By BTL Staff



WDET reports that many Michigan colleges, universities and schools have officially endorsed the passing of protections for LGBT people in the state. Organizations representing these various groups join more than 50 business and non-profit groups who are urging Michigan lawmakers to pass legislation protecting LGBT persons from discrimination. The coalition expects this legislation to be introduced next month.

“We see it both as an important message for students but also an important issue for community colleges, as they are also in the business of attracting talent,” said Michigan Community College Association President Mike Hansen.

The coalition says too many talented people are leaving the state because they can legally be fired, denied employment or denied housing for being gay.

“We hear stories from the university sector that we export teachers out of state all the time,” said Don Wotruba with the Michigan Association of School Boards. “And so we looked at this as a change in law that hopefully will bring about an ability to keep our best and brightest as much as possible in Michigan.”

The official move of educational institutions to support LGBT Michiganders comes after both the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Michigan State University received further good news on the LGBT front earlier this summer.

Some Republicans in the state remain concerned that the measure would infringe on the “rights” of religious people.