A Michigan hair salon is facing discrimination claims over a social media post earlier this year that declared transgender customers “not welcome” and should instead “get service at a local pet sitter.”
In charges filed Wednesday, the state Department of Civil Rights alleges a July Facebook post made by Traverse City Studio 8 Hair Lab owner Christine Geiger violated the state’s civil rights act by unlawfully discriminating against the three claimants.
“If humans identify other than male/female please seek the services of a local pet sitter. You are not welcome in this salon. Period,” the post read.
“If you ask to use a specific pronoun, please note that we can only refer to you as ‘hi you.’ Never mind MI HB 4744,” the post added, referring to the code for Michigan’s hate crime law.
The code was changed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, 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 discrimination charges from the state Department of Civil Rights following a social media post saying transgender people are “not welcome.”
The post garnered hundreds of comments and reactions, including significant disapproval from LGBTQ+ supporters, before it was deleted.
Salon 8 Hair Lab could face fines and the suspension or revocation of its business license if the charges are upheld by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission after a hearing before an administrative law judge.
The owner of the salon filed its own complaint against the city of Traverse City and the three individuals on Oct. 25, alleging each violated the salon’s First Amendment right to file a civil rights complaint.
Traverse City in the summer announced the salon was being investigated for discrimination over the claim.
“If humans identify other than male/female please seek the services of a local pet sitter. You are not welcome in this salon. Period,” the post read. Facebook
After deleting the post, Geiger clarified on a different Facebook page that he had “no problem with LGB,” referring to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
He went on to add: “This is TQ+ that I will not support,” referring to transsexuals, queers and people of other sexual orientations.
Geiger was later accused of falsely claiming the “+” represented a pedophile.
“This position is taken to ensure [sic] that the customer has the best experience and I admit that because I am not prepared to play the pronoun game or meet requests outside of what I consider normal this may not be the best option for that type of customer,” he wrote.
The office’s post was quickly deleted, though the photo remains online. The Traverse City salon’s Facebook received an overwhelming response to the Facebook post, though the owner stood behind their comments. Facebook
In a July interview with the Associated Press, Geiger defended his stance, saying small business owners should be able to serve whoever they want.
“I just don’t want the dollar to wake up. … I’d rather not be busy than have to do a service I don’t agree with,” he said.
Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public services based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status.
Although the state’s Civil Rights Act was amended earlier this year to add greater protections to sexual orientation and gender identity, the law 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 jurisdiction under sex for both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression under case law, officials said.
With Postal wire.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
