Maria Bruno, Esq., Public Policy Director, joined Equality Ohio in August 2021. Maria is a lifelong Ohioan and lifelong advocate. She directs Equality Ohio's legislative strategy and engagement for state, local, and federal public policy. This includes working to advance inclusive, smart, equitable laws that value and protect all identities. Equality Ohio also works to stop proposals that would further harm LGBTQ+ Ohioans and other marginalized communities. Maria and her team work to ensure that decision-makers directly hear from and work with impacted community members by educating the general community about the lived realities of LGBTQ+ people, directly lobbying decision-makers, and empowering LGBTQ+ Ohioans to engage in legislative advocacy. We work to change hearts and minds to create a state that is inclusive, accepting, and loving for all Ohioans.
Here in Ohio and across the country, the promise of a representative legislative process has been shattered by anti-transgender extremists’ misinformation and censorship. Over the past few weeks, legislation barring transgender young people from school sports teams and restricting their access to healthcare has advanced through our legislature. Violence has loomed over committee hearings: advocates […]
