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 Supreme Court victory like that one, unfortunately, does not mean that all state laws and policies related to marriage and families and parentage change overnight. […]
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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 growing number of states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. You may want to tamper any high expectations. Although medicinal marijuana is now legal […]
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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 are. It’s a sorry fact that LGBTQ youth in our schools face increased harassment and bullying, by fellow students and also faculty and staff, as […]
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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 affirmed the concept of LGBT equal access to the marketplace. Despair over Justice Kennedy’s retirement. Doubts about a Supreme Court trending more conservative and dreading […]
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“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, there’s a lot of confusion about what makes a dog a service dog. Many people confuse service animals with therapy dogs or emotional support animals. […]
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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 complex to navigate in Ohio, particularly in ensuring that parental rights are secured. Despite the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision that made same-sex marriage, […]
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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 room, these memories can last a lifetime. LGBTQ children and young adults should not be left out of these experiences. But there are camps that […]
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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 of trans women of color, some within our own state, are a heart wrenching recent example of violence directed at the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ victims […]
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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 is a government fund that may offset some of that financial burden. The Victims of Crime Act (or “VOCA”) is a federal law that provides […]
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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 riots. The following year, the first All-Ohio Gay Conference took place in Columbus. The first Pride march in Ohio took place in Cincinnati in 1973. […]
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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 30 additional drug courts across the state, especially in those 34 counties that do not have a specialty docket available. According to several surveys completed […]
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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 Guardian Child drag shows would be outlawed under new Ohio bill, Cleveland.com Sashay Away? Ohio Legislature Moves to Ban Child Drag Shows, Logo At first, […]
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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 administrative protections is in the employment context. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 created the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is […]
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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 by telling myself that I was too busy to participate, despite having a bit more time in my schedule than I was willing to admit. […]
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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 lack of ability to pay) in civil cases, only in criminal proceedings. Without such a uniform process, low-income litigants often faced unnecessary hurdles in seeking […]
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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 on every rental background check, employment application, and other situations necessary to begin the process of starting over. Recently, Ohio changed its record sealing laws. […]
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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 low-income residents. Extreme hardship can often follow an eviction and make it incredibly difficult for residents to find proper housing. To remedy this, the Cleveland […]
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