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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, media@equalityohio.org According to a new report, released jointly by Equality Ohio and the Ohio Health Modernization Movement (OHMM), there were at least 214 cases from […]
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 Youth Center I 614.294.5437 I jen@kycohio.org As Ohio Senate Overrides Governor’s Veto of Ban on Medically Necessary Care for Trans Youth, Advocates Launch Emergency Resources […]
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 Transgender Rights Equality Ohio expresses deep disappointment over the Ohio Senate’s vote to override the Governor’s veto of HB 68, highlighting the disregard for voices […]
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, to Giles.Allen@governor.ohio.gov RE: Comments on Draft Rule 5122-26-19, Gender Transition Care, and Draft Amended Rule 5122-14-12, Program, Specialty Services, and Discharge Planning Requirements Dear Director […]
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 of Ohio; ccoming@acluohio.org Press Team, Human Rights Campaign; press@hrc.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11th, 2024 COLUMBUS, OHIO – LGBTQ+ leaders from the Ohio is Home […]
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 Campaign, press@hrc.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10th, 2024 COLUMBUS, OHIO – A coalition of leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations including: Equality Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, TransOhio, Trans […]
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 would have prevented health professionals from providing best practice treatment to transgender youth, as well as barred transgender youth from participating in school sports with […]
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 New York, NY, December 15, 2023) — GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, and Equality Ohio, which advocates and educates to achieve fair […]
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 resources as of August 2023. This in-depth analysis is purely informational and does not take the place of professional legal advice. We encourage community members […]
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), the only LGBTQ+ lawmaker serving in the 135th General Assembly, has reintroduced the Ohio Fairness Act (OFA) alongside a bipartisan group of eight supportive cosponsors. […]
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 29th) Today, LGBTQ+ Advocacy Organizations from across Ohio and the country call upon the House Higher Education Committee to reject House Bill 6, a […]
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 will be hosting our first ever 2022 Nonpartisan Statewide Candidate Forum on September 29th from 5 to 9 pm EDT. Selected statewide candidates from both […]
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 analyzes the legislative voting record of Ohio’s state legislators during the 134th General Assembly as well as the career accomplishments of the candidates for the […]
June 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 25, 2025Contact:MD Sitzes | Communications Manager | md@equalityohio.org *updated at 12 noon on June 25 Equality Ohio Responds to Ohio State Budget on DeWine’s Desk “Taxpayer Dollars Should Not Fund Discrimination” Columbus, OH — The Ohio State Budget will be sent to Governor DeWine’s desk for signature today—from what we know so […]
June 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: MD Sitzes, Communications Manager | md@equalityohio.org Equality Ohio Responds to Supreme Court’s Ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti COLUMBUS, OH—June 18, 2025—Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case that challenged Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. This ruling will have a significant impact on […]
May 2025
Ohio LGBTQIA+ Equity Advocates’ Testimony on Anti-Trans Budget Language Rejected [Columbus, Ohio] – May 14, 2025 –TransOhio and Equality Ohio strongly condemn the decision by the Ohio Government Oversight and Reform Committee to reject public testimony submitted by both organizations and community members regarding harmful anti-transgender language proposed in the state budget: “It is the […]
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