Today, Alliance Defending Freedom––a massive, national, anti-LGBTQ force––filed a federal lawsuit against South Euclid, Ohio.

Why? South Euclid’s LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance.

Ohio’s nondiscrimination laws do not include LGBTQ people, so cities like South Euclid have to take these steps on their own in order to be welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ people.

Let’s Get Real

Over 200 cities (including 22 localities here in Ohio), 21 states, and D.C. have laws like this ordinance on the books.

South Euclid’s ordinance does not infringe on anyone’s free expression of religion. On the contrary, there are special rights afforded to religious organizations in this ordinance that ensure they can continue to operate freely.

This ordinance was passed unanimously. In the council chambers that evening, residents of South Euclid were openly weeping with relief that they and their LGBTQ loved ones were now fully welcome in South Euclid.

Religious organizations are co-equally protected under laws like this in every city in Ohio that has them. But it’s not about that. It’s about whether LGBTQ people and their families are subjected to discrimination, ridicule, and abuse.

And, multiple courts, including the Supreme Court in Masterpiece, have upheld the constitutionality of including LGBTQ people in nondiscrimination laws. What South Euclid has on the books is no different.

Everybody’s concerns and rights are important. And, the rule of law matters. We decided a long time ago as a country that discrimination is wrong. Period. And it’s far past time we extend the right to freely work and be judged only on your merit to LGBTQ people everywhere.

“Equality Ohio’s Fingerprints Are All Over This”

Alliance Defending Freedom is huge, well funded, and has connections to the vast anti-LGBTQ network that seeks to erase every single win we’ve had as a movement, and yet: we are not intimidated.

They say that Equality Ohio’s fingerprints are all over this.

Yeah. They are. This is what we do. And we do it together with you.

We will continue to stand up for LGBTQ equality everywhere in Ohio.

If you support the work we do, please consider a $3 contribution so we can keep working to make Ohio a state we can all call home, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.