Year in Review: Top LGBT stories of 2009

1. Kalamazoo ordinance battle

Kalamazoo’s pitched back-and-forth struggle over a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance dominated 2009’s gay rights debate in Michigan. The final result was a ringing victory for LGBT activists that reverberated nationally.

The year began with opponents of the measure submitting enough petition signatures to call for a public vote. Prior to that, Kalamazoo’s city commission had voted unanimously to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. But city commissioners repealed that ordinance and set in motion the campaign over the newly drafted Ordinance 1856.

Well-oiled campaigns emerged on both sides of the issue, and both waged high-profile, often emotional efforts at swaying key voting blocs, like African Americans as well as religious voters. Opponents attempted to gain traction with the unfounded smear that if Ordinance 1856 passed, transgender women would morph into pedophiles preying on young girls in public bathrooms. It didn’t work. On Nov. 3, voters overwhelmingly approved the ordinance by a whopping 23 point margin. The hard-fought LGBT victory even prompted some state lawmakers in Lansing to once again look into extending the same basic employment and housing protections statewide.

2. Marriage equality movement

With a Constitutional amendment barring marriages other than those of one man and one woman, Michigan saw some movement to rescind the amendment and allow same-sex partners to marry. In a rally in May, activists called for a repeal effort by 2012. And in June, during a speech to the annual pride celebration at the Capitol, State Rep. and House Speaker Pro-tem Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) announced she would introduce legislation to repeal the state’s marriage ban. She did so in November, introducing a package of bills to repeal the amendment, and amend state laws to expand the definition of marriage. Those bills have seen no movement in the House.

3. Anti-bullying legislation tactics split LGBT community

After nearly a decade of fighting for a comprehensive law to prevent bullying in Michigan schools, the LBGT community’s leading organizations found themselves standing on differing sides of political strategy. The rift was formed when it came out that the Triangle Foundation and others in the Safe Schools Coalition approved a last minute strategy to accept a bill which would not enumerate, or list, protected categories.

The result of this event was a community divided to the point State Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) said the rift was damaging the political chances of the legislation.

And while the rift continues, anti-bullying advocates have continued to press the issue, including a move to pass it during the budget battle in September, and discussions to pass the legislation as part of Race to the Top reforms. The bill has not passed either house, but Sen. Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks) says he expects it to pass by the end of 2010.

4. Elliot Larsen amendment and bias crimes legislation moved out of House committee

A move to amend the state’s law prohibiting discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity passed the House Judiciary Committee in November. The bill has been introduced for over a decade. House Judiciary Chair Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) said the move to approve the legislation was inspired in part by the victory of LGBT activists and supporters in Kalamazoo the day before.

Earlier in the year, the House Judiciary Committee also sent legislation to amend the state’s ethnic intimidation act to include a host of groups. Among those groups were veterans, the disabled and the LGBT community. Extending the laws to protect the LGBT community, however, triggered a battle with groups like the American Family Association of Michigan.

Passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act on the federal level left State Sen. Hansen Clark (D-Detroit) calling for Michigan to pass the bias crimes law.

Neither bill has been voted on by the entire House, and no date has been set for such a vote.

5. City of Jackson considers, rejects non-discrimination ordinance

While the City of Kalamazoo was preparing for a show down at the polls over nondiscrimination protections, some city leaders in Jackson tried to get the city of Jackson to pass a similar ordinance. And while supporters organized door-to-door signature drives, opponents also collected signatures. In the end, the city council rejected the ordinance. But supporters have vowed to bring the issue back to the council.

Michigan Messenger’s David Alire Garcia contributed to this post.