Michigan House Has Hearing, No Vote on Anti-Gay Bias Bill

LANSING - Michigan lawmakers on Wednesday adjourned a historic legislative hearing without voting on bills to prohibit discrimination against gays.

Supporters want to amend Michigan's civil rights law to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It's already illegal to discriminate based on race and other factors in employment, housing and public accommodations.

The House's Republican leader supports including protections for gays but not transgender residents, saying they're already protected because sex discrimination is illegal. Democrats say a "fully inclusive" bill for the entire LGBT community is needed.

Advocates say Wednesday's hearing was the first on the legislation after years of lobbying. A coalition of business leaders and others is urging Speaker Jase Bolger to still call a vote in the full House because the legislation is stalled in committee.

Also Wedneday, the U.S. Labor Department issued a rule to protect employees of federal contractors from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The rule would carry out terms of a workplace anti-discrimination law signed by President Barack Obama on July 21.