State legislators are trying once again to pass new regulations including the term “sexual orientation” into previous discrimination laws.
“This has been proposed before, and we decided we wanted to move it forward,” said Rep. Chris Kolb, D-Ann Arbor. Kolb has co-sponsored the newest piece of hate crime legislation.
“If Michigan is going to move into a high-tech economy, it’s going to have to look at diversity. The top three groups to be discriminated are race, religion and sexual orientation. Only sexual orientation is not already included in current laws.
“I feel it’s a glaring omission.”
Kolb and fellow sponsor state Rep. Bill McConico, D-Detroit, both point to new studies by Michigan lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered organizations that show an increase in hate crimes involving sexual orientation in Michigan.
Michigan enacted the crime of “ethnic intimidation” in 1988. The law punishes people found guilty of harassment or intimidation based on race, religion, gender or national origin with a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a possible $5,000 fine.
Michigan LBGT groups and state legislators have been attempting for several years to add the term sexual orientation into the law.
So far, the bills have been met with resistance or a lack of support to bring a motion to a vote. Although some accuse the Republican Party, some bills have been co-sponsored by members of the GOP. State Rep. Judith Scranton, R-Brighton, doesn’t think stalling is a problem.
“It’s not been my experience,” Scranton said. “What I would like to see is to have all crimes punished equally, without using specific titles. If we are going to be specific, then we should include all groups.”
A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a similar bill earlier in the year, only to find it the victim of a similar deadlock. Supporters of the new bill plan to continue pushing for new legislation.
“It needs to be passed, and we’re working on it until it passes,” said Heather Macallister, field organizer for the Triangle Foundation.
The foundation participated in the bill-making process, both for the newest bill and several other bills that have met with resistance in previous motions.
While there is no sign that any new hate crime legislation will be passed, Macallister says the organization will be ready to participate in another.
“We’ll be a part of any new legislation that takes place,” she said.
According to studies, approximately 40 states in the country currently have hate crime laws in place, and about half of those include sexual orientation. Some state Legislators and the Triangle Foundation hope that Michigan will find its way into that group.
