News & Commentary

Near the end of March, legislators and the governor of North Carolina jammed through the now infamous HB2 “bathroom bill” mandating that transgender people use only those restrooms that match their assigned sex at birth.  Immediately, there was uproar from business, LGBTQ advocates, constitutional law scholars and everyday ordinary people, who saw through the ridiculous idea that transgender people are somehow dangerous and need to be swept into segregated spaces.

In 2015, to mark the first anniversary of Flint’s fateful switch to river water, about 100 Flint residents marched through their city’s downtown in protest.

ACLU at the Michigan Capitol – April 21, 2016

Through the years, the ACLU of Michigan has led the charge in a variety of impactful crusades against racial injustice. Not least among them have been lawsuits to save affirmative action, overhaul Michigan’s public defender system, hold predatory lenders accountable and abolish juvenile life sentences without parole. These, and comparable projects, demand a considerable investment of financial and human resources, and often require the cooperation and collaboration of outside lawyers, law firms, legislative advocates and allied non-profit organizations. Much of value is accomplished by these efforts.

Does religious freedom include the right to discriminate? The first amendment says you and your religious exercise are protected rights. But practicing your faith can’t come at the expense of other people’s well-being, public safety, and taxpayer dollars.

When I began writing a series of stories chronicling the lives of transgender people, my goal was to help educate the public. Yet I’m learning just as much in the process.

It’s no secret that transgender people are becoming more visible on a national stage. There’s actress Laverne Cox, reality star Caitlyn Jenner, and even shows like "Transparent" that try with honest intentions to shine some much-needed light on the issues that affect the trans community the most. These are all good things, of course. 

ACLU at the Michigan Capitol – April 7, 2016