LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight: Fighting Discrimination Through Legal Advocacy 

October is LGBTQ+ History Month.  It serves as an annual celebration of the people of the past that have fought for justice and equal rights in the community.

Before joining Nyman Turkish, Attorney Alanah Haskin along with other State Bar of Michigan LGBTQ+ Law Section members submitted an amicus brief in 2017 to the Michigan Supreme Court in the case Rouch World, LLC v. Michigan Department of Civil Rights, No. 162482, advocating that Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976 (ELCRA) protects individuals based on sexual orientation. The Court ruled that Michigan law does protect individuals based on their sexual orientation. 

The brief highlighted the widespread discrimination that LGBTQ+ individuals face in employment, housing, education, and public etc. in the state of Michigan.  

The attorneys argued that ELCRA should be interpreted and applied here, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Michigan with adjacent federal precedent set by Bostock v Clayton County of 1964.  

The case in which Rouch World, an event venue, refused to host a wedding for a same sex couple was investigated by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) for the complaints of discrimination under ELCRA. 

The Michigan Supreme Court noted that it was bound by a 1998 decision in Barbour v. Department of Social Services, an outdated case in which Michael Barbour sued the Department of Social Services for sexual harassment. Barbour, who is gay, alleged that he was forced to take medical leave due to harassment based on his sexual orientation. The court at that time ruled that gay and lesbian individuals were not protected under Michigan’s civil rights laws. 

The brief urged the Michigan Supreme Court to overturn Barbour v. Department of Social Services and affirm that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby extending full protection to LGBTQ+ individuals. 

The Court ultimately held that the prior Barbour decision was wrongly decided and reaffirmed that Michigan law guarantees equal protection for all citizens, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Fierce Advocacy  

At Nyman Turkish, our clients are part of a community that is often overlooked and marginalized—much like the experiences faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community. We also recognize that some of our clients are part of the LGBTQ+ community and stand at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. 

Our Firm celebrates resilience and remains committed to the ongoing fight for equality, justice, and unity—working together each day to shape meaningful progress.