Dept of Civil Rights issues discriminatory charge to Traverse City salon for anti-trans posts

Table Of Content

• Column: California’s transgender sanctuary law survives a challenge as judge ridicules plaintiff’s claims
• Traverse City salon faces discrimination charge over anti-trans social posts
• What happened to the once-popular social media sites?
• Run With An Olympian: Track Star LaShawn Merritt Visits Traverse City
• News
• Business Watch
• Michigan Civil Rights Commission Elects Officers, Establishes Priority Issue Committees for 2024
• South Africa marks ‘Freedom Day,’ 30 years since apartheid ended, amid discontent with the ANC

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A northern Michigan city is investigating after a local hair salon owner posted on social media that anyone identifying as other than a man or a woman is not welcome at her business. The civil rights act was amended earlier this year by the Michigan Legislature to further add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The legislation was not given immediate effect, which would have required Republican lawmakers to side with the Democratic majority, and won’t take effect until February 2024. That law was changed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year to include discrimination against people based on their “gender identity or expression,” “sexual orientation,” as well as their age or disabilities. (NewsNation) — The owner of a hair salon in Michigan said she will deny service to certain members of the LGBTQ+ community, just two weeks after the Supreme Court ruled in a favor of a Colorado businesswoman who argued a state law barring discrimination violated her free speech rights. He pointed to a 2022 Michigan Supreme Court ruling which, barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, saying that in making the post, the salon might be in violation of state precedent.

Column: California’s transgender sanctuary law survives a challenge as judge ridicules plaintiff’s claims

If that were the case, then we would be seriously encroaching on our First Amendment rights and then people would not be able to say what they want on Facebook,” Delaney said. And on Tuesday, the state said that post violates the Anti-Discrimination Act. TRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse County Circuit Court has now dismissed all claims filed by Studio 8 Hair Lab owner Christine Gieger. The Facebook page has since been deleted and the salon’s Instagram page made private, the Kansas City Star reported. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

Traverse City salon faces discrimination charge over anti-trans social posts

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Michigan hair salon refuses transgender customers, says to 'seek services at local pet groomer' - New York Post

Michigan hair salon refuses transgender customers, says to 'seek services at local pet groomer'.

Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What happened to the once-popular social media sites?

MDCR said it attempts to resolve complaints first through conciliation (working with the accused business to resolve the issue) but that Studio 8 refused to come to an agreement. The department is now filing a formal charge of discrimination against the salon with an administrative law judge, who will set a date for a public hearing. “Following the hearing, the judge will provide a recommendation as to whether discrimination took place and if so, what the appropriate penalty should be,” the state said. A hair salon in northern Michigan is facing a discrimination charge from the state’s Department of Civil Rights after its owner posted on social media earlier this year that anyone identifying as other than a man or a woman is not welcome at her business. LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A hair salon in northern Michigan is facing a discrimination charge from the state’s Department of Civil Rights after its owner posted on social media earlier this year that anyone identifying as other than a man or a woman is not welcome at her business. GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) has charged Traverse City Hair salon Studio 8 with discrimination over social media posts the owner made which the department said denied individuals service based on sex.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office develops educational training session and resources designed to increase awareness of implicit bias and its impact in the work we do and the people we serve. There will be a court hearing to determine Studio 8′s punishment, but that date has not been released. Geiger told us in July that she was taking a stand against being forced to use preferred pronouns such as they/them, he/him and she/her. TRAVERSE CITY — On Tuesday, Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a motion to dismiss claims against the Michigan Department of Civil Rights by Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City. Judge Kevin Elsenheimer said in his dismissal that Gieger wanted to use her claims to “harass, intimidate, threaten and/or retaliate” against those opposed to her post.

"The stylist who made those comments no longer has authorization to represent our brand or products." Just this year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law an expansion of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to cover protections for sexual orientation and gender identify. In 2011, Traverse City voters also passed a non-discrimination ordinance that says no person can be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Studio 8 Hair Lab, a Traverse City-based hair salon, made the claim in a since-deleted post seemingly spurred by news of a US Supreme Court decision in favor of a Christian graphic designer seeking the right to refuse to work with gay couples. Smith’s opponents warned that a win for her would allow a range of businesses to discriminate, possibly refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants.

Business Watch

Individuals unable to attend in person and wishing to submit public comments may do by email to MDCR- no later than 5 pm Friday, May 3, 2024. The City of Traverse City and the three people who filed complaints with the MDCR are named as defendants. On October 25, the owner of Studio 8 filed a civil lawsuit in 13th Circuit Court in Grand Traverse County.

We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics. MDCR Director of Legal Affairs Bryant Osikowicz said that the charge shouldn’t be misconstrued as an issue of religion or freedom of speech. The Advance called Geiger for comment at the salon, but the voicemail was full. Geiger went on to say that while she has been flooded with angry messages and threats, she said she has "had a big outpouring of support from my existing clients." Access a recording of the Nov. 15 press conference announcing the charge against Studio 8 here.

The court ruled the business can decline to make a product that carries a message supporting LGBTQ people. The salon, Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City in the northwestern part of the state, announced on social media it will no longer serve clients who identify "as anything other than a man/woman," and made derogatory comments about transgender people. The department claims in the charge filed Wednesday that Traverse City’s Studio 8 Hair Lab violated the state’s civil rights act in a Facebook post in July from its owner, Christine Geiger, by unlawfully discriminating against three claimants. CEED’s educational efforts provide customers with information and training about civil rights laws and enhances the awareness of civil rights issues. It provides the public with a resource for the proactive prevention of discrimination within a community.

The salon's Instagram page, now set to private, says it is "A private CONSERVATIVE business that does not cater to woke ideologies." While MDCR officials were unable to comment on Geiger’s ongoing lawsuit, Trevino said that the three complainants, two of whom are nonbinary, are protected from certain forms of retaliation under ELCRA. MDCR Director of Enforcement Marcellina Trevino said that the department’s investigative process was followed to determine whether there was cause for a charge of discrimination, including trying to facilitate a conciliatory meeting with Geiger. Her attorney, David DeLaney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment by phone.

Once MDCR has determined through a neutral and impartial investigation that discrimination has occurred, the agency attempts to resolve the complaint through conciliation. If a respondent refuses to come to an agreement, as is the case with Studio 8 Hair Lab LLC, MDCR will file a formal charge of discrimination with an administrative law judge (ALJ), who will set a date for a public hearing. At the hearing, witnesses testify under oath, the rules of evidence apply, and all parties have the right to cross examine witnesses. After multiple people filed discrimination complaints against the salon over a transphobic social media post, Studio 8 filed suit in Grand Traverse Circuit Court against Traverse City and the people who filed the complaints.