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Vote on LGBT rights not likely before November election

user Tyrone Warner
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Flickr

Legislation that would add LGBT protections to Michigan’s anti-discrimination law will probably have to wait until after the November election.

Credit user Tyrone Warner / Flickr
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Flickr

Some supporters of the measure hoped lawmakers would take it up before voters go to the polls in November. But the bill has not even been introduced yet.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, says he wants to take up the issue. Be he does not expect to hold a vote until the Legislature’s “lame duck” session.

“I’m not sure what committee I’ll assign it to yet, but I do believe there will be a public debate sometime in November,” Richardville told reporters Tuesday.

State House Speaker Jase Bolger also says it is wrong that people can legally be fired, denied employment, or denied housing in Michigan because they’re gay. But he says he wants to make sure the legislation does not infringe on the rights of religious people who oppose same-sex marriage.

Copyright 2014 Michigan Radio

Jake Neher is a state Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He joined MPRN in September of 2012. Before that he served as a reporter and anchor for WFUV Public Radio in the Bronx, New York, and as News Director for KBRW Public Radio in Barrow, Alaska. He has been working in radio in some capacity since he was 15 years old. A native of southeast Michigan, Jake graduated from Central Michigan University in 2010. He has a master's degree in public communications from Fordham University.