discrimination
The U.S. Supreme Court could fall on this slippery slope of discrimination
Few people like being told what they must do. Lorie Smith is one of them. The suburban Denver, Colo., business owner, a devout Christian, builds websites for customers. She wants to expand her business and begin building websites for couples who are planning weddings. But she is adamant that she does not want to be […]
People behind bars are a lot sicker. New efforts aim to help
Compared to the rest of the world and compared to earlier generations, vast numbers of Americans are behind bars. And, by many measures, those people are far sicker than most others, several health professionals who are trying to address the issue said Monday. With a 500% increase over the past 40 years, more than 2 […]
Supreme Court candidates talk racism, redistricting in ‘faith and freedom’ forum
Democratic candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court spoke on racism in Ohio’s court system, the future of redistricting in the state, and how a constitutional amendment on bail could impact the courts in a recent forum with religious leaders. Justice Jennifer Brunner, candidate for chief justice, attended the forum along with 10th District Court of […]
Sheffield Lake officer reveals new discrimination claims against former chief
A second officer from the Sheffield Lake Police Department has come forward with allegations of racist and now religious workplace harassment against the department’s former chief. Officer A.J. Torres alleged that then-chief Anthony Campo repeatedly produced and shared images that belittled his Catholic faith or caricatured his Latino heritage. “I don’t put away my nationality […]
Judge puts federal redistricting discrimination suit on hold
A U.S. district court judge put a federal redistricting lawsuit on hold Wednesday, treating a pause for a pair of Mahoning County residents’ discrimination lawsuit as “the most efficient use of judicial resources.” Judge John R. Adams, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division, said the lawsuit relies on […]
Ohio AG Yost joins another national lawsuit, this time to overturn LGBTQ protections
Joining 19 other state attorneys general, Ohio’s Dave Yost has jumped in on a lawsuit demanding that sexual orientation and gender identity not be included in discrimination protections. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, argues “administrative agencies,” in this case the Biden administration, don’t have the power to […]
Ohio issues highlighted in report on racial disparities in executions
A line can be drawn from lynchings and other gross acts of historic racial discrimination and the fact that minorities disproportionately are executed now, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
LGBTQ+ rights in Ohio: A changing landscape in the workplace
Since the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage, lawmakers and advocacy groups have continued to focus on issues of LGBTQ+ discrimination in the workplace and other venues. This led to the June 15, 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in three consolidated sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination cases. The decision […]
Redlining decades ago set communities up for greater danger from COVID-19
Vicente Arenas moved to the edge of Denver’s Valverde neighborhood, attracted by low housing prices and proximity to his downtown job just three miles away. The 1-square-mile neighborhood mixes small, ranch-style homes with auto body shops, metal fabricators and industrial supply warehouses, and is hemmed in on its four sides by state highways and interstates. […]
It’s long past time to pass the Ohio Fairness Act
Every General Assembly for many years now, the Ohio Fairness Act is introduced, and every General Assembly it fails to become law. The Ohio Fairness Act would make sexual orientation and gender identity or expression part of the civil rights law’s “covered characteristics” for which discrimination is prohibited. Under current law, covered characteristics include “race, […]
‘Real rush’ of Trump rules expected ahead of 2020 election
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing to finalize a host of high-profile rules in 2020, including policies that will impact everything from auto emissions to food stamp access. With the November presidential election approaching, the administration is widely expected to make a push to wrap up pending regulations early in 2020 in an effort […]
Bill looks to give employers ‘affirmative defense’ in sex harassment cases
A bill that would provide an “affirmative defense” for employers in sexual harassment cases is continuing through the Ohio Legislature. House Bill 352, also called the “Employment Law Uniformity Act,” has been touted by its sponsors as a new way to allow “timely, fair, and efficient resolution of claims for both employers and employees,” according […]