Nessel: Civil Rights Panel Not Bound By Former AG’s LGBT Opinion

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From the Associated Press — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says the state Civil Rights Commission is not bound by her predecessor’s determination that LGBT people are not protected by an anti-discrimination law. The Democrat’s office provided the informal guidance to the commission Tuesday. Nessel declined to issue a formal opinion because of pending litigation. Former Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette issued an opinion last year saying the commission overstepped when it said the state’s civil rights law
covered sexual orientation and gender identity. Nessel’s office says the U.S. Supreme Court in April decided to review a case involving a Michigan funeral home’s firing of a transgender woman. It’s among three cases that look at whether federal civil rights law bans job
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.