1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to House Bill 4938, the misleadingly named "Anticorruption of Public Morals Act," introduced by Representative Josh Schriver. This bill is not about protecting children or public morals; it is a thinly veiled attack on transgender individuals, freedom of expression, and civil liberties. HB 4938 goes far beyond reasonable content regulation by seeking to ban all pornography in Michigan. More alarmingly, it specifically targets transgender representation online, including non-pornographic imagery. The bill's language criminalizing material showing a "disconnection between biology and gender" is a direct assault on the very existence of transgender individuals. This legislation is part of a disturbing pattern of targeting marginalized communities. It follows Representative Schriver's recent attempts to overturn marriage equality and strip LGBTQ+ protections from civil rights laws. We must recognize this bill for what it is: not a protection of morals, but a continuation of discriminatory policies. The Michigan House Republicans have already passed several anti-transgender bills in 2025, including restrictions on bathroom use and bans on transgender girls participating in high school sports. HB 4938 takes this agenda even further by equating LGBTQ+ existence with obscenity. This false equivalence is not only deeply offensive but also dangerous, potentially inciting further discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. While this bill may have little chance of becoming law due to the current composition of the Senate, its mere introduction sends a harmful message. It legitimizes discrimination and undermines the principles of equality and inclusivity that our state should uphold. I urge you to publicly oppose HB 4938 and any similar legislation that seeks to censor free expression or discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals. Instead, I ask that you focus on real issues affecting our communities, such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for all Michiganders. Please stand up for the rights and dignity of all your constituents, regardless of their gender identity or expression.