A hair salon in northern Michigan is facing a discrimination charge from the state’s Department of Civil Rights after its owner made a controversial post on social media. The salon, called Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City, is accused of violating the state’s civil rights act by unlawfully discriminating against three individuals. The charge was filed on Wednesday by the Department of Civil Rights, claiming that the salon’s owner, Christine Geiger, made a Facebook post in July that excluded anyone identifying as anything other than a man or a woman from her business.
The now-unavailable post read, “If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer. You are not welcome at this salon. Period. Should you request to have a particular pronoun used please note we may simply refer to you as ‘hey you.'”
A hearing will be scheduled before an administrative law judge, who will then issue a recommendation after hearing the merits of the complaint. The recommendation will go before Michigan’s Civil Rights Commission to either adopt or make their own ruling.
According to the complaint, penalties could include monetary compensation for emotional distress and mental anguish experienced by the claimants due to the discrimination. The department also allows for any other relief “as the commission seems just and proper,” which could include additional fees and a recommendation to suspend the salon’s license.
In response to the charge, Geiger filed her own complaint against the city of Traverse City and the three individuals involved on October 25. She accuses them of violating the salon’s First Amendment rights by filing civil rights complaints.
Geiger has previously defended her posts, stating in a July interview with The Associated Press that small business owners should have the freedom to serve whomever they wish. She expressed her disinterest in catering to the “woke dollar” and would rather have less business than provide services she disagrees with.
Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on several protected characteristics, including religion, race, sex, and more. The act was amended earlier this year to include additional protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. However, the amendment won’t take effect until February 2024.
John E. Johnson Jr., the executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, stated that Studio 8 violated the law by denying services based on sex. Marcelina Trevino, the director of enforcement for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, emphasized that the department has jurisdiction over complaints related to sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, citing previous court rulings.
Neither Geiger nor her attorney, David DeLaney, have responded to requests for comment. The case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding freedom of expression and anti-discrimination laws, prompting a closer examination of the rights and responsibilities of business owners.
