Michigan Senate votes to protect LGBTQ rights

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan senators have voted to expand the state’s civil rights law to include the LGBTQ community and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Democrats, who took full control of state government for the first time in 40 years, have made amending Michigan’s 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act a top priority after decades of seeing such efforts blocked by Republicans. The bill still needs House approval before heading to the governor’s desk. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said she plans to sign it.