A Michigan hair salon violated state civil rights law by publicly telling transgender and nonbinary customers they were not welcome and should visit a dog groomer instead, state officials have ruled.
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission found that Studio 8 Hair Lab in Traverse City broke the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act through Facebook posts published in July 2023 by owner Christine Geiger.
"If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman please seek services at a local pet groomer," Geiger wrote. "You are not welcome at this salon. Period."
Geiger also warned that staff might refuse to use customers' preferred pronouns and call them "hey you" instead, and directed a profane message at Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer over legislation expanding LGBTQ civil rights protections.
First ruling of its kind in Michigan
The commission found that Geiger's posts from July 7 and July 9, 2023 both advertised that transgender customers would be refused service. The ruling marks the first time Michigan has directly addressed discriminatory advertising under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
"This ruling sets the precedent that no business can publicly discriminate without consequence, whether it occurs face-to-face or over social media," commission chair Luke Londo said in a press statement.
Michigan law does not require someone to be personally turned away before a business can be found responsible for discriminatory advertising. Three of the more than 20 complaints filed against the salon came from people who saw the posts online but had not attempted to book an appointment or been refused service.
Michigan Department of Civil Rights spokesperson Katie Adrianse told the Daily Mail that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits publishing a statement indicating that services will be denied because of someone's gender identity or expression.
Orders and penalties
As a result of the ruling, Geiger has been ordered to remove the discriminatory posts, stop publishing similar content, and serve customers regardless of gender identity or expression. She must complete anti-discrimination training within 120 days and display a notice about Michigan's anti-discrimination laws prominently inside the salon.
Geiger is also required to publish a statement on the salon's Facebook page acknowledging that Studio 8 must comply with state law and will serve all clients without regard to gender identity or expression.
The salon was ordered to pay the complainants' legal fees and costs from both the state proceedings and a related circuit court lawsuit. An administrative law judge will determine the amount.
The commission also found that Studio 8 retaliated against the three complainants by suing them after they filed their complaints. A Grand Traverse County judge dismissed that lawsuit as frivolous in 2024, finding it was intended to harass, intimidate, threaten or retaliate against the complainants. The salon appealed that dismissal, and the case remains before the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Information about the ruling will be provided to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the state Board of Cosmetology, which Adrianse said could take disciplinary action against Geiger's professional license.
Appeal planned
Geiger's attorney, David Delaney, said Studio 8 would appeal the commission's ruling in Grand Traverse Circuit Court. The salon has 30 days from the date of the decision to do so.
Delaney said the case was about speech, not action, and argued that state laws governing public businesses were intended to regulate discriminatory acts rather than words. He said Geiger is a Christian who believes God created men and women and wants to use her salon as an expressive platform for those beliefs.
"Speech is not an act of discrimination," Delaney said in a statement to the Daily Mail. "This case involves pure speech. No individual was denied a public service."
Delaney also claimed Studio 8 was prevented from raising constitutional arguments about free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a jury trial during the hearing.
The commission, however, noted that Geiger was notified of the hearings but did not participate. It also noted that her Facebook posts did not cite religious beliefs as the reason transgender customers were unwelcome.
If Studio 8 does not appeal, the commission can ask the Michigan Attorney General's Office to seek a court order enforcing the decision.
