| Well, well, well... looks like Eric B's hometown has quietly been making good policy while allowing us downstaters to think that all they do in the middle of the Mitten is tip cows (doesn't work) and gamble (never pays). From the Morning Sun: The Mt. Pleasant City Commission unanimously approved to amend the city's code to include the proposed anti-discrimination ordinance after six months of debate and adjustments.
Mt. Pleasant joins the ranks of other communities like East Lansing, Lansing, Ferndale, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Grand Rapids and 12 others that include some protections for LGBT individuals. The Mt. Pleasant ordinance (like most of the others) doesn't include the 6 "magic words" but does get the top most critical: The City intends that no individual be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be denied the enjoyment of his or her civil rights or be discriminated against because of his or her race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, family status, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Emphasis mine. Most civil rights activists would suggest that a comprehensive ordinance would include xexual orientation, gender identity AND gender expression but the latter term is often misunderstood and is a matter of debate in the LGBT community. Wordsmithing aside, this is a big achievement and one that the people of Mt. Pleasant should celebrate. |
