FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
July 12, 2023
Contact: Denzel McCampbell, 313-400-0298, denzel@progressmichigan.org
Michigan House GOP Leadership Joins Far-Right on LGBTQ+ Hate & Disinformation
The MIGOP continues spreading hate and disinformation about efforts to ensure LGBTQ+ Michiganders are equally protected under the law
MICHIGAN – Last week, Michigan House Republicans, from the fringe right-wing ranks to the leadership of the caucus, spread disinformation and made vile attacks against the LGBTQ+ community and policies designed to equally protect the community under the law.
Republican House Leader Matt Hall and Rep. Angela Rigas both spread disinformation about hate crimes legislation moving through the legislature. Rep. Hall went on Newsmax to spread disinformation about a bill expanding Michigan’s hate crime legislation to include LGBTQ+ Michiganders, falsely claiming it criminalizes the use of wrong pronouns, while Rep. Rigas was quoted in the Daily Mail with a transphobic attack, saying “gender delusion” is now a protected class.
“It’s not complicated: all Michiganders deserve equal protection under the law. Republican House leadership and the far-right fringe of their caucus are now singing from the same song book and it’s a tune that only seeks to sow division and distrust for political gain,” said Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan. “House Republicans are showing their disdain for the LGBTQ+ community and any and all efforts to protect their rights.”
Rep. Steve Carra went a step further last week and posted content online urging violence against the LGBTQ+ community, sharing a graphic showing two figures with one representing the LGBTQ+ community being attacked by the other. He posted it with the caption: “Freedom month is better than indoctrination month,” echoing a familiar and dangerous right-wing sentiment that efforts to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community are in fact attempts to indoctrinate children.
“We’d call on Republican House leadership to condemn what Carra posted, but based on Matt Hall’s recent right-wing news interview, it appears that what were once the fringe elements of the caucus are now in lockstep with leadership,” Inglot continued. “Michiganders are wise to what Republicans are trying to do: pit communities against one another so the MIGOP can divide and conquer. But time and again, Michiganders have shown they are on the side of freedom and equality, not bigotry and discrimination.”
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