Housing & Employment

It is legal in the state of Ohio to be fired from your job or denied an apartment or house because of your sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. In many cities in Ohio this practice is illegal, but there are no state level protections.

21 of the 50 states presently protect people from this type of discrimination, putting Ohio at a competitive disadvantage for recruitment and hiring of the best and brightest professional talent. Many employers across the country and here in Ohio have extended non-discrimination policies to cover LGBT persons, but millions of Ohioans remain unprotected. Protections are needed for everyone.

More Information:

• Human Rights Campaign Worknet
• Ohio Cities and LGBT equality laws (PDF)
• How Ohio compares to other states in equality laws (PDF)

In recent surveys Ohioans and Americans in general overwhelmingly oppose discrimination of this kind.

76% of individuals polled believed there should be laws protecting gays and lesbians from prejudice and discrimination in job opportunities and 74% said there should be laws to protect gays and lesbians from prejudice and discrimination in housing. Furthermore, 40% said that they thought the government was doing “too little to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.

The opinion of Ohio Voters is in line with this national trend.

66% of Ohio registered voters believe that laws should be passed banning discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.**

Equality Ohio is working to introduce the Equal Housing and Employment Act to end this type of discrimination.

** 2006 Glengariff Poll of Ohio voters commissioned by Equality Ohio Education Fund

Ohio needs the Equal Housing and Employment Act

In the last four sessions of the Ohio General Assembly, legislation has been introduced that would protect all Ohioans from losing their job, being denied housing, or to be refused public accommodations based on their real or perceived sexual orientation. Finally, on September 15, 2009, with a vote of 56 to 39, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act. The historic vote marks the first time in Ohio that a vote on the floor of the Ohio General Assembly has occurred on legislation protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The bill now moves to the Senate.

Ohioans face discrimination on many levels, and this bill would prevent someone from being judged for anything but their performance on the job. In addition, it would allow equal access to all Ohioans in their ability to travel about the state, live where they are the most productive members of their community and even to be at the bedside of their loved one in times of need.

In March of 2008, Equality Ohio will introduce the Equal Housing and Employment Act.

Click here to find out how you can get involved.