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The department allows for any other relief “as the commission [finds] just and proper,” which could include additional fees and a recommendation that the business’s license be suspended. The department allows for any other relief “as the commission seems just and proper,” which could include additional fees and a recommendation that the business’ license be suspended. Following the hearing, the judge will provide a recommendation as to whether discrimination took place and if so, what the appropriate penalty should be. The Commission may adopt the judge’s recommendation, draft its own opinion based on the recommendation, and/or require an additional hearing in front of the Commission. The Commission will issue a final determination and order, which may include but is not limited to adopting the judge’s recommendation as its own, dismissing the case, and/or requiring corrective action that may include paying damages. Lansing, MI—After investigating several certified complaints filed against a Traverse City salon, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) today filed a formal charge of discrimination against the Studio 8 Hair Lab LLC.
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MDCR said it attempts to resolve complaints first through conciliation (working with the accused business to resolve the issue) but that Studio 8 refused to come to an agreement. The department is now filing a formal charge of discrimination against the salon with an administrative law judge, who will set a date for a public hearing. “Following the hearing, the judge will provide a recommendation as to whether discrimination took place and if so, what the appropriate penalty should be,” the state said. A hair salon in northern Michigan is facing a discrimination charge from the state’s Department of Civil Rights after its owner posted on social media earlier this year that anyone identifying as other than a man or a woman is not welcome at her business. LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A hair salon in northern Michigan is facing a discrimination charge from the state’s Department of Civil Rights after its owner posted on social media earlier this year that anyone identifying as other than a man or a woman is not welcome at her business. GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) has charged Traverse City Hair salon Studio 8 with discrimination over social media posts the owner made which the department said denied individuals service based on sex.
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In June, the Supreme Court ruled by a 6-3 majority that a Colorado graphic designer is within her rights to deny service to same-sex couples seeking wedding websites because it would have compelled her to promote messages that contradict her religious beliefs. Supreme Court decision in the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, in which a Colorado-based web designer argued her state’s anti-discrimination law would compel her to create wedding websites for same sex-couples – something she disagreed with, citing her faith. "(A) haircut should be considered beyond the scope of the decision, which applied only to businesses that are 'expressive in nature' and designed 'to communicate a particular message,'" she told USA TODAY. The salon is facing backlash from community members and social media users after screenshots of its posts were shared widely. Penalties, according to the complaint, could include monetary compensation for the claimants’ emotional distress and mental anguish sustained by the discrimination.
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Studio 8 is suing the City of Traverse City and three individuals who filed complaints against the salon, accusing them of violating the salon’s free speech and religious freedom rights. ELCRA prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, which includes businesses that provide goods or services to the public. The business does not have to bar someone from entering on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to be in violation of the law. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is charged with investigating and resolving discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws. The Department also provides information and services to businesses on diversity initiatives and equal employment law. For more information on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, go to /mdcr.
But Smith and her supporters had said that a ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musicians — to do work that is against their beliefs. There has, however, been repeated misinformation regarding HB 4474, which is a bill seeking to expand Michigan’s hate crime laws to include protections for a host of classes including gay and transgender individuals. She filed a lawsuit on Oct. 25 in Grand Traverse County against Traverse City and three individuals who filed a complaint with the Department of Civil Rights claiming it infringes upon the salon’s right to religious freedom. Attorney Michael Naughton of North Coast Legal, who represents all three individuals, declined to comment.
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In response, the salon's Google and Yelp pages have been flooded with negative reviews. The bio for Studio 8's now-private Instagram account called itself "A private CONSERVATIVE business that does not cater to woke ideologies." "We want to make it clear that we disapprove of and reject hate speech in any form. Such actions go against the very values we hold dear and strive to uphold," the statement reads.
In a Facebook post made in July, Geiger said that anyone who identifies as anything other than a man or woman needs to get serviced at a local pet groomer. TRAVERSE CITY — The MDCR said they received a total of 21 complaints against Studio 8 Hair Lab. Of those, three are part of the current charge and another three are currently under investigation. The lawyer representing the owner said that these charges are without merit. In her claims, Gieger argued that Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act is unconstitional, after pushback over a social media post in which she said that Studio 8 would only serve people who identify as male or female. Last month, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office moved to dismiss the claims by Gieger against Traverse City, individuals who filed complaints against her, and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
"Traverse City has a vibrant and thriving queer community thanks in part to our many allies and queer friendly businesses." “Under the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, there are protections against retaliation for participating in a protected activity, such as filing an unlawful discrimination complaint with our department,” Trevino said. Supreme Court rules that conservative Christians have a free-speech right to refuse to provide some business services for same-sex marriages. The mission of the Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing is to affirm the indisputable rights of deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing residents to effective communication. The Division provides advocacy, interpreter testing, technical assistance, and interpreting services for the Governor, legislature, and state departments. While some argued that the private business should operate as it sees fit, others urged the community to refrain from seeking hair care services at Studio 8 Hair Lab.
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The recommendation will then go before Michigan’s Civil Rights Commission to either adopt or make their own ruling. The Department of Civil Rights investigates and resolves discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws. HB 4744 pertains to the establishment and maintenance of a qualified voter file.
Geiger also encouraged those who disapprove of her beliefs to visit other salons and stylists "willing to cater to what (she) will not." Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall. The specific implications of that decision will "no doubt be hashed out in court," said Elizabeth Reiner Platt, director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia Law School. Lily is a contributor to the Michigan Advance and a former reporting intern.
The Civil Rights Department says this case is not about free speech because Studio 8 violated the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights act. The act prevents discrimination based on religion, race or color, and the department says Geiger advertised unlawful discrimination. Back in July, the owner of Studio 8 Hair Lab, Christine Geiger, posted on Facebook that anyone who identifies other than male or female needs to get serviced at a pet groomer. The State Department of Civil Rights has now charged her with discrimination for that post. We reached out to the city to get their reaction, but because a lawsuit has been filed against the city they declined to comment. That is a red herring designed to grab and divert our attention away from the real violations of law and Christine Geiger’s responsibilities under law,” John Jonson, the executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, said.
The business has since deleted its Facebook page, though an image of the initial post can still be found online. Now legal experts say that not only is the business misinterpreting a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the topic to refuse service, but that it may be running afoul of discrimination protections in Michigan.
“If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer. Geiger and defenders have said she was exercising free speech, but Department of Civil Rights officials told reporters on Wednesday the case is not a First Amendment issue. Rather, the state’s anti-discrimination law clearly prohibits denying service to customers based on gender. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights filed on Wednesday a discrimination charge against Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City for threatening to withhold services from transgender people. UpNorthLive spoke with the attorney representing the owner of Studio 8 who said the people who filed the complaints were not denied service because they weren't customers at the salon. She said she had been a licensed hairstylist since 2006 and never knowingly had rejected a transgender person’s request for service.
Geiger's business is currently under investigation by the City of Traverse City, to determine if she is in violation of the city's non-discrimination ordinance. In the original Facebook post, Geiger inaccurately referenced House Bill 4744 while expressing the salon's refusal to acknowledge preferred pronouns. Hair product manufacturer Jack Winn Pro publicly distanced itself from Geiger's remarks, while expressing its unwavering support for LGBTQ+ rights. None of them were denied service in Studio 8, so now we’re in a pure speech category,” David Delaney, the attorney for Studio 8 Hair Lab, said. “This stance was taken to insure [sic] 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.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A northern Michigan city is investigating after a local hair salon owner posted on social media that anyone identifying as other than a man or a woman is not welcome at her business. The civil rights act was amended earlier this year by the Michigan Legislature to further add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The legislation was not given immediate effect, which would have required Republican lawmakers to side with the Democratic majority, and won’t take effect until February 2024. That law was changed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year to include discrimination against people based on their “gender identity or expression,” “sexual orientation,” as well as their age or disabilities. (NewsNation) — The owner of a hair salon in Michigan said she will deny service to certain members of the LGBTQ+ community, just two weeks after the Supreme Court ruled in a favor of a Colorado businesswoman who argued a state law barring discrimination violated her free speech rights. He pointed to a 2022 Michigan Supreme Court ruling which, barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, saying that in making the post, the salon might be in violation of state precedent.
The bill Geiger intended to reference is likely HB 4474, which seeks to expand Michigan's hate crime law to protect gender identity and sexual orientation. Misinformation has spread online, falsely claiming that the bill criminalizes the use of incorrect pronouns. It does note that there could be civil action against someone who discriminates against another for gender identity or expression, though this could apply to both transgender and cisgender people alike.