Michigan House Passes LGBT ‘Hate Crime’ Bill As States Codify Progressivism

Written by Alyssa Varas

What’s happening: Michigan lawmakers in the House approved H.B. 4474, a bill that expands protections for individuals’ "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression” against hate crimes. Under the statute, making someone “feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened” would be punishable with up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. Critics correctly worry that misusing pronouns would fall under that definition of a “hate crime,” though pronouns aren’t explicitly mentioned.

Law of the land: The bill, at least in part, is the latest of many examples of Democratic efforts to codify LGBT protections into law. In Michigan, it comes on the heels of a recent bill to ban conversion therapy and another to add LGBT protections to Michigan’s civil rights law. Codification is happening despite the dropping support for gender ideology nationwide.

• Zoom out:California and New Jersey are becoming legal sanctuaries for child sex changes, Illinois is preventing parents from removing gender theory books, Maryland is preventing students from opting out of LGBT curriculum, and so on. Just last month, the White House was draped in Pride flags.

Why it matters: Politicians codifying these ideas are increasing the government's role in child raising and value instillation. It results in parents having fewer opportunities to opt their children out of progressive ideas like gender theory as the state adopts leftist values as law. If H.B. 4474 passes, those who misuse pronouns or publicly criticize and refuse to opt into gender ideology may be punished in Michigan.

Looking ahead: Conservatives are using court battles to take on laws like H.B. 4474. For example, the Supreme Court just ruled in favor of a graphic designer who refused to make wedding websites for gay couples due to her Christian beliefs, citing First Amendment free speech protections. Similar legal challenges are to be expected as more states attempt to force ideas and speech on citizens.