Ferndale passed a similar ordinance, but it was voted down by a city referendum earlier this year. On Nov. 7, Southfield voters overwhelmingly voted to add an anti-discrimination clause to the city charter. What many people fail to realize is that there is nothing in the laws of this country or in the laws of the state of Michigan that prevents someone from denying you a home or a job because you are gay. It is left to the individual municipalities. But a dozen other Michigan municipal bodies have human rights ordinances on the books.
Oak Park prohibits discrimination in city dealings, and Birmingham bans discrimination in housing.
Kosofsky said Oak Park's ordinance was the main reason he chose to move to the community and buy a house.