Michigan LGBT communities fight discrimination

Discrimination and even violence against the lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) communities is far too commonplace as it is against all oppressed people. Detroit and Michigan are no exception. The much beloved elder, Andrew Anthos, a 72-year-old openly gay man, who died on Feb. 23 from a brutal beating outside his apartment in Detroit, is a tragic example. But there is ongoing resistance in places that might seem unlikely.

Also on Feb. 23, John David Nemecek legally changed her name to Julie Marie Nemecek, an important step in her male to female transition. For 16 years Nemecek was a professor and assistant dean of adult education at Spring Arbor University as well as an ordained Baptist minister, spouse and parent of two children. SAU, a small, evangelical Christian school 75 miles west of Detroit, fired her for conduct it claims is “inconsistent with the Christian faith.” A “We Support Julie Marie Nemecek” group has 145 members composed of students and faculty. On Feb. 12 a student-organized demonstration of support was held on a sidewalk near the campus.

SAU may lose a contract to share a new Lansing Community College facility because firing someone for being transgender violates Lansing’s Human Rights Ordinance. Passed unanimously by the City Council in December 2006, it protects “sexual orientation, gender identification or expression” along with race, gender, height, weight, age, national origin, religion; marital, familial or military discharge status; and political orientation. According to “Between the Lines,” SAU may have also violated the LCC equal opportunity and non-discrimination policies, further jeopardizing the lucrative contract. A March 6 arbitration hearing between Nemecek and SAU is scheduled before the EEOC on her gender discrimination case.

Lauren Spencer, a student at Michigan State University said: “Firing Julie Marie is an outrage and a sad day for the trans community and their allies. It is proof the public and private universities need to include gender identity and expression in their anti-discrimination policies.” Spencer was the only student candidate for MSU Board of Trustees and ran on the Green Party Stop the War Slate. She is actively organizing a campaign at her university to expand the anti-discrimination policies.