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Get InvolvedWhat Can You Do?
Equality Ohio is Ohio’s statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy and legal aid organization. We have 5 departments working to achieve lived and legal equality in Ohio.
- A free Legal Clinic
- A Policy Team
- A Statewide Community Organizing Team
- A Communications Team
- A Development Team
Through our commitment to racial and social justice, we’re addressing issues of inequality at the margins. And with our commitment to expanding inclusive faith traditions, we’re mobilizing communities of faith across Ohio to help end LGBTQ+ inequality.
When you support the work of Equality Ohio, you are fueling life-changing connections in homes, institutions, and businesses across the state.
Action CenterDonate
SB 132 Ohio
Fairness Act
The Ohio Fairness Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to the laws that make discrimination illegal in Ohio. That’s right—in most parts of Ohio, it’s still legal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.
Recent NewsStay Informed
June 2024
At nearly 11 pm on Wednesday evening, on the last session day before their summer recess, extremists in the Ohio legislature added an anti-LGBTQ+ amendment into Senate Bill 104 on the House floor. The last-minute amendment places l a bathroom ban for transgender people in schools K-12 through Higher Education into an unrelated bill related to the College Credit Plus program. Equality Ohio condemns the surprise passage of this discriminatory legislation, which undermines the dignity and rights of transgender and gender diverse Ohioans.
June 2024
Equality Ohio, ACLU of Ohio and TransOhio strongly opposes House Bill 245(sponsored by Representatives King and Williams), a broad and harmful measure that criminalizes performing while transgender or in drag outside of adults-only venues. Proponent testimony for this bill is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, at 12 PM in the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee.
February 2024
Equality Ohio and Ohio Health Modernization Movement Release Groundbreaking Report: Over 200 Ohioans Criminalized for HIV FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28th, 2024 Media Contact: MD Sitzes, Communications Manager, Equality Ohio, […]
February 2024
Press Statement: Equality Ohio Responds to Revised ODH and OMHAS Rules by DeWine Administration
January 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2024 Adam Polaski | Campaign for Southern Equality | 610.306.7956 | adam@southernequality.org MD Sitzes | Equality Ohio | 614-224-0400 | media@equalityohio.org Jen Kuhn I Kaleidoscope […]
January 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: MD Sitzes Email: media@equalityohio.org, md@equalityohio.org January 24th, 2024 Press Statement: Equality Ohio Condemns Ohio Senate’s Override of Governor’s Veto of HB 68, Affirming Commitment to […]
January 2024
January 19, 2024 LeeAnne Cornyn, Director Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services Submitted electronically to MH-SOT-rules@mha.ohio.gov CC: Governor Mike DeWine via Giles Allen, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, […]
January 2024
Ohio LGBTQ+ Leaders Denounce Proposed Restrictions on Health CareGroups decry anti-trans legislation and executive orders to restrict health care Media Contacts: MD Sitzes, Equality Ohio; media@equalityohio.org Celina Coming , ACLU […]
January 2024
THURS: Ohio LGBTQ+ Leaders Hold Virtual Press Briefing to Discuss Legislative and Executive Attack on Transgender Healthcare Media Contacts: MD Sitzes, Equality Ohio, media@equalityohio.orgCelina Coming, ACLU of Ohio ccoming@acluohio.orgPress Team, Human Rights […]
January 2024
Equality Ohio shares the concerns of TransOhio and other trans-led organizations, leading medical providers, and community members currently accessing healthcare who have expressed grave concerns about the harm these new rules would cause.
December 2023
For immediate release: 12/29/2023 Press contact: media@equalityohio.org Equality Ohio Applauds Governor’s Veto of HB 68 COLUMBUS, Ohio (December 29, 2023)– Today, Governor Mike DeWine vetoed HB 68, a bill that […]
December 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE media@equalityohio.orgpress@glaad.org MEDIA ALERT: GLAAD, EQUALITY OHIO FACT SHEET FOR REPORTERS ON HB 68, BAN ON HEALTH CARE AND SPORTS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN OHIO (Columbus, OH and […]
December 2023
A coalition of LGBTQ+ affirming organizations in Ohio including TransOhio, Equality Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, HRC, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Equitas Health, and NASW have united in opposition to harmful legislation that threatens the freedom, safety, and future of LGBTQ+ Ohioans. This coalition is proud to announce the release of a sign-on letter
September 2023
Equality Ohio, the state’s foremost LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, has expressed its profound disappointment with the recent news of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland’s policy against inclusion and basic civil rights.
August 2023
In this analysis you will find a summary of the recent Federal Supreme Court Case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, a detailed analysis of legal implications with examples, and recommended […]
June 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 29th, 2023 Media Contact: MD Sitzes, md@equalityohio.org, media@equalityohio.org COLUMBUS, OH – Today, Equality Ohio is proud to announce that Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), […]
June 2023
Over the course of June, The Defenders of Equality are bringing you stories from Trans folks across the state of Ohio about the joys and very real struggles they are experiencing, often at once.
June 2023
Over the course of June, The Defenders of Equality are bringing you stories from Trans folks across the state of Ohio about the joys and very real struggles they are experiencing, often at once.
June 2023
Over the course of June, The Defenders of Equality are bringing you stories from Trans folks across the state of Ohio about the joys and very real struggles they are experiencing, often at once.
June 2023
Over the course of June, The Defenders of Equality are bringing you stories from Trans folks across the state of Ohio about the joys and very real struggles they are experiencing, often at once.
June 2023
Over the course of June, The Defenders of Equality are bringing you stories from Trans folks across the state of Ohio about the joys and very real struggles they are experiencing, often at once.
June 2023
Over the course of June, The Defenders of Equality are bringing you stories from Trans folks across the state of Ohio about the joys and very real struggles they are experiencing, often at once.
June 2023
“By shedding light on the truth, these fearless advocates reshape the narrative surrounding transgender rights and create a more compassionate and equitable Ohio reflective of our values,”
April 2023
March 29th, 2023 Contact: media@equalityohio.org, kathryn@equalityohio.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LGBTQ+ Advocacy Organizations Respond to House Bill 6 Proponent Hearing. Partner Organizations Call On Legislature To Reject Anti-Trans Legislation COLUMBUS – […]
March 2023
For Immediate Release: Equality Ohio Responds to anti-LGBTQ+ terrorism at Community Event in Wadsworth Ohio
February 2023
The Equality Ohio Legal Clinic is excited to launch an all-new virtual meeting, held on the third Thursday of each month from 12-1 PM EST.
January 2023
2023 is the starting point for Ohio’s 2-year long General Assembly (or State Legislature). This is the period of time during which bills can be introduced, and during which bills can die.
December 2022
in the final hours of the House session, House
Bill 151, the most recent vehicle for a ban on transgender girl athletes in school sports,
was voted down on the House floor.
November 2022
On Wednesday, November 16th at 10 am in room 121, HB 454, a bill that would ban gender affirming health care for minors in Ohio, will have its second opponent hearing.
September 2022
For Immediate Release: September 22, 2022 Media Contacts: media@equalityohio.org md@equalityohio.org Equality Ohio Presents First Nonpartisan Statewide Candidate Forum for Ohio LGBTQ+ Community (September 29th) COLUMBUS (Sept. 22) – Equality Ohio […]
September 2022
EQUALITY OHIO AND GLAAD RELEASE LGBTQ+ RECORDS OF U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES; CALL ON MEDIA TO INCLUDE LGBTQ+ PEOPLE AND FACTS IN COVERAGE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION
September 2022
Equality Ohio Announces Formation of Historic Worker Union
August 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: md@equalityohio.org August 9th, 2022 EQUALITY OHIO RELEASES 2022 ELECTED OFFICIAL SCORECARD Equality Ohio has publicly released its long awaited 2022 Ohio Lawmaker Equality Scorecard, which […]
July 2022
July 22, 2021 We stand with the family of Jayland Walker, as they have recently laid him to rest in Akron, Ohio—a place and community dear to our hearts. We […]
June 2022
Moments ago, Rep. Jenna Powell inserted an amendment that would prohibit transgender youth from participating in school sports into HB 151
June 2022
Equality Ohio applauds the Opposition Testimony submitted in today’s hearing against HB 454 from Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, Dr. Armand Antommaria, Dr. David Axelson, MD, and Dr. Patricia Manning-Courtney. We […]
May 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19th, 2022 Contact: md@equalityohio.org Legislation Seeking to Ban Affirming Care Targets Already Vulnerable Ohio Youth with Medical Misinformation for Political Gain: Columbus– (May 19th) This morning, […]
May 2022
May 2nd, 2022 Updated May 6th, 2022 Community, We are angry, heartbroken, and more determined than ever after seeing the leaked draft version of Dobbs that seeks to overturn Roe […]
April 2022
Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Cruel LGBTQ+ Censorship Bill Targeting Free Speech in the Classroom
March 2022
For Immediate Release: March 30, 2022Contact: Eleanor Naiman, eleanor.naiman@berlinrosen.com Ohio Athletes, LGBTQ+ Advocates Launch Campaign to Change the Narrative about Support for Transgender Youth Athletics Ohioans from across the state […]
March 2022
Across the country, the politicians are increasingly using gender idenity, specifically transgender youth, as a flashpoint in their conservative movement. Last year was reported to be the worst year for […]
February 2022
COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 16, 2021) – Tomorrow at 11am, the Ohio House Families, Aging and Human Services Committee will hear testimony on HB454, a bill that would give politicians the power to […]
December 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 23rd 2021 Media Contact: md@equalityohio.org Equality Ohio Celebrates Holidays by Announcing New Deputy Director, Siobhan Boyd-Nelson New Deputy Director Boyd-Nelson poised to increase organizational capacity and […]
November 2021
Recently our team at Equality Ohio has experienced an alarming increase in calls from parents, educators, and school counselors observing harassment and mistreatment of transgender students in our schools. We invited a guest attorney and expert in Ohio education law, Emily Spivack, Esq., to weigh in on the dos and don’ts that help schools protect their transgender school community members and stay in compliance with Title IX.
October 2021
We believe BIPOC staff when they share experiences of racism and anti-Blackness. Knowing you will be believed is empowering. We call on ourselves as an organization as well as our partners to always create space for people who have been harmed by racial injustice and offer the opportunity for staff to honestly name their experiences. It’s not easy to speak up without knowing whether your colleagues will believe you and stand alongside you. We unequivocally stand in solidarity with current and former BIPOC Equitas employees and commit to continuing the work of modifying our own organizational structure to model the working world we want to see.
October 2021
A Commitment to Mission Means Not Just Condemning But Combating Racism In All Forms
September 2021
On September 22nd, Equality Ohio’s Public Policy Director, Maria Bruno, testified against HB322 and HB327, Ohio’s anti-honesty in education bills (or anti-critical race theory bills). You can read our testimony […]
August 2021
New Public Policy Director set to continue state and local advocacy and increase capacity to improve laws for LGBTQ+ Ohioans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 26, 2021 CONTACT: MD Spicer-Sitzes, md@equalityohio.org […]
June 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2021 CONTACT: Yunny Seo, yunny@precisionstrategies.com Ohio Faith Leaders Urge Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to Support the Equality and Protect LGBTQ People from Discrimination […]
March 2021
The Board of Directors of the OHSAA, Executive Director’s Office and member schools do hereby reaffirm the following policy considerations respecting participation in interscholastic sports in Ohio: 1. Participation in […]
March 2021
As Ohioans, we must continue the ongoing work to be truly anti-racist. Across party lines, leaders and communities alike are calling for an end to White Supremacy. Its destructive path has no place in public office or civic duty…
November 2024
COLUMBUS – Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward has issued the following statement regarding the Trans Day of Remembrance, which was established in 1999 after the deaths of Black trans […]
November 2024
COLUMBUS – Equality Ohio Executive Director Dwayne Steward has issued the following statement regarding the Trans Day of Remembrance, which was established in 1999 after the deaths of Black trans […]
November 2024
COLUMBUS ― Equality Ohio Legal Clinic released the following statement regarding the Adelaide Case: The majority of the justices were not able to come to an agreement. This action leaves […]
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