In Michigan, a newly enacted measure would make it a crime to threaten or intimidate someone by using the incorrect pronoun for their gender identity.
Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression are included as protected categories in the legislation, making them subject to new sanctions for hate crimes. The proposed law would supersede the current Ethnic Intimidation Act and expand protections against such behavior.
In a report by Fox News, the Michigan House of Representatives has approved HB 4474, a measure that makes it illegal to threaten someone verbally. The new law establishes a felony offense with a maximum sentence of 5 years in jail and a maximum fine of $10,000.
According to the text of the proposed law, "'Intimidate' means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened."
As protected classifications, "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" are particularly addressed in the suggested law.
Having or being seen to have a gender-related self-identity or expression, whether or not connected with an individual's given sex at birth, is what the bill implies by "gender identity or expression."
However, the measure has been criticized for allegedly trampling on free speech rights by prohibiting even the most fundamental expressions of the conventional, scientific perspective of sex and gender.
In a narrow 59-50 vote, the state house, which is controlled by the Democrats, approved the bill. It will now be considered by the Michigan State Senate. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is widely anticipated to sign the bill into law if it passes the state senate.
Endeavor to Enact Pro-LGBTQ+ Legislations
This is part of the Democrats' ongoing push to put up pro-LGBTQ+ policies in the state's early months in office, the Daily Mail reported.
Since taking charge this year, Democrats in Michigan have made it a priority to better defend the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
In March, legislators enshrined LGBTQ+ protections in state civil rights bills, making it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
This week, legislators in Michigan approved a bill that would put an end to the practice of "conversion therapy" on children. The bill would make it illegal for mental health practitioners to use the scientifically debunked strategy of converting LGBTQ+ individuals to heterosexuality and conventional gender norms with minors.
The ban was passed by the Michigan Senate by a vote of 21 to 15, with one Republican voting with the Democrats. The state House had already passed the bill into law. It now requires Governor Whitmer's final approval; she has previously referred to the treatment as a "dangerous practice."
