Less than just a few weeks after SCOTUS decided that discrimination in America was legal based off of someone’s relation to the LGBTQ+ community, the consequences of this decision are already beginning to play out.
This week a Michigan hairstylist found herself in the crosshairs of social media after she decided to announce on Facebook that she no longer plans to accept LGBTQ+ customers. Though it was not immediately clear how Christine Geiger would even know any customer may be from the community.
In a you saw this one coming article, 9&10 News conducted an interview with the salon owner Christine Geiger who (and we’re totally not joking here) suggested members of the community particularly the trans members should seek service from an animal grooming service instead.
“If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman, please seek services at a local pet groomer,” Geiger wrote on Studio 8 Hair Lab’s Facebook page, according to screen caps captured by the outlet.
Are you paying attention America? In case you’ve forgotten, LGBTQ+ people aren’t the only groups of people these people don’t like. What affects one is and will affect others. The far-right will not stop at the gays and the community.
“You are not welcome at this salon. Period,” she added.
“This is America; free speech. This small business has the right to refuse services. We are not bound to any oaths as realtors are regarding discrimination. My recent airport experience validates this,” Geiger explained.
The problem is that Geiger is in violation of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The 1977 law bars such discrimination on the usual human such characteristics but was expanded earlier this year to include gender identity and expression.