Table Of Content
- More From the Los Angeles Times
- Michigan Department of Civil Rights to Host Virtual Public Forum on Voting and Violence
- Michigan ‘fake elector’ judge threatens contempt for witness intimidation
- AP NFL draft grades: Bears earned highest mark after landing Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze
- Michigan Civil Rights Commission to Hold Virtual Hearing on Housing Discrimination in Michigan
Her attorney, David DeLaney, told AP that Geiger was exercising free speech and that the comments reflected her “religious beliefs.” He added that Geiger never physically blocked anyone from entering her business. 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. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Geiger encouraged those who identified as "anything other than a man/woman" to "seek services at a local pet groomer."
More From the Los Angeles Times
The MDCR’s charge requests that Geiger pay the claimants for emotional distress and “mental anguish” her posts caused. If decided after a hearing, Studio 8 and Geiger could have state licensing certifications revoked based on violation of ELCRA. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) has issued a charge of discrimination against Studio 8 Hair Lab, the Traverse City salon that drew national attention in July for anti-trans online posts made by its owner, Christine Geiger. Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public services based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status. Senate Bill 4, the expansion of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, would be the more relevant statute, which aims to protect members of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, public services, housing and educational facilities.
Michigan Department of Civil Rights to Host Virtual Public Forum on Voting and Violence
“This business recently received increased public attention, which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news rather than actual consumer experiences with the business,” a Yelp message stated. Christine Geiger, who is listed as the salon’s co-owner, did not respond to The Post’s multiple requests seeking comment Thursday. Traverse City announced the salon was under investigation for discrimination over the claims. “Should you request to have a particular pronoun used, please note we may simply refer to you as ‘hey you.’ Regardless of MI HB 4744,” the post further stated, referring to the code for a Michigan hate crime law. Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples, although she agreed with the decision.
Michigan ‘fake elector’ judge threatens contempt for witness intimidation
Her coverage areas included state government and politics, including abortion rights and gun violence prevention issues. In a Wednesday morning press conference, MDCR Director John Johnson said that Geiger’s post, and subsequent doubling down on her stances, were in violation of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA). A friend of Christine Geiger, the owner of Studio 8, made a post on Facebook saying she supports Geiger for standing up for what she believes in. A Facebook post from Studio 8 Hair Lab suggested that anyone who identifies as anything other than a man or a woman should see a pet groomer and that service would be denied to them.
"Hate has shown time and time again to be a losing business strategy and we must not allow this blight to take root in our town," Link said. "Traverse City has a vibrant and thriving queer community thanks in part to our many allies and queer friendly businesses. Statements like the one from Studio 8 undermine the hard work that has been put in to make Traverse City the absolute best that it can be." "To compare our LGBTQ+ neighbors to animals and pedophiles is breathtaking hate and bigotry from a studio in my community," Coffia said in a public statement. "It is also dangerous because it dehumanizes fellow Michiganders at a time when violence against LGBTQ+ residents simply for who they are is already on the rise."
MDCR said a business doesn’t have to actually bar someone from entering to violate the law. Printing, posting, or publishing statements announcing that the “full and equal enjoyment” of a public accommodation will be refused to protected classes of customers – or saying their patronage is “objectionable, unwelcome, or undesirable” – violates the law, MDCR said. Of the 21 complaints the state received about Studio 8, three are part of the charge announced Wednesday, another three are still under investigation, and two are being evaluated to determine if the department has jurisdiction. The salon's announcement and subsequent backlash come after the Supreme Court's ruling at the end of June that businesses could refuse to serve LGBTQ+ clients. The court ruled 6-3 that a wedding website's owner could deny services to gay couples. A hearing will now be scheduled before an administrative law judge, who will issue a recommendation after hearing the merits of the complaint, according to the civil rights department.
Traverse City salon refuses to service transgender, queer patrons
Geiger, the salon co-owner, told local outlet 9 & 10 News that she is taking a stand against legislation recently passed by Michigan legislators seeking to expand the state's hate crime law to protect gender identity and sexual orientation. In response to one of the negative reviews that appears to have been deleted, the salon owner said “LGB” clients are welcome, but “the rest of it is not something I support,” referencing transgender and queer people. Supreme Court sided with a Denver-based web designer who refused to create websites for same-sex weddings, arguing that it would violate her religious beliefs and right to free speech.
After announcing that certain members of the LGBTQ+ community are unwelcome at Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City, owner Christine Geiger is no longer allowed to affiliate with a hair product line that she regularly used, promoted and sold at her salon. Her public comments dehumanizing our trans and non-binary communities are a disgrace. Freedom of speech is not freedom to discriminate or freedom of consequences. After deleting the post, Geiger clarified on a different Facebook page that she has “no issues with LGB,” referring to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Michigan Civil Rights Commission to Hold Virtual Hearing on Housing Discrimination in Michigan
That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls. The state passed a law in 1976 that bans firing someone, evicting them or otherwise discriminating against them because they are a member of the LGBTQ community. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
"STUDIO 8 HAIR LOFT is a very LGBTQ+ friendly salon, please do not mistake us for the other salon." “As a direct and proximate result of Respondent’s unlawful discrimination, Claimants L.M., H.S. Have suffered the loss of full and equal enjoyment of a public accommodation due to Respondent’s published statements,” the charge read. A judge has ruled in favor of a bakery owner who refused to make wedding cakes for a same-sex couple because it violated her religious beliefs. Since July of this year, MDCR has received a total of 21 complaints of discrimination against Studio 8. Of those, 3 are part of the current charge, another 3 are currently under investigation and 2 are being evaluated to determine if the department has jurisdiction.
The post garnered hundreds of comments and reactions, including significant pushback from LGBTQ+ advocates, before it was deleted. “This stance was taken to insure that clients have the best experience and I am admitting that since I am not willing to play the pronoun game or cater to requests outside of what I perceive as normal this probably isn’t the best option for that type of client,” she wrote. The salon could be subject to suspension or repeal of its business licenses by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission following a hearing by an administrative judge. “We are likely going to see more attempts to try and use that decision and religious beliefs to justify discrimination in non-religious activity,” he says.
Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City Michigan refusing trans clients - USA TODAY
Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City Michigan refusing trans clients.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
TRAVERSE CITY — A local salon owner has been charged with discrimination after refusing to serve certain members of the LGBTQ community. In their suit, Studio 8 challenges the constitutionality of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, gender or race. Attorney General Nessel argues that only the Michigan Court of Claims can hear cases against the State of Michigan and its departments.
Christine Geiger’s online posts have drawn criticism from Traverse City’s mayor and other officials, who said they were looking into whether she was violating a municipal anti-discrimination ordinance. In an email to the Free Press, Jocelyn Link, a chairperson at Polestar LGBTQ+ Community Center in Traverse City, said Studio 8 Hair Lab's comments are not welcome in the community. She told the publication that she saw an "outpouring of support" from some of her clients and backlash from others, including threats and angry messages. Geiger and Studio 8 Hair Lab did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider ahead of publication. Michigan state Rep. Betsy Coffia, a Democrat, denounced the salon's posts as "breathtaking hate and bigotry."