Federal, Ohio equality acts are distinct
Ohio lawmakers are once again trying to pass a bill that would outlaw discrimination for those in the LGBTQ community.
The “Ohio Fairness Act,” which was introduced for the 10th time Thursday, would make it illegal for employers, landlords, schools and other kinds of public accommodations to deny their services based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Supporters say it’s a long overdue step toward making all Ohioans feel welcomed by their state while opponents think the bill’s broad language would infringe on religious liberty.
What would the Ohio Fairness Act do?
Ohio is one of 27 states where someone can be denied housing or other services (restaurants, theaters, doctors’ offices) based on their sexual orientation.
This bill would outlaw all that by adding sexual orientation or gender identity into Ohio’s existing anti-discrimination law. There would be exemptions for religious organizations, and people could choose to go through mediation with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
Didn’t the U.S. Supreme Court already decide this?
Yes and no.
In June, the court handed down a 6-3 opinion in a case called Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, that dealt with whether firing someone for being gay was discrimination on the basis of sex.
“In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee’s sex when deciding to fire that employee,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion. “We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”
But the case didn’t deal with other areas of discrimination like housing, education and public accommodations