Ohio Fairness Act
LGBTQ+ couples can adopt, but GOP rejects updating Ohio law to note that
Although it is legal in Ohio for LGBTQ+ couples to adopt, some GOP legislators want the state law to only acknowledge the adoption rights of heterosexual couples. A dispute over a single line in the 2,057-page state budget bill — passed by the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday — has some civil rights advocates […]
Anti-discrimination ‘Fairness Act’ back in legislature with more GOP support
A bill to add LGBTQ people to the list of those protected from discrimination in the state of Ohio is once again coming to the legislature, this time with more bipartisan support. As she has done in every General Assembly since she became a senator in 2011, State Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, is sponsoring the […]
Cavs’ Larry Nance Jr. says LGBTQ discrimination protection bill is about human rights
Like many Ohioans, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Larry Nance Jr. was caught by surprise when he learned the state has no law protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. When he found out Ohioans could be evicted from their homes or denied service in a restaurant or other business solely because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, […]
This year, Ohio lawmakers can break lame duck’s bad reputation
Ah, lame duck. The name says it all. It is everyone’s, including many legislators, least favorite season — even with long, Ohio winters. As the election buzz begins to die down, every two years, our lawmakers come together for a final round robin of legislating before they head home for the holidays. Lame duck is […]
Pastors, religious groups speak to Ohio Fairness Act
Religious leaders across the state had their turn to speak on the Ohio Fairness Act, though many spoke on issues that were taken out of the bill as soon as the committee hearing began. The sponsors of House Bill 369, a bill that originally expanded state civil rights law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual […]
Ohio Fairness Act back in committee, supporters and opposition ready to continue fight
With supporters and opponents ready to jump in, a bill regarding LGBTQ discrimination is once again in front of an Ohio House committee, but the passage of the bill is still unclear. The Ohio Fairness Act will be heard by the House Civil Justice Committee exactly one year since it was introduced in the committee. […]
After U.S. Supreme Court decision, Ohio Fairness Act still awaiting hearings
A piece of Ohio House legislation on sexual orientation discrimination is sitting idle in a committee, even after the nation’s highest court said LGBTQ+ people can’t be fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ individuals are protected from job discrimination by the Civil Rights […]
Ohio’s troubling track record on LGBTQ+ rights
When most of us are little, we learn about the “Golden Rule.” This is the basic principle that you should treat others the way you’d like to be treated. This maxim is taught across different religions and cultures, and usually, it’s used to help children learn about empathy. Unfortunately, Ohio’s children are learning the opposite […]
Ohio Fairness Act fills hearing room with advocates, business groups
It wasn’t the many hordes of people that crowded into a Statehouse hearing room that got people’s attention on Tuesday. It wasn’t even the more than 250 testimonies filed on the issue at hand. It was the 11-year-girl bending the microphone so she could reach it, telling her story of being bullied by kids and […]
Supporters of Ohio Fairness Act: ‘We need this legislation’
After being rescheduled because of the education bill fight, supporters are once again scheduled to make their arguments for an anti-LGBTQ discrimination bill in Ohio. The Ohio Fairness Act is a bill that would make sexual orientation and gender identity or expression part of the civil rights law’s “covered characteristics” for which discrimination is prohibited. […]
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, […]