The ACLU of Michigan is tracking hundreds of legal cases and pieces of legislation that impact your civil liberties at any given moment, covering all concerns from free speech to government abuse. That's why we like to point out a few cases that made the news each week, to keep our members and supporters up to date on threats in your neighborhood.
Religious exemption adoption bills return in Michigan, renew debate over LGBT access (MLive)
The House Committee on Families, Children and Seniors on Wednesday took testimony on a three-bill package that would formally allow adoption agencies to decline services on moral or religious grounds -- but require them to refer prospective parents elsewhere.
"Religious freedom means the freedom to exercise your individual religious beliefs, it does not mean the ability to impose your beliefs on others," said Brooke Tucker, an attorney with the ACLU of Michigan. "Nor does it require the state to finance discrimination against those who do not share your beliefs."
Jacques: Michigan laws make criminals of us all (Detroit News)
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has joined the discussion, too. Miriam Aukerman, an attorney with the ACLU of Michigan, participated Wednesday in a Lansing forum with Copland. Aukerman showed a video of two musicians arrested in Saugatuck for inadvertently breaking an ordinance that barred playing music in public spaces.
Editorial: Stonewall Calendars (Between the Lines)
Our LGBT Older Adult Coalition would like to expand on its work and we're looking for financial support to continue the work. The ACLU of Michigan has generously hosted the coalition since its inception, acting as legal fiduciary and providing space, overhead and staff resources.
West Mich. Conversation On Marriage Equality (Between the Lines)
The Network, in collaboration with Michigan For Marriage, the statewide campaign dedicated to moving marriage equality forward in Michigan, will host an upcoming community conversation on marriage equality at The Meanwhile beginning at 5:30. The event is free and open to the public and will provide the opportunity for marriage equality supporters to hear where Michigan's marriage case stands, what to expect in the weeks and months ahead and how to move marriage forward. Michigan for Marriage has hosted a number of these events throughout the state with presentations by the ACLU of Michigan, Equality Michigan, Cooley Law School, Michigan For Marriage and many others.
The 13 states that still ban same-sex marriage (CNN)
A U.S. District Court judge ruled last year that the state's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional, resulting in the issuance of more than 300 marriage licenses. That ended when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit granted a stay. The court later reinstated Michigan's ban in the same ruling that reinstated Kentucky's ban. Its fate will be decided by the Supreme Court decision due by June.