Council works for human rights ordinance
Hazel Park City Council members Tuesday night unanimously approved a first reading of a human rights ordinance to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and other characteristics.
The measure is similar to local laws in about 50 cities statewide, including nearby Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods and Madison Heights.
Councilman Luke Londo, who is bisexual, introduced the ordinance.
“My chief motivation was to make sure myself and fellow members of the LGBTQ community have protections codified by law and make sure the common practice of the city is reflected as well,” Londo said.
Hazel Park is known as a leader in pursuing LGBT rights, he added.
Two Hazel Park residents filed suit in 2012 challenging Michigan’s ban on adoption by same-sex couples and challenged Michigan’s 2004 voter-approved constitutional ban on samesex marriage.
The suit, DeBoer v. Snyder, was combined with three others as Obergefell v. Hodges, which led to a United States Supreme Court ruling nearly six years ago requiring all states to grant same-sex marriages, and to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who represented the Hazel Park couple in DeBoer v. Snyder, commended the City Council’s action Tuesday night.
“The ongoing struggle for LGBTQ civil rights requires bravery, and the fortitude of those in a position to inspire change to do so,” Nessel said in a statement. “Just as two courageous residents did before them, I applaud the Hazel Park City Council for standing up and doing the right thing.”
The Hazel Park human rights ordinance includes the same protected classes within the Michigan ElliottLarsen Civil Rights Act, and expands it to include disability status, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.
Londo said he hopes Hazel Park is the last local municipality in Michigan to have to pass a local human rights ordinance before a state civil rights law can be amended to protect the LGBTQ community’s rights.
“I hope the Michigan Legislature amends the Michigan Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression,” Londo said.
City Manager Ed Klobucher said a majority of Hazel Park residents voted against the state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions, though it passed with enough supporting votes statewide.
“And in the past few years the city has formally recognized Pride Month,” in June, Klobucher said. “The human rights ordinance is consistent with who we are in Hazel Park and who we’ve been for a long time. Hazel Park is open and friendly to anybody who wants to live here and sexual orientation shouldn’t be a partisan issue as it has in the past.”
A Hazel Park news release Wednesday noted that its introduction of a human rights ordinance comes at a time when there is renewed interest to include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression into the state’s Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act’s prohibitions against discrimination.
A ballot question committee, Fair and Equal Michigan, is now awaiting certification of petitions for a legislative initiative by the Michigan Department of State. Successful certification would place the proposed initiative in front of the Michigan legislature, which further defines “sex” within the act as encompassing gender identity and expression, as well as expanding the act to include sexual orientation, the city’s news release said.
“There continues to be a need for statewide protections for the LGBTQ community, and we will only get there with the ongoing support of Michigan residents, businesses and other organizations,” said Fair and Equal Michigan Chairman Trevor Thomas, in a statement. “We are grateful for cities like Hazel Park who share our vision and passion for the pursuit for LGBTQ civil rights.”
If the legislature fails to adopt Fair and Equal Michigan’s proposal within 40 days of certification, the issue will go before voters in the November 2022 general election.
Councilmember Londo also sits on the honorary leadership committee of Fair and Equal Michigan.