The University of Michigan - half an hour from where I went to high school - has long been considered one of the best public universities in the country. It accepts a much higher tier of student than other public universities, mostly because it can: its faculty and research facilities are top-notch.

I don't know how much longer that's going to last, now that the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the anti-gay amendment passed by the voters several years ago prohibits the University, or any other State organization, from providing domestic partner benefits. Not only will this make it harder for UM to hire GLBT faculty - who are some of the top scholars in many fields - but it'll make GLBT-friendly straight people like me think twice about working there as well.

I'm told that Michigan voters really, really didn't intend for this anti-gay amendment to actually hurt gay people in any way; it's time for them to put their money where their mouths are and repeal the amendment. Better yet, do what you should have done in the first place and extend full civil rights to GLBT citizens, including the right to marry whomever they want.

If this is permitted to continue, don't be surprised to see yet more jobs and more employers saying No! to Michigan. Progressive companies - you know, those high-tech companies you're trying to get to move to the Big Hand - tend to have GLBT people in high places, and they won't look kindly on a state that doesn't seem to look too kindly on their existence.

Labels: GLBT Rights, Michigan, Politics