News & Commentary

Jay

Roland Leggett, ACLU of Michigan Field OrganizerHappy holidays! You may not be used to hearing that in June but for a lot of people in the LGBT community, myself included, this time of year is almost as exciting as the real thing. That’s because June is the month where cities around the world celebrate their LGBT communities with pride events.Pride month has come so far, that now it’s actually considered to be something of a national tradition. In fact, earlier this month the White House released a proclamation naming June as National Pride month!We here at the ACLU of Michigan have some exciting things in store for Pride Month as well. It all started last night with what is the first in a series of LGBT themed events called “Libations and Liberties”, an ACLU cocktail party for the LGBT community and its straight allies. The event is being put on by our LGBT Project, which works to fight discrimination and move public opinion on LGBT rights through the courts, legislatures and public education. We will also be out and proud at Motor City Pride, State Pride in Lansing and Hotter than July. While we’ll have our usual goodies to give out, we have a special surprise in store this year as well.This is also a great time of year take inventory of  the progress that has been made this year as well as some of the challenges. The country is still struggling to realize the promise of equality for all under the law. However, this Pride month we invite you to stand alongside us, as we continue to fight for the constitutional rights of all Americans.It doesn’t hurt that you can have a little fun along the way at a pride event; so stop by and say hi! 

With Spring comes prom season for our nation’s high schools and for some Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students, with prom season comes controversy as they try to bring a same gender date to the prom. LGBT students, like other students, have the right to participate in this rite of passage and to bring dates of their choice. But even in 2009, some public high schools have a problem with this. What schools may not know is that who you decide to bring to the prom is constitutionally protected speech, guaranteed by the First Amendment in our constitution. In 1980, a federal court upheld the right of student, Aaron Fricke, to bring a same-sex date to his Rhode Island high school prom. It didn’t matter that some students and parents disapproved of Aaron’s choice because his decision was constitutionally protected freedom of expression. The First Amendment not only protects your choice date, but it also protects what students wear to the prom. For instance, female students have the right to wear a tuxedo instead of a dress. The same rule applies if a male student decided to wear a formal dress. School districts can have dress codes, but if tuxedos and formal dress are a part of that dress code then any student should be allowed to wear them. The ACLU has assisted countless LGBT students who experienced problems around prom time through the years and has even developed a website to provide assistance to students encountering difficulties because of their choice of date or dress: www.aclu.org/lgbtprom. If you’re experiencing any problems with your school administration over your date or dress at the prom contact me at kaplan@aclumich.org or 313-578-6812.

It’s an exciting time to be the ACLU of Michigan – new website, new blog, new president and a new outlook on civil liberties in Michigan. Admittedly, it’s hard to have a new outlook on anything in this state other than the economic crisis that we’re facing, but lucky for us, guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms that this country was founded upon doesn’t cost a thing. In fact, civil libertie could save the state a lot of money.

Op-ed Appearing in the Ann Arbor News

The ACLU doesn't believe that voters intended to take health benefits away from families when they voted on Proposal 2 in 2004. And this is just what we'll argue in front of the Michigan Supreme Court this Tuesday, November 6. National Pride at Work v Granholm et al is our case asking the courts to declare that the 2004 Proposal 2 does not prohibit public employers from offering benefits to the partners and children of lesbian and gay employees. The ACLU of Michigan brought this case after Attorney General Mike Cox issued a ruling stating his belief that health benefits for same-sex couples were not allowable under Proposal 2. The Ingham County Circuit Court ruled in our favor, but the decision was reversed by the Michigan Court of Appeals in February of this year. We urge you to do two things:

This is a sad time in Michigan's legal history. On Nov. 2, a majority of voters approved an amendment to Michigan's constitution. The language, "Only the union between one man and one woman in marriage shall be recognized as marriage or similar union for any purpose" seemed simple, but it isn't.