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The People Win in HoCo

The People Win in HoCo

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After an overwhelming turnout by citizens, Houghton County votes down resolution "to declare that there are only two sexes."

Houghton County Sex Resolution

Crowds turned out both outside and inside the courthouse to express strong opinions about Resolution 25-032. It was overwhelming to see this huge outpouring of community support.

We did it! Thanks to all the speakers, emailers, and supporters.

Craig Waddell shared this summary

The December 9 Houghton County Board of Commissioners’ meeting ran from 6:00 until 12:20 a.m.

The overwhelming majority of that time was spent on public comments on Resolution 25-031 “To Declare there are only two sexes.” The vast majority of those comments were in opposition to the resolution.

Altogether, there were 250-300 people in attendance in person, 115 of whom spoke in person or online (110 against and 14 for the resolution). There were another 400 people on Zoom.

Before the meeting began, Sheriff Saaranen, who also serves as the building safety officer, had to ask many people to exit the courtroom because the group was in violation of the fire capacity for the room. Hence, some people waited in the halls for their turn to speak, and others went to the fifth-floor board room to watch on Zoom.

Many speakers spoke eloquently about their experience as transgender people and other identities that don’t fit neatly into the XX and XY described in the resolution.

Many, including some with strong medical and scientific credentials, pointed out the fallacious claims about genetic science in the resolution.

I mentioned a 2000 article in American Journal of Human Biology (“How sexually dimorphic are we? Review and synthesis”) that reported, “We surveyed the medical literature from 1955 to the present for studies of the frequency of deviation from the “ideal” male or female. We conclude that this frequency may be as high as 2% of live births.” Given that Houghton County has a population of approximately 38,000, that suggests that about 760 people in the county do not fall into these neat categories.

Some speakers also addressed legal issues, such as lawsuits stemming from the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act; and economic issues, such as a downturn in Michigan Tech enrollments.

Another often-repeated line of argument was that this resolution had nothing to do with the essential business of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners.

Several speakers urged Commissioner Keranen to resign.

Another set of speakers, including ordained ministers, appealed to Christian ethics, including the Golden Rule, and the commandment to love one another. Christians speaking in opposition to the resolution identified themselves as Lutheran, Episcopal, Unitarian, Methodist, and Presbyterian/Congregationalist (Portage Lake United Church).

Those speaking in support of the resolution appealed primarily to literal reading of the Bible, especially Genesis 1:27, “Male and female he created them.” For the most part, they did not identify themselves by any particular Christian denomination. However, based on what they did say, I believe that at least three different Christian denominations were represented, including by at least two ministers.

Several people recommended “conversion therapy” (without calling it that), which the Human Rights Campaign describes as “a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression” (“The Lies and Dangers of Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity”).

One woman described her fear of what she believed to be a transgender woman in the changing stall adjacent to her at Michigan Tech’s Student Development Complex.

One speaker in support of the resolution said that the Board had not heard from “the silent majority.” During their deliberations, one Board member (Glenn Anderson) contested this.

For the most part, people listened and spoke respectfully. However, there were a few snickers when some of the supporters spoke, and a few speakers directed vulgar comments at Commissioner Keranen, who initiated the resolution (e.g., f*** you).

When it came time for the Board to consider the resolution, Commissioner Keranen read a statement, and then the other four commissioners all indicated that they did not support the resolution because it was hurtful and it had nothing to do with the essential business of the Commission.

Chairman Tikkanen asked for a motion to bring the resolution to a vote. After a brief delay, Commissioner Anderson moved to bring it to a vote, and Commissioner Janssen seconded the motion. The commissioners then voted 4-to1 not to approve the resolution, with Commissioner Keranen being the only vote in favor of the resolution.

Update on the meeting from Faith Morrison

  • 115 total comments. 101 opposed (88%). 14 in favor (12%). 
  • Meeting started at 6:04pm, quickly went to public comment. 
  • Public comment ended at about 10:45 (3.5 hours). 
  • They took a ten minute bio break and then Commissioner Keranen made his statement followed by statements from the other four commissioners. 
  • At 11:11 when Commissioner Keranen appeared to not choose to make the motion, Commissioner Anderson moved the resolution, seconded by Commissioner Janssen.
  • On a roll call vote it failed 1-4 with only Keranen voting yes.
  • At 11:14 the county started its discussion of the business of the meeting. They adjourned at 12:19am on Wednesday December 10 2025 (1 hour).

News coverage:

The bigger story is that when the people show up, we can can make change. It's imperative to stop bad policies. Even better is to use our power to make good policies!

Quick notes on issues I'm tracking

Murders in the Caribbean

Detention Centers and Enemies Lists

Excerpt from TLM

People in immigration custody are entitled to Fifth Amendment due process protections, including:

  • physical safety
  • access to medical care
  • reasonable sanitary conditions
  • food, water, and shelter
  • freedom from arbitrary or abusive treatment

Because they have not been convicted of any crime, they cannot be subjected to restrictions approximating or exceeding penal standards.

In fact, based on the opinions of the Supreme Court, the constitutional threshold for the standards of care and detention of civil detainees is higher than for those imprisoned post-conviction.

--- U.S. Law ---

18 U.S.C. § 2340–2340A

It is a felony for any U.S. official, contractor, or person acting under the color of law to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering for any purpose, including coercion or punishment.

There are:

  • no exceptions
  • no national security carveouts
  • no affirmative defenses of exigence or necessity.

The statute imposes a test very close to being one of strict liability: If the act is torture, it is presumed to be a felony.

The target is those expressing “opposition to law and immigration enforcement; extreme views in favor of mass migration and open borders; adherence to radical gender ideology,” as well as “anti-Americanism,” “anti-capitalism,” and “anti-Christianity.”
  • Federal prisons are having staffing problems as corrections officers leave for ICE jobs. ProPublica.

Michigan-relevant News

The good:

The quiet, everyday act of Americans getting outside on their federal public lands generates more wealth, more jobs, more wages, and more tax revenue than all extractive industries on federal lands combined.

The bad:

  • and more on our public lands... ** Comments are open on critical aspects of the Endangered Species Act. ** Add your voice to 17228 others before December 22. How and why from the parks guy.
  • The Michigan Department of Transportation is considering rules that could limit protests and first amendment rights by blocking actions on bridges and overpasses. (Please pass on any new info on this proposal.)

and the economic:

  • Dollar Stores routinely overcharge customers. Prices at the register are frequently higher than listed. (Documenting this locally would be an interesting project.)
  • Michigan electric prices could skyrocket after FEMA denied disaster requests to help repair damages the ginormous ice storm in March. Apparently $75 billion for the other kind of ICE is more important than $90 million to fix downed electric wires. (I'm not sure which UP utilities will be hit.)
  • Rural high-speed Internet is coming to underserved MI communities because of Biden funding.

Action: Endangered Species Act is endangered

** Comments are open on critical aspects of the Endangered Species Act. ** Add your voice to 17,228 others before December 22. Planned changes from the parks guy. and how to comment.

USPS commemorative stamps, May 2023

Proposed changes are not getting a lot of press; I've found pieces in the Guardian and NPR. And here's a useful note from Florida.

How to Change the World

Do you see a problem that impacts our community? Potholes, health, housing, recycling, utility bills, bad weather, squirrels in your bird feeder, ICE kidnapping your neighbors, Whitehouse corruption, benches in the local park, do-nothing state and congressional reps, bike lanes, playgrounds. We just saw how we can block bad policy, now let's change the status quo that's not working for so many people.

Here are some steps to take:

  • Educate yourself and others. Gather reliable information.
  • Gather allies. Reach out to Keweenaw Indivisible, Houghton County Dems, KATO, LWV, Keweenaw Queers, and other groups.
  • Speak to your local elected officials. If they do not help, get new ones, or become one yourself.
  • Speak at meetings of those elected officials. A handful of people can make a big difference in our small communities.

When and Where to Speak UP

Check the calendar for details.

Here's the list view of Elected Official Meetings: https://calendar.online/electedofficialmeetings.

Some notable ones coming up:

  • Friday, December 12, 9 am. Michigan Tech Board of Trustees
  • Tuesday, December 16, 6 pm. Calumet and Laurium Villages (separate meetings)
  • Friday, December 19, 12. Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District

Some public body meets somewhere every single week; take 30 minutes to show up and express your opinion. (Sample statements.) And let me know if you go and what you learn.

Remember, this is a long process. Showing up multiple times builds trust and demonstrates to people with diverse viewpoints that you don't have horns.

Why and how to attend local meetings

Organizational Meetings

Details are on the CALENDAR. (Please send updates, check to confirm.) These groups are all very welcoming. Drop by a meeting to connect with friendly faces. Any level of engagement contributes to making our world better.

Houghton/Hancock

Baraga

  • Baraga County Democrats, 3rd Tuesdays at 6 pm, L'Anse Township Hall

Marquette

  • Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, Yoopers Unite, a gathering of local pro-democracy groups, at LoveMarq Church, 728 W. Kaye Ave, Marquette.
  • Marquette: Every Saturday morning from 11:30-12:30, between 40 - 80 people have been assembling at the Marquette Post Office, standing in support with long-established Citizens for Peace & Justice.
  • Join Lake Superior Region Indivisible

📎 Paper Clip Protest 📎

It's a thing! Wear a paper clip, cheap, easy, recognizable. Know your tribe. Inspired by the Norwegian resistance during WWII. Promoted by Ollie and Janice Pedersen, and E. Jean Carroll, and recently amplified by Joyce Vance.

Michigan jellyfish showed up this week.

Thanks for all your support and all your efforts to support and expand freedom, justice and democracy!

Stay Well

Sarah

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