MCRC Education Equity in Michigan Report
This division supports the state ADA Coordinator in carrying out the duties outlined in Executive Order 2004-31.
CEED seeks to engage a broad range of stakeholders to achieve long-term and sustainable outcomes to complex problems. We collaborate with community organizations; churches; non-profit organizations; and city, county, state and federal government entities to address issues affecting the well-being of community members. Engaging in a collaborative manner is a powerful tool used to bring about environmental, social and behavioral changes that will improve the health of the community and its members.
The mission of the Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing is to affirm the indisputable rights of deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing residents to effective communication. The Division provides advocacy, interpreter testing, technical assistance, and interpreting services for the Governor, legislature, and state departments.
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.
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 primary mission of the MCRC and MDCR is to investigate complaints of discrimination in employment, education, housing, public accommodation, law enforcement and public service.
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June 15, 2020
Lansing, MI—The Michigan Civil Rights Commission has issued the following statement in response to today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex also protects employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“Today’s ruling confirms the position taken by the Commission in 2018: discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation is discrimination on the basis of sex,” said Commission Chair Stacie Clayton. “Two years ago, we issued an interpretive statement that under Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, discrimination on the basis of sex includes protection against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. We are gratified that, at least in the area of employment, the court has now ruled that the same interpretation applies to federal law.”
In July of 2017, Equality Michigan (EQMI) requested that the Commission issue an interpretive statement on the meaning of “sex” in ELCRA. The Commission tabled a decision on the request at meetings in 2017 and 2018.
At the Commission meeting on May 21, 2018, Commissioner Alma Wheeler Smith introduced a motion to issue the interpretive statement. Six Commissioners in attendance voted on the motion, five voting in favor of issuing the interpretive statement with one abstention from Commissioner Ira Combs.
“Today’s ruling by the highest court in the land represents a significant victory in the effort to ensure the LGBTQ community is afforded the civil rights protections they deserve,” said Clayton. “But the fight for equity is not over. On Friday, the US Department of Health and Human Services erased protections for transgender patients against discrimination by health care providers. Until courts at all levels recognize and affirm the rights of LGBTQ individuals to be free of discrimination in every aspect of their lives, we have work to do.”
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution to safeguard constitutional and legal guarantees against discrimination. The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights serves as the operational arm of the Commission.
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