Protesting what they see as an”extreme anti-equality environment” in the Great Lakes State, leaders of eight Michigan LGBT community centers will be participating in a 100-day hunger strike leading up to the November election.
The directors, part of the Community Centers Network (CCN), won’t be fasting for the duration, though: Starting July 30, they’ll be taking 24-hour shifts and living on display in the front windows of Affirmations in Ferndale, the largest LGBT community center in the state. Affirmations director David Garcia begins the campaign, and will be followed by other CCN members including Zach Bauer of the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center, Curtis Lipscomb of Detroit’s KICK and Pat Ward of Grand Rapids’ the Network.
Currently, Michigan prohibits same-sex marriage and civil unions—and is one of just three states that outright bans adoptions by same-sex couples. There is also no job-discrimination laws on the books, even though residents are protected on the based on race, sex, religion and national origin. (A current Michigan Government Order only protects LGBT employees of the state government.)
the other Greg
“There is also no job-discrimination laws [sic] on the books, even though residents are protected on the based [sic] on race, sex, religion and national origin.”
Oddly, Michigan is also the ONLY state that prohibits job discrimination against fat people. (Seriously.) Interesting priorities they have up there. So maybe this hunger strike won’t impress them.
Wad
Hunger strike? Really? How very 1950s. Go out and lobby your lawmakers, people, don’t sit around crying martyrdom.
Spot
Come on doesn’t anyone proof read anything. I>E>;
even though residents are protected on the based on race, sex,
BASIS NOT BASED cornhole.
Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/michigan-lgbt-community-centers-launch-100-day-hunger-strike-20120726/#ixzz21lXQxZhp
Rob
I agree Wad this is silly and completely pointless, and it does NOTHING to change anything.
I also think that if you want things done you should be lobby or write to your lawmakers like I have done for issues like DOMA, ENDA, and ending DADT.
Jollysocks
They are not even doing a real hunger strike, one person just won’t be eating each 24 hours. What a waste of time and attention.
Muffin6butt
I think this is a very good idea. When people see the pain of hunger and GLBT discrimination, the choice will be clear.
Michigan must change it’s laws.
Laura
Lobbying lawmakers won’t work when the majority of them are living in the 1950’s. The citizens of Michigan need to make different choices at the polls and this is exactly the kind of thing that can attract their attention and help educated them about their decisions. Kudos to all the community centers in Michigan for uniting in this effort!
Clark
To help give some context to this article and the hunger strike. It should be said there are a handfull of cities and towns that have passed laws to protect the LGBT community from job discrimination, and being denied housing.
Cass
@Clark: However, HB 5039, introduced by Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, would ban any more cities from establishing these human rights ordinances, as well as nullify all existing human rights ordinances in Michigan cities.