The lengthy history of attempting to ban anti-LGBTQ discrimination in Michigan

BSUNDAY, Feb. 12 — The Michigan Legislature has put amending the state’s civil rights law on the fast track to approval. Legislation introduced by Michigan’s first openly gay State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, cleared The Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Thursday on a 5-1 vote. Moss called it “historic,” according to Michigan Advance. 

The legislation is likely to land on the desk of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who made it clear during her State of the State address she wanted the law changed, within a few weeks, Pluta said. 

Amending Elliott-Larsen has been a lengthy and contentious process. City Pulse’s Todd Heywood spoke with Rick Pluta, senior Capitol correspondent for Michigan Public Radio Network, to discuss that history and backlash over the years. 

And as often happens when discussing legislation that was 50 years in the making, Heywood and Pluta realized there was actually a bit more they'd forgotten. So, they turned on the recorder and finished the interview with this extra bit: