LibriumArcana.Games

g the state’s civil rights law to include protections for gays and lesbians.

The Republican governor weighed in on the issue Thursday morning as Chrysler Group, the Detroit Regional Chamber and Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce joined a coalition in calling for lawmakers to make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Snyder supports having the Legislature debate amending the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act this year, spokesman Jarrod Agen said Thursday.

Shortly after Snyder’s support emerged during the second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land also voiced support for making it illegal to deny someone employment based on their sexuality.

“I support no discrimination for anyone and have always ... had that position since I got involved with work, business, public service and I think it’s very important,” Land said in an interview with The Detroit News. “People should be able to get a job on their credentials and how well they can perform in their employment.”

Land said she was joining a growing chorus of business leaders and Republican politicians calling for changes to the law “because it’s on the table now in the Legislature.”

“As the governor has done in right-to-work, in minimum wage, when the governor says he’s going to do something, he does it,” Land said.

House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, welcomed the governor getting involved in the issue.

“I believe discrimination is wrong, and we need to protect all people on this question,” Bolger told The News.

Bolger said he’s still researching how to strike a balance between providing legal protections for gays in the workplace and the liberties of people religiously opposed to homosexuality.

“It’s a difficult balance to strike, but it’s an absolutely necessary balance to find,” Bolger said Thursday.

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to deny someone a job or housing opportunity based on their religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or marital status.

When Bolger first indicated in June 2013 he would consider changes in the law, the American Family Association of Michigan opposed him.

Association leader Gary Glenn said then that laws protecting gays and lesbians can be “discriminatory” against freedom of religion and speech rights to condemn “homosexual behavior.”

“When members of the Legislature are made aware of both sides of the story, I don’t expect the legislation will see the light of day,” Glenn said in June 2013.” said Glenn, president of American Family Association of Michigan.

Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing welcomed Snyder’s support Thursday in a backhanded way.

“I do not know if we have the business community, the election year or an honest ideological progression to thank, but I am glad to see that the governor is finally on board with offering basic civil rights protections to all Michigan citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Whitmer said in a statement, noting Snyder has opposed domestic partner benefits for state employees and gay marital equality.

Major Michigan business groups are pushing for the Republican-controlled Legislature and Snyder to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protections under the law.

Companies including AT&T, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Dow Chemical Co. and Whirlpool Corp. formed the Michigan Competitive Workforce Coalition earlier this month to lobby on the issue. They were joined Thursday by Battle Creek-based Kellogg Co., Pfizer and Slow’s Bar BQ in Detroit, among others.

“The coalition is growing,” said Jim Murray, president of AT&T and co-chair of the Michigan Competitive Workforce Coalition. “The more voices the better, and we are still taking volunteers.”

Changing the law is considered a key way to attract better workers to Michigan.

“We are in a global war for talent, and need the best and brightest workforce to compete in the 21st century economy, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Thursday in a statement.

Rick Baker, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, also said gay rights are important for attracting talented workers to Michigan.

“Updating Elliott-Larsen won’t solve this problem on its own, but it sends a message to workers both inside and outside of Michigan that if they are qualified for a job, they will be treated fairly and judged on their merits,” Baker said in a statement.