A Michigan hair salon is facing a discrimination charge over a social media post earlier this year that stated transgender clients were “not welcome” and should instead “seek services at a local pet groomer.”
In the charge filed Wednesday, the state Department of Civil Rights alleged that a July Facebook post by Christine Geiger, owner of Traverse City’s Studio 8 Hair Lab, violated the state’s civil rights law by illegally discriminating against three plaintiffs.
“If a human identifies as anything other than a man or woman, seek services at a local pet groomer. You are not welcome in this room. Period,” the post said.
“If you request that a particular pronoun be used, please note that we may refer to you simply as ‘hey you.’ Regardless of MI HB 4744,” the post further said, referring to Michigan’s hate crimes law code.
The code was amended 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 disability.
A Michigan hair salon is facing a discrimination charge from the state Department of Civil Rights following a social media post that said transgender people were “not welcome.”
The post generated hundreds of comments and reactions, including significant pushback from LGBTQ+ advocates, before it was removed.
Salon 8 Hair Lab could face fines and suspension or revocation of its business license if the charge is adopted by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission after a hearing before an administrative law judge.
The salon owner filed her own complaint against the city of Traverse City and the three individuals on Oct. 25, accusing each of violating the salon’s First Amendment rights by filing civil rights complaints.
Traverse City announced over the summer that the salon was under investigation for discrimination over the claims.
“If a human identifies as anything other than a man or woman, seek services at a local pet groomer. You are not welcome in this room. Period,” the post said. Facebook
After deleting the post, Geiger clarified on another Facebook page that he “has no issues with LGB,” referring to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
And he added: “It is the TQ+ that I am not going to support,” referring to transsexual, queer and other sexual orientations.
Geiger then allegedly falsely claimed that the “+” represented pedophiles.
“This position was adopted to ensure [sic] “Customers have the best experience and I admit that since I am not willing to play the pronoun game or accommodate requests outside of what I perceive as normal, this is probably not the best option for that type of customer,” she wrote .
The office’s post was quickly deleted, although the photos remain online. Facebook The Traverse City salon received fierce backlash for the Facebook post, although the owner stood by his comments. Facebook
In a July interview with the Associated Press, Geiger defended his stance and said small business owners should be able to serve whoever they want.
“I just don’t want the woke dollar. … I’d rather not be so busy than have to perform services that I don’t agree with,” she said.
Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public services on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.
While the state’s Civil Rights Act was amended earlier this year to add greater protections on sexual orientation and gender identity, the legislation will not take effect until February 2024.
Christine Geiger is listed as the owner of the salon. Facebook
Until it takes effect, the Department of Civil Rights will accept complaints and have sex jurisdiction for both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression based on case law, officials said.
With mail cables.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn