Anti-Discrimination Legislation Introduced in the Ohio House and Senate with Bi-Partisan Support

COLUMBUS - Representatives Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) introduced the Equal Housing and Employment Act which will expand civil rights to include the LGBT community and protect Ohioans from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 

“This bill provides for the simple universal right of all citizens to equal treatment under the law, based on the premise that all are created equal including those Ohio citizens who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered,” said Antonio. “I would like to believe that there is no amount of discrimination that is acceptable in America including the state of Ohio.”

The legislation introduced in the Ohio House and Senate adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to Ohio’s anti-discrimination law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, familial status, marital status, military status, national origin, ancestry, or disability.  The bill includes an exemption for employer with less than 15 employees and religious organizations.

60 fortune 500 companies headquartered in Ohio have recognized sexual orientation and/or gender identity as a part of their workplace policies.

80 of Ohio’s top 98 employers listed on the JobsOhio website specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity as part of their workplace policies.

According to an April 2013 poll conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research to be released officially in the next few weeks, 72% of registered voters in Ohio favor full equality in employment, housing and public accommodations.  

Representative Antonio and Minority Leader Budish have alerted the Speaker of the introduction of the bill and urged swift consideration of the Equal Housing Equal Employment Act.