Bill introduced to end LGBTQ discrimination
Sixteen years after the initial effort, some Ohio lawmakers again are seeking passage of a bill to forbid employment and housing discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.
The most recent revival of the Ohio Fairness Act was introduced Wednesday by State Reps. Michael Skindell, D-lakewood, and Brett Hillyer, R-urichsville.
The unveiling of the bill came about two weeks after House Speaker Larry Householder, R-glenford, refused the request of minority Democrats to extend employment protections to gay House employees, saying neither federal nor state law forbids discrimination.
“As we work to grow our economy and lower unemployment, we must not allow discrimination of any form to occur,” Skindell said. “Qualified and competent employees can currently lose their jobs because of who they are or whom they love. Ohio should be a welcoming place to attract and retain the most talented workers. This legislation will also provide equity and fairness in the housing market.”
More than 800 Ohio businesses support making it illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ employees, realizing it is good for their bottom line and helpful in attracting workers, Skindell said.
“The great Woody Hayes said it best: ‘You win with people,’” said Hillyer. “People matter and should be protected in their workplace and in public.”
Alana Jochum, executive director of Equality Ohio, said more than two dozen Ohio communities, including Columbus, have adopted LGBTQ discrimination protections, but that covers only about a fourth of Ohio’s population.
“It’s time for Ohio’s legislators to make a commitment to LGBTQ Ohioans — urban, suburban and rural — that they have the same right to work hard and provide for their families as everybody else,” Jochum said.
Aaron Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values, opposes the legislation, calling it “the single greatest threat to religious freedom, parental rights, and the privacy and safety of women and children.”
“Across the country this legislation has been used to force girls to compete against boys in high school sports, require women’s homeless shelters to let men bathe and bunk with women, and terminate public employees because of their professed Christian faith,” Baer said.
Bills seeking discrimination protections for LGBTQ Ohioans have been filed in every session of the legislature since 2003. One won passage in the House in 2009, but died before the Senate.
Householder was targeted for criticism after declining to revise House policies to bar discrimination against LGBTQ employees.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Senate and every executive statewide officeholder, including Gov. Mike Dewine, have enacted policies granting protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees.