Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on January 31, 2020 in Blog
We all rejoiced when the Obergefell v. Hodges decision was announced in 2015. Same-sex marriage became legal throughout the United States! A tremendous victory. But as these things go, a […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 24, 2019 in Blog
For the past several weeks, the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic has covered the trio of cases in front of the Supreme Court concerning Title VII employment protections for LGBTQ people […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 17, 2019 in Blog
If you’re a regular reader of our blog, or if you’ve been paying attention to the news in recent weeks, you may have read about the momentous trio of cases […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 17, 2019 in Blog
Last Tuesday, I felt like I was waiting with bated breath as I kept hitting “refresh” on the Supreme Court website. Finally, that afternoon, transcripts of two oral arguments were […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 14, 2019 in Blog
Last week, 30 members of the Ohio House of Representatives introduced a bill to officially designate October 11th as Coming Out Day. This bill is an exciting opportunity for the […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By Alana Jochum on October 4, 2019 in Blog
On Tuesday, October 8 the Supreme Court of the United States will hear three cases about LGBTQ employment discrimination that will determine if federal law protects LGBTQ people. I can’t […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 4, 2019 in Blog
Yep, my voting record is hit or miss. Even as proud as I am to be an advocate for justice, equity, and liberation, there are several years when I did […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on September 19, 2019 in Blog
Ohio’s Treatment of Transgender People Out of Line You may have heard that Ohio has the unfortunate distinction of being one of only two states in the entire United States […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on September 12, 2019 in Blog
After seeing Ohioans wearing shirts or waving flags with rainbow marijuana leaves across the state throughout Pride season, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that Ohio may have joined the […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on August 29, 2019 in Blog
Equality Ohio is proud to support our friends at the ACLU and all the work they have done to help transgender Ohioans. It’s been a while since we’ve shared an […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By Alana Jochum on August 26, 2019 in Blog
Regardless of how the Supreme Court holds in the trio of cases before it, Ohioans need the Ohio Fairness Act, which explicitly adds nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people to state law.
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on August 22, 2019 in Blog
Though there are many pathways to become a legal permanent resident in the United States, one common pathway to becoming a green card holder is through the filing of an […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on August 15, 2019 in Blog
As my retired-school-teacher mother always says, once you start hearing those cicadas in Ohio in mid-August, you know a new school year is upon us. And here (and hear) we […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on August 13, 2019 in Blog
Last summer, the end of the Supreme Court’s term brought a variety of mixed emotions for advocates of LGBT rights. Disappointment with the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision, but pleased that a solid majority […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on August 1, 2019 in Blog
“Is that a service dog?” It’s one of the first questions business owners and employees ask when an animal walks into a public setting, like a store or restaurant. Unfortunately, […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on July 25, 2019 in Blog
Public interest law may not be the sexy, high paying, high-intensity law that you see on TV. However, it is a necessary occupation that provides attorneys a rewarding and educational […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on July 19, 2019 in Blog
It is the goal of many same-sex couples to start a family, married or otherwise. However, the process of bringing a child into the world, or adopting one, can be […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on July 11, 2019 in Blog
Summer camp is a right of passage for many—whether it be day camp, sleep-away camp, a specific interest program, or just pitching a pup tent in the backyard or living […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on June 27, 2019 in Blog
Unfortunately, many LGBTQ Ohioans face the risk of experiencing violence or other harassment by a loved one, family member, or other people in the community. The growing number of murders […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on June 20, 2019 in Blog
Crimes like assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, and homicide can be extremely traumatic for survivors and family members and often lead to expensive medical bills and lost wages. Fortunately, there […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on June 13, 2019 in Blog
In 1971, Ohioans were traveling to New York City by carpool to join the Christopher Street Liberation Day march, which had begun the year before to commemorate the infamous Stonewall […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on May 10, 2019 in Blog
Since its creation in 1996, the Ohio Drug Court program has expanded from 3 specialty dockets to 112, spanning 54 counties. Last month, Governor Mike DeWine proposed the creation of […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on April 29, 2019 in Blog
Have you heard of House Bill 180? Ohio legislation proposed after Perrysburg boy’s drag show, Toledo Blade Boy’s drag routine prompts Republican to seek new rules on child exploitation, The […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on April 25, 2019 in Blog
Despite the lack of explicit federal statutory protections against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity, there currently are some protections afforded by federal administrative agencies. One of these […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on April 23, 2019 in Blog
Equality Ohio regularly offers volunteer opportunities, all of which are geared towards helping the LGBTQ population in Ohio. Despite, my passion for the cause, I had often dismissed these opportunities […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on April 19, 2019 in Blog
There are approximately 1.4 million transgender people currently living in the United States. We may never have an accurate account of how many gender variant people live here in Ohio, […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on April 11, 2019 in Blog
On March 22, 2019, Ohio Revised Code § 2323.311 became effective. Before this new statutory section was passed, Ohio law did not provide a uniform process for determining indigency (or […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on April 3, 2019 in Blog
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 […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on March 29, 2019 in Blog
International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is a celebration of transgender and gender non-conforming people. We celebrate their courage and strength to live as their authentic selves, despite the great […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on March 28, 2019 in Blog
There are many people in Ohio who have criminal convictions and are in need of a second chance. Unfortunately, second chances don’t come easily when one’s criminal conviction shows up […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on March 22, 2019 in Blog
America is currently undergoing an eviction epidemic. In Cuyahoga County alone, over 27,000 eviction cases are filed every year, in large part due to lack of affordable housing options for […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on March 8, 2019 in Blog
LOVEboldly exists to empower willing Christians and LGBTQ+ individuals to step towards loving one another more boldly. They recently held a conversation in Columbus during Restore: Columbus 2019. Arguably one […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on February 14, 2019 in Blog
The Ohio Fairness Act does a simple thing. It adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” to the laws that make discrimination illegal in Ohio, and it would bring […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on February 13, 2019 in Blog
Hi, I’m Gwen. I’m Equality Ohio’s new Statewide Civic Engagement Director. I want to give an important update to you on the Ohio Fairness Act––which was just introduced by Sen. […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on February 8, 2019 in Blog
Amber Evans went missing on Monday, January 28th. Ambers work enriched central Ohio, and her work with the Juvenile Justice Coalition is very important in our efforts to help LGBTQ […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on January 14, 2019 in Blog
Today, Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ state employees. This executive order was among the first six that Governor DeWine signed, underscoring his recognition […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on December 19, 2018 in Blog
Today, Governor John Kasich issued Executive Order 2018-12K to take a significant step in ensuring that all Ohioans, including LGBTQ Ohioans, are protected from discrimination in state employment. This Executive […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on November 13, 2018 in Blog
Tuesday’s election results brought a flood of emotions for LGBTQ people and their allies across the country. We’ve taken the last few days to process, analyze, and strategize. Our conclusion: […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on November 2, 2018 in Blog
With over half of the Ohio Senate up for reelection this season, LGBTQ Ohioans and their allies have the opportunity to dramatically shift the dialogue in Columbus from questions of […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on November 2, 2018 in Blog
Equality Ohio has been involved with The Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board (“CSWMFT Board”) for over three years on issues relating to conversion “therapy.” Today, the […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By Kim Welter on November 1, 2018 in Blog
This week, Mayor Andrew Ginther swore in Captain Lana Moore into the City of Columbus Hall of Fame. Equality Ohio is proud to have nominated her and supported her nomination. Lana […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 30, 2018 in Blog
Voters in Ohio have huge decisions to make this election season, but some of the most important decisions are made by individuals at the bottom of the ballot. Members of […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 18, 2018 in Blog
Issue 1 reclassifies certain drug offenses that disproportionately impact LGBTQ people. Addiction is a serious and growing problem in Ohio, and the LGBTQ community is not immune. In fact, as […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 18, 2018 in Blog
Earlier this month, Equality Ohio introduced our first Elected Official Scorecard. There were some As, some Bs, quite a bit of Cs, and even some Ds and Fs. One Ohio […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 17, 2018 in Blog
The statewide portion of the scorecard is the only section where we place candidates’ records on LGBTQ issues head to head to show what often are major differences in their […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 16, 2018 in Blog
In a unanimous vote, the city of Lakewood became the sixth Ohio city to ban the practice of conversion “therapy” on minors. Organizations such as the American Association for Marriage […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 15, 2018 in Blog
Ensuring that voting is open to all is a basic function of democracy, however, sometimes transgender people can face needless frustration and anxiety at the polls. An NBC News investigation […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 12, 2018 in Blog
The scorecard that you see in front of you today is the result of three months of research (and gallons of coffee). There are many important elected official scorecards. This […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on October 10, 2018 in Blog
After several months of poring over voting records, newspaper archives, and social media accounts, we are proud to present Equality Ohio’s Inaugural Elected Official Scorecard. Ohio’s LGBTQ community has long […]
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Category Archives: Blog
By md spicer-sitzes on September 25, 2018 in Blog
Cuyahoga County Council just made history for its LGBTQ residents. The council––the first county in Ohio, and only one of two that can enact such a law, the other being […]
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