigan high school to have gender-neutral prom court

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:24:23 +0000

Students at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon will no longer vote for a prom king or queen.

Instead, they’ll vote for a gender-neutral prom court.

The change is the result of pressure from the ACLU of Michigan and Mona Shores students after a popular transgender student was elected homecoming king.

The school denied the student, Oak Reed, his crown because school records list him as a female.

Transgender student is king to many high school peers

Mark Brush — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:21:33 +0000

Oak Reed ran for Homecoming King at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon, but school officials tossed out Reed's ballots because, anatomically, Reed is not a male. That set off a national debate over transgender rights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiA-jXBBcME