Senate Fails to Include Religious Protections in Changes to Civil Rights Law

Lansing, Mich. – The Michigan Senate today voted 23-15 to pass legislation that adds new categories to the state’s civil rights law without an amendment that protects religious organizations from discrimination. For weeks Michigan Catholic Conference and other faith-based organizations have urged Senate members to protect religious organizations from discrimination claims and litigation when adding sexual orientation, gender identity and expression to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. 

“We’re disappointed that members of the Senate voted today to deny constitutional rights and protections to religious organizations that hold long-standing beliefs about marriage that differs from the secular culture,” said Tom Hickson, Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy. “By failing to strike a balance and voting against amendments to ensure religious organizations are not targeted for their long-standing religious beliefs about marriage and gender differences, the Senate has signed off on creating a class of citizens against which discrimination and targeted litigation will be likely.”

Michigan Catholic Conference believes that failing to include religious protections in Senate Bill 4 will:

1. Lead to a new class of discrimination against people of faith,
2. Encourage targeting of faith-based social service, educational and charitable organizations, and
3. Force small non-profit/religious organizations into lengthy litigation in state courts.

Senate Bill 4 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.