Contact: Lynne Bowman, Executive Director
614-224-0400 (office)
614-202-8869 (cell)
lynne@equalityohio.org

EQUALITY OHIO EDUCATION FUND ANNOUNCES MARKET RESEARCH RESULTS RELATED TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES
Organization takes the pulse of Ohio voters on
a variety of issues

Columbus, OH, March 7, 2007 – Today, Equality Ohio Education Fund, a statewide, equal-rights education and advocacy organization, released the results of a survey commissioned to determine where voters really stand on issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Ohio.

The end of year survey, conducted by The Glengariff Group, Inc., polled 800 registered Ohio voters, and asked questions on a variety of topics including hospital visitation, workplace discrimination and same-sex marriage.

Overall, a majority of Ohioans support most equal rights and protections for LGBT individuals and families. The most significant research result indicates 91% support for legislation giving same-sex couples the guaranteed right to visit their partner in the hospital, should s/he become ill.

“This is an exceptional response to such an important issue facing many LGBT Ohioans,” said Lynne Bowman, Executive Director of Equality Ohio Education Fund. “Everyone should have the guaranteed right to visit their sick or dying partner. Hospital visitation is an issue on which almost all Ohio voters can agree.”

According to the research, more than two thirds of Ohio voters support legislation to protect people from discrimination in the workplace based on their sexual orientation. When polled, 68% of respondents said they would support a law making it illegal to fire or deny housing to an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Current Ohio law falls short of protecting all Ohioans from discrimination by excluding sexual orientation and gender identity as fundamental human characteristics deserving of protection.

Not surprisingly, when Ohio voters were asked about their stance regarding same-sex marriage, only 34% of those who responded stated that they were in support of the legalization of marriage between two people of the same gender. This result closely mirrors the outcome of the 2004 November election where Ohioans voted to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.

“We are working for an inclusive Ohio where equality and diversity are valued and protected by law,” Bowman said. “This is not about special rights. This is about every Ohioan deserving equal rights and protections. Most Ohio voters understand and support that.”

About The Equality Ohio Education Fund:
The Equality Ohio Education Fund is a not-for-profit, equal-rights education and advocacy organization that envisions an Ohio where everyone feels at home, living in families and communities where equality, diversity and inclusiveness are universally valued; and where government protects all people and responds to their needs, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. On the web at www.equalityohio.org.
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