Bill > SR0123

This Resolution officially recognizes June 2020 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, acknowledging the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ pride which began with the Stonewall Riots in 1970, a protest against police mistreatment and injustice led by individuals like Marsha P. Johnson. The resolution highlights the historical struggles of the LGBTQ movement, including the insufficient government response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and points out that Michigan's LGBTQ community currently lacks legal protections against discrimination in areas like housing and employment. It further notes that efforts to add sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, a key piece of Michigan legislation, have not been brought to a vote, despite the potential economic and social benefits of such an amendment, which would affirm the freedom, worth, and dignity of LGBTQ individuals and signal Michigan's welcoming stance to talent and diversity. The resolution also references the Supreme Court's 2015 affirmation of marriage equality and celebrates the cultural, civic, and economic contributions of LGBTQ communities to Michigan, emphasizing the importance of living authentically and self-acceptance, and concludes by affirming that June is widely recognized as LGBTQ Pride Month.