(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/18/23) The city of Traverse City is investigating a hair salon for potential ordinance violation after its owner posted to Facebook that transgender customers were not welcome and should instead use a “pet groomer.”
In a statement posted to the city’s website, the city said it has “received multiple notifications of discriminatory language issued from a local business,” and those notifications referenced the city’s non-discrimination ordinance that says no person shall be “denied the enjoyment of his or her civil rights or be discriminated against because of their” race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, physical or mental disability, family status, sexual orientation or gender identity.
“We understand the seriousness of these complaints and in light of the recent Supreme Court rulings, as well as recent legislative changes at the State level, the complaint requires diligent review of the law and how that may apply to the business in question,” city attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht said in the statement.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is also investigating eight complaints of discrimination against the Studio 8 Hair Lab, a spokesperson said today.
Christine Geiger, the owner of the Studio 8 Hair Lab, told MIRS Friday that she made the “Taking a Stand” post. She did not answer additional questions about why she made the post or why she deleted it, noting, “I will need to research before commenting to any interviews.”
The Facebook post, which has since been deleted, notes that, “If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer. You are not welcome at this salon. Period.”
The post goes on to say that anyone who has a specific pronoun selection would be referred to as “‘hey you'. [sic] Regardless of MI HB 4744,” which the likely references HB 4744 – Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield)’s Michigan Hate Crime Act, which would make targeting someone based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression a felony. (See Related Story)
The post also includes a lips emoji to read: Kiss “my ASS Governor Witchmere” with an emoji of a wink and a tongue sticking out.
The post follows a June U.S. Supreme Court decision that sided with 303 Creative LLC, who did not want to create wedding websites for same sex-couples. The court held that the website designs constituted a form of speech that ran afoul of the designer’s faith and could stifle her First Amendment rights.
In March, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed SB 4, which expanded the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include LGBTQ.
Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis said the city has “valued itself on providing a safe environment for all people,” while Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Shamroe said one business owner’s actions “do not reflect the values” of Traverse City residents.
“Regardless of any court cases decided since then, city residents voted almost 2-to-1 in support of protecting LGBTQIA+ rights in 2011,” Shamroe said. “That is who we are. We are a community who welcomes all and stands with neighbors, especially our LGBTQIA+ folks as they find themselves under attack.”
