COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Bipartisan legislation to ban discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community has taken a step forward in the Ohio Statehouse.
Senate Bill 132, called the Ohio Fairness Act, had its first hearing in the Senate Government Oversight Committee on November 13th will be revived for the 11th time at the Statehouse in summer 2023 and would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
“For the estimated half-million LGBTQ+ Ohioans, justice is long overdue,” said Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), who has proposed the legislation in every General Assembly since her election in 2011. “This bill would send a message that the LGBTQ+ community is welcome in Ohio and that we are open to business, tourism and travelers while recruiting the best and brightest workers.”
Ohio is one of more than two dozen states without anti-discrimination protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this year Out Leadership’s state climate index ranks Ohio as “at significant risk.” for LGBTQ+ discrimination, as a person can be fired from their job, refused and refused services, or removed from their home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Antonio argued during the hearing that SB 132, co-sponsored by all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus and two Republican senators, is a fair proposal to give LGBTQ+ people “equal freedom and access to jobs, housing and services.” like everything else has to offer in Ohio.”
Ohio Business Competes, a bipartisan coalition of more than 1,350 companies, joins Antonio in advocating for anti-discrimination policies to attract the best talent. The coalition includes OhioHealth, Huntington, American Electric Power, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic and many other companies, universities and institutions.
“The inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the fundamental building blocks of our American democracy,” Antonio said. “Through this proposed legislation, Ohio has the opportunity to provide equal and fair treatment to all Ohioans.”
Lawmakers noted that SB 132 would not create recent protected classes for violating religious freedom because it maintains all existing religious exemptions under current Ohio civil rights law. Still, the bill faces an uphill battle in the Statehouse that lawmakers have also failed to address Repeal Ohio’s dormant same-sex marriage banBan Anti-LGBTQ+ techniques known as “conversion therapy.”” and remove antiquated HIV criminalization laws passed in the 1980s.
Instead, Ohio lawmakers have prioritized a barrage of bills that advocates view as anti-LGBTQ+ Senate “Anti-Transgender” Bill 104, which passed on November 13th Ban students in Ohio from using school bathrooms that do not correspond to their gender assigned at birth.
Another, House Bill 68, came into effect in August and banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The measure also bans trans athletes from participating in women’s sports.
