Latest news with #ElliottLarsenCivilRightsAct
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Traverse City music director fired from church over same-sex marriage
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (FOX 2) - Michigan's civil rights laws say employers cannot discriminate, yet that's exactly what a music director says happened to him and that the priest lied about it to parishioners. The backstory Fred Szczepanski is the music director for 34 years at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Traverse City. Bill Thompson and Szczepanski got married in 2020, but they've been together for 32 years. "Over the last 34 years, he's not missed a Christmas service, or a midnight mass, or an Easter service. He was always there, very committed to that church," Thompson said. "He built up a children's choir and a funeral choir and the regular choir. Szczepanski was just weeks away from his Jan. 1 retirement when his new boss, Father Michael Lingaur, fired him at the end of October, 2024. "Oh, it was my life—it was my life—I was 32 when I started there," Szczepanski said. "All the little kids I had in my children's choir—I did their weddings, and they're now parents and supporting me the most." What they're saying Szczepanski says there had never been a problem until the new priest, Michael Lingaur, arrived three months prior. He called me in the office and told me that he had to let me go because of a same-sex marriage—even though everyone in the church and all of my former bosses knew of our relationship. But because we got married four years ago, he couldn't let me work for the church anymore," he said. "Then he said we are going to tell everyone you are taking an early retirement, which was a lie." Thompson said Lingaur asked Szczepanski to work two more weeks after their meeting, adding insult to injury. "When he terminated me, he said that you're welcome to worship here, but you can no longer do music for masses, for weddings, for funerals—and you can no longer receive communion," said Szczepanski. Dig deeper Suddenly, the lifelong Catholic and dedicated employee says he was not only excommunicated but on the receiving end of discrimination and wrongful termination. Blake Ringsmuth is Szczepanski's attorney—he says the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits such discrimination, and they're now suing the church and the Diocese of Gaylord. "This was just a malicious, cruel thing that this priest did," said Ringsmuth. "The fact of the matter is they don't have the right to discriminate like this against someone in their job. A sexual orientation, marriage status, and sex are protected classes—and the claim that we're bringing is that he was discriminated illegally on all of those fronts." The diocese declined to comment but referred us to a letter Bishop Jeffrey Walsh sent to parishioners saying employees consent to a ministerial agreement to adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church, that marriage is an exclusive covenant between a man and a woman. "I had worked there 34 years—I had four prior bosses before this priest came in—and I've always had rave reviews on my performance. My personal life had nothing to do with my performance," said Szczepanski's. Local perspective There's been pushback, parishioners protested and even left the church altogether. So many people sent letters to the priest and the bishop. A dozen pastors from other denominations even weighed in. A testament to the impact of one music director for more than three decades. Now taking on a new role with his husband by his side. "We want to give a platform for future people who are discriminated against, because if no one takes a stand, nothing will ever change," Bill said. "It's not just about me—it's about people losing their jobs over this all over the country—and the reason I'm going through with this is because I don't want it to happen to someone else—you know it's wrong—it's wrong," Szczepanski said Why you should care Fred Szczepanski says he's grateful to the many people who have supported him and are supporting what they believe is an important civil rights case with far-reaching impact. The Source FOX 2 talked with Fred Szczepanski and his attorney, Elliott Larsen.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
8 Democrats join GOP in voting to urge MHSAA to ban transgender kids from girls' sports
The Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday strongly urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association to ban transgender girls from girls' sports. Sixty-six representatives voted for it, including eight Democrats. Forty-three representatives voted against it. The resolution, which does not carry the weight of law, called on the MHSAA to adhere to President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in school sports for women and girls. "Allowing biological males to compete in women's sports in defiance of a federal executive order could put female athletes in Michigan at risk for injury, threatens the safety and fairness of competitions and undermines the intent of Title IX," the resolution read. The MHSAA evaluates requests by trans athletes on an individual basis. For fall of 2024, two transgender girls participated in high school sports for girls. According to Equality Michigan, an advocacy group for the state's LGBTQ+ community, no trans athletes are signed up to play winter sports or sports for the upcoming spring season. 'We all want sports to be fair and student athletes to be safe," Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan said in a prepared statement released after the resolution's passsage. "That's why the MHSAA already has rules about who can participate in different sports at different levels across a range of issues. They already have a process in place and are experts when it comes to sports in schools. They don't need politicians in Lansing to override their expertise with a one-size-fits-all blanket ban." More: Legal experts say judge's ruling falls short of ordering stalled bills to be presented More: Michigan road funding efforts have stalled before. Can new plans break the traffic jam? It is unclear if Trump's executive order conflicts with Michigan's anti-discrimination Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act. Speaking to the Legislature, Jaime Greene, R- Richmond, the resolution's sponsor said: "We should acknowledge that while we are all equal in dignity and rights we are also biologically distinct in ways that are both beautiful and scientifically undeniable. Acknowledging these differences is vital to the fairness and safety of the sports that we hold dear. So the legacy of our grandmothers and mothers who fought tirelessly for our right to stand run and compete as equals on the sports field, that must not be forgotten. They laid that groundwork for a world where a girl's strength is celebrated. It is our duty to protect this legacy for future generations of women athletes." Rep. Emily Dievendorf, D-Lansing, spoke against the resolution: "I want you to think about what it means to be a kid. Figuring out who you are trying to find a place to belong. Learning confidence through the support of your peers and mentors. ... Now imagine, instead being told by adults, by your own government that you are the problem. That playing sports making friends and being yourself is wrong. That the community meant to support you is, instead, is determined to erase you. "I know what it is to be a queer kid and it is lonely. I know what it is to be our nonbinary legislator and it is isolating and dehumanizing. This resolution isn't about fairness. It isn't about protecting women's sports. This isn't about safety because there is no threat. There is no threat." A copy of the resolution will be sent to Trump. The Democrats who supported the resolution are: Rep. Albas Farhat, D-Dearborn Rep. Peter Herzberg, D-Westland Rep. Tullio Liberati, D-Allen Park Rep. Denise Mentzer, D-Mt. Clemens Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Twp. Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Twp. Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan House urges ban on transgender kids from girl's sports
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
8 Democrats join GOP in voting to urge MHSAA to ban transgender kids from girls' sports
The Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday strongly urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association to ban transgender girls from girls' sports. Sixty-six representatives voted for it, including eight Democrats. Forty-three representatives voted against it. The resolution, which does not carry the weight of law, called on the MHSAA to adhere to President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in school sports for women and girls. "Allowing biological males to compete in women's sports in defiance of a federal executive order could put female athletes in Michigan at risk for injury, threatens the safety and fairness of competitions and undermines the intent of Title IX," the resolution read. The MHSAA evaluates requests by trans athletes on an individual basis. For fall of 2024, two transgender girls participated in high school sports for girls. According to Equality Michigan, an advocacy group for the state's LGBTQ+ community, no trans athletes are signed up to play winter sports or sports for the upcoming spring season. 'We all want sports to be fair and student athletes to be safe," Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan said in a prepared statement released after the resolution's passsage. "That's why the MHSAA already has rules about who can participate in different sports at different levels across a range of issues. They already have a process in place and are experts when it comes to sports in schools. They don't need politicians in Lansing to override their expertise with a one-size-fits-all blanket ban." More: Legal experts say judge's ruling falls short of ordering stalled bills to be presented More: Michigan road funding efforts have stalled before. Can new plans break the traffic jam? It is unclear if Trump's executive order conflicts with Michigan's anti-discrimination Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act. Speaking to the Legislature, Jaime Greene, R- Richmond, the resolution's sponsor said: "We should acknowledge that while we are all equal in dignity and rights we are also biologically distinct in ways that are both beautiful and scientifically undeniable. Acknowledging these differences is vital to the fairness and safety of the sports that we hold dear. So the legacy of our grandmothers and mothers who fought tirelessly for our right to stand run and compete as equals on the sports field, that must not be forgotten. They laid that groundwork for a world where a girl's strength is celebrated. It is our duty to protect this legacy for future generations of women athletes." Rep. Emily Dievendorf, D-Lansing, spoke against the resolution: "I want you to think about what it means to be a kid. Figuring out who you are trying to find a place to belong. Learning confidence through the support of your peers and mentors. ... Now imagine, instead being told by adults, by your own government that you are the problem. That playing sports making friends and being yourself is wrong. That the community meant to support you is, instead, is determined to erase you. "I know what it is to be a queer kid and it is lonely. I know what it is to be our nonbinary legislator and it is isolating and dehumanizing. This resolution isn't about fairness. It isn't about protecting women's sports. This isn't about safety because there is no threat. There is no threat." A copy of the resolution will be sent to Trump. The Democrats who supported the resolution are: Rep. Albas Farhat, D-Dearborn Rep. Peter Herzberg, D-Westland Rep. Tullio Liberati, D-Allen Park Rep. Denise Mentzer, D-Mt. Clemens Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Twp. Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Twp. Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan House urges ban on transgender kids from girl's sports
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MHSAA waits on guidance for transgender athletes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan athletics are in a state of limbo Friday following President Trump's latest executive order, which bans biologically born men from participating in girls' and women's sports. 'We are waiting for clarification to find out what conflicts there might be between the executive order and the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act,' said Geoff Kimmerly, director of communications for Michigan High School Athletic Association. MHSAA has worked as the state's rule-making and governing sports body for most high schools and middle schools in Michigan for the past 100 years. Kimmerly said out of the 175,000 student-athletes it oversees, MHSAA knows of only two transgender women playing in female or girls sports this year. 'It is rarely brought into play. We have two waivers during this school year,' he said. 'We do not track transgender boys because everyone is allowed to play on boy's teams.' Trump's bans biologically born male athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports. The order reverses Title IX expansions added by his predecessor. 'The war on women's sports is over,' Trump said. 'From now on women's sports will be only for women.' NCAA changes transgender policy to limit women's competition to athletes assigned female at birth However, while the order rolls back Title IX guidelines, there are still questions about whether the federal order or Michigan's Elliott Larsen Act takes precedence over the other. The state's Civil Rights Act expanded protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression back in 2023. 'We have not stopped them from participating as of this point,' Kimmerly said. 'Until we have clarity on how this fits and what takes precedence, we have not stopped them from participating.' The NCAA revised its Thursday to align with Trump's announcement. 'There is a federal law that may have some conflicts with a state law, and we need to find out where those conflicts lie and what takes precedence,' Kimmerly said. 'And we'll go from there.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
