ACLU Statement on Decision in Michigan Case Concerning School Counselors and LGBT Discrimination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:January 27, 2012
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a decision today in the case of a graduate student, Julea Ward, who was removed from Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU’s) counseling program because she refused to counsel lesbian, gay and bisexual clients on any issues relating to same-sex relationships during her clinical training.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan filed a friend-of-the-court brief in February supporting EMU’s right to remove the student for failing to adhere to the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics, which the university’s counseling program follows. > Full Story
Books Must Not Be Banned, ACLU Tells Plymouth-Canton Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:January 19, 2012
DETROIT – In a letter today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan urged the Plymouth-Canton Community School District to respect the constitutional rights of students and not ban the award-winning novels Beloved and Waterland from the Advanced Placement English curriculum. The books were flagged for removal following complaints from a student’s parents.
> Full Story
ACLU Challenges Michigan Domestic Partner Health Care Ban
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:January 5, 2012
DETROIT – The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Michigan filed a federal lawsuit today asking the court to strike down a new state law that bans many public entities from providing health care insurance to the domestic partners of their employees. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of school teachers, city and county workers and their domestic partners who will lose their health insurance as a result of the law. > Full Story
ACLU Blasts Governor Snyder for Signing Domestic Partner Benefits Ban, Vows Legal Challenge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 22, 2011
DETROIT—The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today expressed deep concern over Governor Rick Snyder’s decision to sign a bill into law that would bar public employers from providing domestic partner protections to their employees. The ACLU has vowed to challenge the constitutionality of the law on behalf of families who will lose their health protections. > Full Story
Attorney Should Not Be Jailed For Asserting Client’s Rights, ACLU, Ottawa County Bar Association and CDAM Tell Court in Brief
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 21, 2011
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In a friend of the court brief submitted today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, along with the Ottawa County Bar Association and Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM), urged an Ottawa County court to dismiss contempt charges against an attorney who was jailed for asserting his client’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The groups’ friend of the court brief was submitted after the attorney’s legal team filed an appeal brief today.
> Full Story
Suspensions Over “Boobies” Cancer Bracelet May Be Unconstitutional, ACLU Tells White Cloud School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 19, 2011
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In a letter today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan urged the White Cloud Public School Board to uphold the free speech rights of students who were suspended for wearing breast cancer awareness bracelets to school. The school board will be discussing the matter at tonight’s meeting. The ACLU also expressed concern over reports that the school removed information posted around the school by the suspended students defending their First Amendment right to wear the bracelets.
> Full Story
ACLU, Livonia Settle Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional Breath Test of 13-Year-Old
Group Publishes Know Your Rights Guide for Teens Confronted with Breath Tests
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:December 16, 2011
DETROIT – The lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan on behalf of a 13-year-old student who was forced by Livonia police to submit to an unconstitutional breathalyzer test has been settled. The City of Livonia has agreed to institute new policies and training to prevent unconstitutional breathalyzer searches of minors from occurring in the future. United States District Judge George Caram Steeh dismissed the case this week after the settlement agreement was reached. > Full Story
ACLU Urges Governor Snyder to Protect Michigan Families, Veto Anti-Domestic Partner Bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 12, 2011
DETROIT – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today urged Governor Rick Snyder on behalf of four families to veto legislation that would ban public employers from providing domestic partner benefits. House Bills 4770 and 4771 passed the State House and Senate late last week.
“While debating these bills, legislators talked about everything from cost to gay marriage, however not one sponsoring legislator discussed the real impact of these bills – the families that are at risk of losing their healthcare benefits because of political games,” said Jay Kaplan, ACLU of Michigan Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project staff attorney. “Governor Snyder must stay above the ideological fray and do what’s best for our state and its residents. Taking away health benefits from our residents during a time of economic uncertainty is mean-spirited and harmful to our economy.” > Full Story
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