LANSING, MI — (07-09-21) — The Michigan elections bureau on Friday announced that a ballot drive effort to protect LGBT citizens from discrimination has failed again, thanks to the Republican who have a track record of blocking such initiatives.

ABC News reported that according to Republicans, the Fair and Equal Michigan failed to collect enough “VALID” signatures to force action on a bill aimed to prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.

LGBT activists collected nearly 299,000 signatures, falling short of the roughly 340,000 needed. Some signatures were ruled ineligible after the Republican led elections bureau found them to be linked to people who weren’t registered voters.

The Republican led bureau also detected other issues that included wrong addresses or dates.

“The Bureau of Elections threw out thousands of signatures that are valid and we will fight for every valid signature so no voters are disenfranchised,” said Josh Hovey, a spokesman for Fair and Equal Michigan.

The Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to meet Tuesday July 13, to consider a recommendation against certifying the ballot initiative. If the initiative were certified, it would be put before state lawmakers.

Similar pro-LGBT measures have been long stalled in the Republican-led legislature. If passed, the measure would be Michigan’s first LGBT rights law ever put forth, said Josh Hovey.

Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

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