We request enforcement of Ordinance No. 2019-43, § 1, 8-27-19 against The Broadway Avenue located 1140 Broadway Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504 regarding discriminatory business practices against people with regards to sexual identity and expression.

We are writing to the Grand Rapids City Commission and Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission in hopes of expressing the interest of several business owners within the wedding industry and general community in West Michigan to have a decision from your council regarding an event venue in Grand Rapids that has recently shared it will not be allowing gay and queer wedding celebrations at their public business.

The Broadway Avenue, located at 1140 Broadway Avenue, Grand Rapids,  Michigan 49504 opened its doors in the Westside Connection neighborhood as a public wedding and event venue in a renovated church. On July 11, 2022 the hosted a community Open House event and in preparation for this event, the venue informed several vendors that they do not plan to allow members of the LGBTQIA+ community to rent their space.

We reference Grand Rapids Municipal code herein:

Ord. No. 2019-43, § 1, 8-27-19: 
 
"It is hereby declared to be contrary to the public policy of the City of Grand Rapids (City) for any person to deny any individual the enjoyment of civil rights, or for any person to discriminate against any individual in the exercise of civil rights because of actual or perceived color, race, religion or creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genotype, age, marital status, familial status, medical condition, disability, height, weight, or source of lawful income (cumulatively known as protected classes)."

Within Ord. No. 2019-43, § 1, 8-27-19 expands to prohibit discrimination “in making available full and equal access to all goods, services, activities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation,” with limited exceptions (e.g., “an individual who displays offensive behavior, engages in disorderly conduct, or otherwise represents a clear threat to public health, safety, and welfare may be removed from, or prevented from entering, a public accommodation”).

A Public accommodation is defined, in relevant part, as “a facility, … offering or furnishing goods, services, places, privileges, or advantages to the general public for purchase, consumption, use, or acquisition, including, but not limited to, hotels, motels, housing, restaurants, taverns, concert and entertainment venues, retail and service enterprises, public services, and certain educational institutions.”

While is noted that infringed citizens can report a claim to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion through the Community Relations Commission if they experience discrimination, we within the industry and general public request the City's position regarding this current infringement and the City's proposed preventive actions when a new business is planning to discriminate on the basis of sexual identity and gender expression. The following is requested from the City:

1. When, if, and how this Ordinance can be enforced as it pertains to this venue
2. What that enforcement entails
3. Whether or not a venue can use the statutes of religious freedom, freedom of expression, and free speech as a basis for legally discriminating against gay couples (since the State of Michigan has not addressed yet whether or not the term sex was meant to include sexual identity and gender expression in the State's Civil Rights laws)
4. What any and all options are for concerned citizens and industry professionals when seeking transparency from public businesses that plan to discriminate on the basis of sexual identity or orientation 

We request an immediate response from the Grand Rapids City Commission; Grand Rapids Community Relations Commission; and/or a City representative to answer these questions within. We hope to affirm that the City of Grand Rapids will remain an inclusive business environment where we do not have to tolerate discriminatory policies, nor do business with discriminatory people in our community.