(The Center Square) – Ohio Senate Democrats are pushing legislation in the closing weeks of the session that would make sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination illegal in employment, housing or public accommodations.
Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, has introduced the Ohio Fairness Act every year since she was first elected to the Ohio House in 2011.
It has never passed. This year, however, it is cosponsored by Republican Sens. George Lang, R-West Chester, and Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville. Also, more than 1,350 businesses have joined the Ohio Business Competes group that supports policies similar to the legislation.
“For the estimated half a million LGBTQ+ Ohioans, fairness is long overdue,” Antonio said in sponsor testimony this week before the Senate Government Oversight Committee. “This bill would send a message that the LGBTQ+ community is welcome in Ohio and that we are open for business, tourism, and travelers while also recruiting the best and the brightest workers. Making Ohio more equitable would boost the economy by fostering a more inclusive workforce and inclusive environments that attract diverse talent, driving innovation and growth across industries.”
Ohio is one of 27 states without laws banning sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination.
The bill introduction and hearing comes the same week the Senate easily passed the state’s bathroom bill, which bans transgender students from using restroom facilities that align with their gender identity and multi-sex bathrooms at schools across the state.
Gov. Mike DeWine has indicated he will sign it.
The bathroom bill requires all state K-12 schools and colleges to mandate that students can only use a bathroom or locker room that aligns with their gender at birth. It also prohibits schools from having bathrooms for both sexes.
With the two-year general session ending at the close of this year, Senate Bill 132 awaits more hearings.