Original Post: March 11, 2025, Last Updated: 03/11/2025 The start of 2025 has created a lot of uncertainty for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. The unprecedented number of executive orders directed at our […]
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February 7, 2025—In cities throughout Ohio, from the shores of Lake Erie to the banks of the Ohio River, billboards in support of Trans Ohioans appeared with a simple message […]
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2/25/2025—Today, Ohio’s dangerous bathroom ban, SB 104, goes into effect. This law mandates that school bathrooms and facilities be restricted by assigned sex at birth, putting transgender youth at even […]
Read MoreFebruary 7, 2025—As Ohio’s statewide advocacy experts, Equality Ohio has long been a champion for LGBTQ+ rights. Our legal clinic has already served 3,414 LGBTQ+ Ohioans since its inception—and we […]
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Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community lost a hero this week with the passing of LeeAnn Massucci. LeeAnn was a dedicated attorney and staunch LGBTQ+ advocate. She served as the Co-Director of the […]
Read MoreCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Equality Ohio released the following statement regarding news that Gov. DeWine has signed HB 8, a harmful bill with language similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. […]
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Equality Ohio released the following statement after the Ohio House rushed through passage of HB 8, a harmful bill with language similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” […]
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Equality Ohio released the following statement regarding HB 8, a harmful bill with language similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill that was voted out of the […]
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Statement: Equality Ohio Stands Firm Against SB 104 Ohio — Equality Ohio released the following statement after Gov. Mike DeWine ACTION on SB 104, a restrictive bill that mandates all […]
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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 […]
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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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Ohio — The Ohio Senate’s approval of SB 104 marks a devastating moment for all Ohioans, especially for transgender and nonbinary youth. This restrictive bill mandates all kindergarten through university […]
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Columbus — On Wednesday, Equality Ohio joined over 79 organizations in signing a unified statement reaffirming a collective commitment to advancing LGBTQIA2S+ rights and freedoms. With this statement, Equality Ohio […]
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COLUMBUS – Equality Ohio released the following statement regarding media reports that conservative candidates around the country are running hateful anti-trans ad campaigns to try to win their elections “We’ve seen over […]
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(Image L to R: Sol Kersey- Equality Ohio Legal Clinic, Lana Kleiman-Charleston Legal Access, Diane Haar-Hawaii Disability Services, & Nav Gill- VP of Finance at CLIO) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Equality […]
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September 19th, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Equality Ohio Announces 2024 Advocates & Allies Awards Ceremony and Annual Fundraiser Event Marks First Public Appearance with New Executive Director Dwayne Steward COLUMBUS, […]
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Equality Ohio Board Announces Veteran Ohio LGBTQ+ Leader Dwayne Steward Joins Equality Ohio as Next Executive Director COLUMBUS – The Equality Ohio Board has announced that veteran LGBTQ+ Leader Dwayne […]
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Contact: MD Sitzes, Communications Manager, Equality Ohio media@equalityohio.org, md@equalityohio.org Columbus, Ohio — August 6, 2024 Today, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas ruled in favor of allowing House Bill […]
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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.
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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.
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For Immediate Release April 16, 2024 Contact: MD Sitzes, Communications Manager, Equality Ohio media@equalityohio.org Ohio Courts Restore Access to Healthcare for Transgender Youth Today, a Franklin County judge issued a temporary […]
Read More 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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
Read More 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 […]
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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 […]
Read More 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.
Read More 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 […]
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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 […]
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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
Read More 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.
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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 […]
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“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,”
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For Immediate Release: Equality Ohio Responds to anti-LGBTQ+ terrorism at Community Event in Wadsworth Ohio
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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.
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.
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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 […]
Read MoreFOR 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 […]
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Equality Ohio is disappointed in the outcome of the recent Shawnee State lawsuit, and we affirm that all transgender and non-binary students, staff and faculty deserve a safe, respectful environment […]
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Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Cruel LGBTQ+ Censorship Bill Targeting Free Speech in the Classroom
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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 […]
Read MoreNew 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 […]
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The 134th General Assembly is only a month old, and extreme anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers have already begun their attacks on transgender youth. This morning, Representatives Jena Powell and Reggie Stoltzfus reintroduced their blanket ban on transgender athletes in high school and college sports. In the face of an ongoing pandemic and calls for meaningful criminal justice reform, Reps. Powell (R-Arcanum) and Stoltzfus (R-Paris Township) wasted no time in bringing back this incredibly dangerous and discriminatory bill.
Read MoreToday, members of the Ohio Senate, led by Senators Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester), introduced SB 50, which would prohibit the fraudulent and dangerous practice of attempting to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, sometimes called “conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy”.
Read MoreWe made it. Voting in the 2020 Election has finally concluded, and Ohioans’ voices have been heard. There’s a lot to talk about and a lot we still don’t know yet, but Equality Ohio’s policy team has been up with you through the past 48 hours to help figure out just what happened and how it will impact LGBTQ+ Ohioans.
As a reminder, Equality Ohio is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse candidates or parties. We do have an Elected Official Scorecard that graded candidates for President and Vice President, as well as incumbent members of the Ohio Legislature. We’ll use those grades a lot in this analysis.
Read MoreHere’s what I know about youth: They have the best environment to thrive when they are supported and can get the health care they need. Instead, this bill promises burden and harassment.
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