Currently, over 100 million people worldwide have a mark, a scar, or a condition which affects their facial appearance. Throughout history, equality and discrimination laws have failed to protect the facial difference community from harm. It may be hard to believe but so-called ugly laws outlawed this community from being seen in public until the 1970s. The legacy of this systemic oppression remains today where people with facial differences are forcibly hidden from sight around the world, but also through the absence of representation of facial differences on our screens and in censorship of the community on social media.
The false notion that facial differences shouldn’t be celebrated—just like every other trait that makes each and every one of us unique—the idea that their faces are not worthy of being seen, that’s why the theme for International Face Equality Week this year was, We will not hide. As of now, not all people with facial differences are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act which is why Face Equality International is advocating for disfigurement to be recognized as an independent equality and human rights issue so that the rights and protections of those with facial differences are not limited to disability laws and spaces.
It’s crucial that we work together to eliminate the life-limiting stigma and prejudice associated with facial differences and disfigurement through education as well as growing and amplifying the voices of this inclusive empowered community and individuals devoted toward campaigning for this important cause. This will bring us one step closer to help Michigan and the country closer to truly being a place where everyone can thrive exactly as they are.
I’d like to recognize Logan who has joined us here today in the Gallery, and I ask for your support of this resolution.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Third Reading of Bills
The Assistant President pro tempore, Senator Geiss, assumed the Chair.
The following bill was read a third time:
House Bill No. 4377, entitled
A bill to amend 1937 PA 94, entitled “Use tax act,” by amending section 4d (MCL 205.94d), as amended by 2015 PA 172.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: