By Amber Crawford
A bill that was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives would make it a hate crime to use the wrong gender pronouns to identify someone.
Bill HB 4474 aims to criminalize the act of causing someone to feel threatened by using words that do not correctly identify them.
This piece of legislation states that someone who intentionally âintimidates another individualâ or threatens them âby word or actâ based âin whole or in part on an actual or perceived characteristicâ including sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, is âguilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or by a fine of not more than $10,000.â
âIntimidateâ is defined in the bill as a âwillful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened.â
âGender identity or expressionâ is defined as âhaving or being perceived as having a gender-related self-identity or expression whether or not associated with an individualâs assigned sex at birth.â
Using somebody’s wrong pronouns is about to become a felony in Michigan punishable by 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine…