Snyder won’t issue gay pride month proclamation, attend events

Michigan Pride will be hosting its annual pride events Saturday in Lansing, but don’t expect to see Gov. Rick Snyder there, or for him to issue a proclamation about gay pride month.

Geralyn Lasher, communications director for the Republican governor, said that while Snyder was invited to speak at the annual rally on the steps of the Capitol, his schedule prohibits it.

Lasher also said Snyder will not issuing a gay pride proclamation — something Democratic Gov. Jennifer Graholm did every year she was in office.

That does not mean Snyder is not supportive of LGBT people, Lasher said.

“While our office has not issued a Pride Month proclamation for June I would point out the Governor has, within the first four months of the administration, called for legislation to address bullying — an issue that has been identified as a priority from the LGBT community,” Lasher said in an email. “In his special message on education he said, ‘We must ensure that Michigan students’ opportunities are not diminished because we fail to provide them with a safe and secure learning environment. Forty-five states already have passed laws to address the problem of bullying in schools. It is time for Michigan to join them.’”

Lasher continued, “He went on to say, ‘School policies cannot be designed to only cover some students – every school must protect every student. And, as adults, we need to be clear in both word and deed – bullying is always wrong.’”

Snyder’s call for passage of anti-bullying legislation has not caused the bills to be given piority in the GOP-dominated legislature. A version of anti-bullying passed a Senate committee earlier this year, but has not been taken up by the full Senate. The bill does not create enumerated, or listed, classes of persons which advocates say is necessary to assure anti-LGBT bullying is addressed in Michigan schools.