It's a new campaign for an old concern.
The push to add sexual orientation and gender identity to Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act has been introduced several times since the act's inception 15 years ago. And on Thursday, members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community began their most recent drive by presenting 5,000 rainbow-colored postcards to legislators.
The postcards were signed this summer by attendees at gay pride events around the state. The act protects numerous minority groups from job and housing discrimination.
Representatives from Michigan Pride and Michigan Equality said they've repeatedly stood on the state Capitol steps to fight for their rights.
The act currently protects people against prejudices including race and religion, but members of the LBGT community said they feel they are being excluded.
"I lost my job because of who I love," Michigan Pride President Dawn Broderick said.
Broderick said she was openly lesbian for 22 years while working in restaurant management and lost her job in an evaluation where comments on her sexual orientation were "underlined, highlighted, circled and with asterisks."
"It's not fair, it's not right and it's got to stop," she said.
But steps are being taken in that direction, legislators said.
Rep. Chris Kolb, D-Ann Arbor, and Sen. Liz Brater, D-Ann Arbor, proposed bills in the House and Senate to amend the act.
Twenty-four states already have some sort of legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Some say those who identify as LBGT are asking for "special rights."
Not likely, Kolb said.
"We're talking about that which is already acceptable for 90 percent of the population," he said.
Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, who is proposing a marriage amendment to the Michigan Constitution and has disagreed with the LBGT community before, was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.
Kolb said he's going to make this year different for the bills by talking to legislators one-on-one. As the only openly gay member of the House, Kolb said he can talk about his personal experiences.
"It's beginning," Kolb said. "When they see a face, it changes the dynamic."
