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HB 208 / SB 119 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.
Get InvolvedWhat Can You Do?
Equality Ohio is working for YOU.
We’re working to pass a statewide nondiscrimination bill, and we’re supporting municipalities as they seek to add nondiscrimination protections at the local level.
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.
The work of realizing a fair and welcoming Ohio requires real conversations with real people. With your help, we give Ohioans the opportunity to engage in ways that affect change, not only on a statewide level, but in their neighborhoods and cities.
When you support the work of Equality Ohio Education Fund, you are fueling life-changing connections in homes, churches, and businesses across the state.
Donate today. Let your dollars become the words that change the heart and mind of our next Ally.
Recent NewsStay Informed
Moments ago, Rep. Jenna Powell inserted an amendment that would prohibit transgender youth from participating in school sports into HB 151
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 encourage all to read that testimony, which can be found by clicking on each person’s name above (at the bottom of the page: June 1). […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19th, 2022 Contact: [email protected] Legislation Seeking to Ban Affirming Care Targets Already Vulnerable Ohio Youth with Medical Misinformation for Political Gain: Columbus– (May 19th) This morning, the House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee held a second hearing on House Bill 454, which would ban gender affirming care for minors in […]
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 and Casey, and in turn, undercut the fundamental right to privacy that protects a person’s access a safe, legal abortion. But as we explained in […]
Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Cruel LGBTQ+ Censorship Bill Targeting Free Speech in the Classroom
For Immediate Release: March 30, 2022Contact: Eleanor Naiman, [email protected] Ohio Athletes, LGBTQ+ Advocates Launch Campaign to Change the Narrative about Support for Transgender Youth Athletics Ohioans from across the state share their support for the transgender community, affirming that #OhioCanPlay COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 30, 2021) – This year on Transgender Day of Visibility, Equality Ohio […]
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 Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent history; many of these bills focused specifically on minors and their access to health care. Many of these attacks are fueled […]
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 interfere in personal medical decisions made by families in consultation with their health care providers. This bill aims to restrict transgender young people’s access to […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 23rd 2021 Media Contact: [email protected] Equality Ohio Celebrates Holidays by Announcing New Deputy Director, Siobhan Boyd-Nelson New Deputy Director Boyd-Nelson poised to increase organizational capacity and strategically advance “legal” and “lived” LGBTQ+ equality Columbus, Ohio – Equality Ohio announced this week the selection of a new Deputy Director. Former Equality Ohio […]
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.
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.
A Commitment to Mission Means Not Just Condemning But Combating Racism In All Forms
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 below: Equality Ohio’s Testimony on HB322: Chair Wiggam, Vice Chair John, Ranking Member Kelly, and members of the State and Local Government committee, thank you […]
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, [email protected] COLUMBUS, OH – Equality Ohio, Ohio’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ organization, and Equality Ohio Education Fund announced this morning that Maria Bruno will take the lead […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2021 CONTACT: Yunny Seo, [email protected] Ohio Faith Leaders Urge Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to Support the Equality and Protect LGBTQ People from Discrimination CINCINNATI, OHIO — Today, Ohio faith leaders — Rev. JM Triplett, Rev. Nicole Kelly, and Rev. David Meredith — called on Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) […]
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 interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics is a valuable part of the education experience for all students. 2. Transgender student athletes should have equal opportunity to participate […]
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…
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