CIVIL RIGHTS ACT: ADD SEXUAL

ORIENTATION, DISABILITY

House Bill 5107

Committee: Constitutional Law and Ethics

Complete to 8-28-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5107 AS INTRODUCED 11-9-99

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act recognizes and declares as a civil right the "opportunity to obtain employment, housing and other real estate, and the full and equal utilization of public accommodations, public service, and education facilities without discrimination because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status as prohibited by [the] act." The act generally prohibits discrimination in these areas if the discrimination is based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status. The bill would amend the act to include sexual orientation and disability as categories protected under the act.

Definitions. The bill would define "disability" to mean having - or having a record of having, or being regarded as having - a physical or mental impairment that substantially limited one or more of the major life activities of an individual. The bill also would define "sexual orientation" to mean having an emotional, physical, or sexual attachment to another person without regard to the sex of that person or having or being perceived as having an orientation for such attachment, or having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one's biological sex. "Sexual orientation" explicitly would not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.

MCL 37.102 et al.

Analyst: S. Ekstrom

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.