Last updated on July 4th, 2023 at 04:25 am
The Michigan state House of Representatives has passed bill HB 4474, which would criminalize the act of causing someone to feel threatened by using the wrong gender pronouns. Offenders would be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to $10,000. The bill defines “intimidate” as a willful course of conduct that involves repeated or continuing harassment, causing a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened. It specifically protects sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as classes.
The bill violates the First Amendment by compelling speech and infringing on the expression of traditional, scientific views on sex and gender. The bill was passed by the Democrat-controlled state House, with a vote of 59-50, and will now be considered by the Michigan State Senate. If approved, it will be sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is expected to sign it.