The following is a public statement from Thomas Veverka, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to Governor Whitmer signing Senate Bill 4 into law—legislation that expands the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to include protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

“On behalf of the Michigan State Medical Society, I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to Governor Whitmer and our state lawmakers who have done great and important work today in officially expanding the protections offered in Elliott-Larsen Civil Right Act to the members of Michigan’s LGBTQIA+ community. As an organization that’s fully committed to diversity and inclusion, we are immensely proud of our state leaders for taking meaningful action to make Michigan a more inclusive and equitable place, and we are happy for the thousands of Michiganders who will benefit from these long overdue protections.”