Greetings, All –
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I did take a break from writing last week and feel a bit more rested and ready to present some new issues for your consideration.
Diocesan Council met two weeks ago for our first meeting of the new Council year. It was a delight to welcome new Council members and to reconnect with the members whose terms are not yet completed. And I am excited to have some highly motivated members on the Resolution Review Committee. Together we will work to get you the best information we can so that you can share in the mission of the Church!
One of the items of business at our meeting was the passing of a Council resolution brought by Joe Summers and Oasis to support the amendment of the Elliott-Larsen Civil (Act 453 of 1976) Rights Act to include gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation as classes protected from discrimination. Here is the full text of the resolution from Joe with a very informative explanation and action items for us:
Resolved: That Diocesan Council support the amendment of Michigan’s ELLIOTT-LARSEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT (Act 453 of 1976) to include gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation as classes protected from discrimination in employment, housing and other real estate, and the full and equal utilization of public accommodations, public service, and educational facilities. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/act_453_elliott_larsen_8772_7.pdf
Explanation/Rationale
“Almighty God, our heavenly Creator, send down upon those who hold office in this State the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (BCP, p.822, amended)
We all deserve civil-rights protection. In Michigan, 30 cities and townships have already approved local ordinances providing protection on the basis of sexual orientation against employment or housing discrimination. (Chris Andrews, Bridge Magazine)
Beyond those municipalities, any person can be legally denied access to housing, employment, public accommodations, public service and educational facilities because they are known to be or are presumed to be LGBT.
Kary Moss, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan has engaged in serious discussions with Republicans, Democrats and business leaders about legislation that would prohibit discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation. Amending Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act is the simplest way to do this. “I think the climate has shifted dramatically in the last 12 months,” said Moss, who added she hopes the legislation will be enacted this year. (Chris Andrews, Bridge Magazine)
Every year, Equality Michigan’s Department of Legal Services tracks at least 50 cases of employment discrimination based on perceived gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.
Targets of discrimination are at risk of anxiety, depression, shame, low self-esteem, self-isolation and self-harm including substance abuse, suicidal thinking and behavior.
LGBT workers who experience discrimination in the workplace experience elevated levels of psychological distress and health-related problems, less job satisfaction, higher rates of absenteeism and more frequent contemplation of quitting their job. (Michael Friedman PhD, EHE International’s Medical Advisory Board)
A number of experts on economic and community development say that the State of Michigan’s non-supportive policies on gay rights are creating barriers to growth and prosperity. “Increasingly, the economy is driven by talent,” said Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future Inc., a nonprofit that focuses on boosting the state’s economy and talent pool. “Talent comes in every dimension, and if you are not welcoming, they are not coming here.” LGBT people are leaving Michigan to relocate to environments that are supportive of LGBT individuals and their concerns, and their families, friends and allies are increasingly unwilling to live in areas that are not LGBT-friendly.
Recommended Action
*Attend deanery and clericus gatherings to advocate for this concern.
*Encourage sermons, homilies and educational forums in your congregation in support of this issue.
If your legislators support this concern:
*Encourage them to advocate for this change with their legislative colleagues who oppose it.
*Encourage them to advocate with Governor Snyder for his support.
*Encourage them to make public statements of support in newspapers, newsletters, etc.
If your legislators do not support this concern:
*Invite them to meet with your congregation to discuss their views. Include in the discussion open LGBT individuals and their allies, who can witness to the harmful consequences of discrimination.
*Organize inter-denominational and interfaith meetings for similar discussions.
*Organize congregational, inter-denominational and interfaith meetings to which you invite both supportive and non-supportive legislators to engage in dialogue about this legislation.
*Regularly attend the coffee hours offered by non-supportive legislators, where your views will be heard by other constituents. Include open LGBT constituents and their allies in such meetings.
*Visit your legislators’ offices to advocate for this legislation.
*Write to your legislators by surface mail. Hand-written letters often carry more weight than typed ones. Personal testimony of discrimination and its harmful consequences is helpful.
*Telephone your legislators. If your legislator is not available, ask their aide to share your message.
*Write letters to your local newspaper and newsletters and other publications to make your nonsupportive legislators’ views public.
For information, see http://www.equalitymi.org/issues/discrimination
Oasis will be asking Diocesan Council to endorse this resolution. We are also inviting individual congregations to adopt a similar resolution simply by substituting their name in the place where the attached resolution says Diocesan Council. If you do adopt this resolution please let us know as the support of religious organizations makes a huge difference with our state legislators.
As I write this (Wednesday morning), our state legislature is discussing this very issue. There are amendments being raised that would add the requested wording and others that would take the power to include gender issues out of the act. It’s important that we let our opinions be heard both in our congregations and in the State House. As is true with the other resolutions we consider, this work affects the lives of many people in our communities. The promises we make in our Baptismal Covenant to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “strive for justice and peace for all people, and respect the dignity of every human being” compel us to get involved so that all people may experience equal and just rights.
A Google search will bring up many links to give you more information but I think Joe and Oasis have provided us with great suggestions in the explanation of the resolution to get started. Here are a few more:
A link to an informative article in the Detroit News – http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/02/michigan-gays-lesbians-anti-discrimination-bill/19778951/
For those interested in a copy of the original bill – https://www.michigan.gov/documents/act_453_elliott_larsen_8772_7.pdf
BREAKING NEWS – Just 2 minutes ago (Wednesday, Dec. 3) the Detroit News posted that the legislature did not take a vote today admitting that there’s more work to be done. So, this is our chance to get the word out! Let your voice be heard in Lansing!
Here’s a link to a great resource from Unity Michigan – The Elliott Larsen Advocacy Toolkit where you’ll find background information on the amendment and the original bill, good talking points, answers to frequently asked questions and sample letters to the editor of news sources, and letter for your legislators –
http://www.miroundtable.org/Roundtabledownloads/Elliott-Larsen%20Toolkit.pdf
Let us pray:
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit
may so move every human heart
and especially the hearts of
our state legislators in Lansing,
that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear,and hatreds cease;
that our divisions being healed,
all people may live in justice and peace
with equal rights and opportunities;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ Judith Schellhammer, chair, Resolution Review Committee, Diocesan Council
Thanks, Judith, for bringing this to our attention! Sometimes those of us who don’t experience discrimination need to be reminded of our responsibility to speak up for those who suffer from injustice.