Issue Information
The ACLU believes that individuals should not be discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity. To that end, the ACLU deploys legal, educational and legislative resources to fight for full legal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, whether in employment, schools, marriage or parenting.
What's Happening in Ohio
Discrimination
The Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium made headlines across the nation when it denied a request from two Akron men, one an injured Iraq war veteran, to convert their individual memberships to a family membership after they were legally married …
The Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium made headlines across the nation when it denied a request from two Akron men, one an injured Iraq war veteran, to convert their individual memberships to a family membership after they were legally married in Washington, D.C.
The couple created an online petition, demanding that the natatorium allow same-sex couples to receive family memberships. In January, the ACLU of Ohio sent a letter to Cuyahoga Falls officials, urging them to expand their definition of family.
The public outcry against the natatorium policy has been substantial. Over 5,000 people have signed the couple’s petition. Still the city has chosen to continue with their narrow definition of family, a decision one city council member called “discriminatory,” but not illegal.
School Bullying
Recent cases of bullying in Ohio and nationwide have shed new light on the challenges many students experience every day. In April 2011, the ACLU of Ohio sent a letter to …
Recent cases of bullying in Ohio and nationwide have shed new light on the challenges many students experience every day. In April 2011, the ACLU of Ohio sent a letter to school superintendents around the state urging them to adopt proactive bullying policies that balance education and discipline.
In October, 2011 a Chillicothe-area freshman named Zach was assaulted by a fellow student in his high school classroom because of his sexual orientation. In the days following the attack, a video of the incident was posted online. Watch Zach tell his story on YouTube or below.
Zach’s experience has sparked national outrage and drawn even more attention to the issue of school bullying. The ACLU of Ohio has taken action to protect Zach and other students from future instances of bullying. Watch Zach’s story below.
In December 2011, the ACLU offered testimony to the Ohio Senate Education Committee showing support for new anti-bullying legislation. The ACLU also testified on the constitutional limits schools and the legislature face when addressing “cyber-bullying,” which often happens outside of school.
On February 2, 2012, Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 116, also known as the Jessica Logan Act, into law. The bill requires school staff to obtain training to prevent bullying, mandates that parents receive annual notification of school bullying policies and extends those anti-bullying to school buses.
The ACLU welcomes these long overdue changes, but calls for additional protections on the state and federal level, including enumeration of specific factors that place students in immediate need of protection from bullying, factors such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity. Only with these tools will schools be fully equipped to foster a positive learning environment for all young people.
Anti-discrimination Ordinances
Twenty-nine Ohio cities and counties now have anti-discrimination ordinances. Eleven of these fully protect individuals from discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition the State of Ohio protects its workers from discrimination based …
Twenty-nine Ohio cities and counties now have anti-discrimination ordinances. Eleven of these fully protect individuals from discrimination in employment and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition the State of Ohio protects its workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation, but not gender identity.
The following Ohio cities and counties have an LGB or LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance that protects all individuals from discrimination: Akron*, Athens*, Bowling Green*, Canton, Cincinnati*, Cleveland*, Cleveland Heights, Columbus*, Dayton*, East Cleveland*, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Oberlin, Oxford*, Shaker Heights, Toledo*, and Yellow Springs*.
The following cities and counties have protections for city or county employees only: Cuyahoga County, Cuyahoga Falls, Franklin County, Gahanna, Hamilton, Hamilton County, Laura, Lima, Lucas County, Montgomery County, Summit County, and Wood County.
* Indicates that the ordinance provides full protections from discrimination in employment and housing based on gender identity and sexual orientation. More information about the protections offered in each area is available here.
Domestic Partner Registries
In June 2011, Athens became the fourth city in Ohio — joining Toledo, Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights — to pass a domestic partner registry. While registries do not create any new legal rights, they can be an invaluable …
In June 2011, Athens became the fourth city in Ohio — joining Toledo, Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights — to pass a domestic partner registry. While registries do not create any new legal rights, they can be an invaluable tool for unmarried same and opposite sex couples to access other services – such as employment benefits, child care, hospital visitation, and more.
Marriage Equality
Full marriage equality exists in six states. Marriage equality laws have also passed in Washington and Maryland, but must face a voter referendum before going into effect.
Some states do not have full marriage …
Full marriage equality exists in six states. Marriage equality laws have also passed in Washington and Maryland, but must face a voter referendum before going into effect.
Some states do not have full marriage equality, but allow civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other types of legal recognition. Unfortunately, Ohio is one of many states that have either state laws or constitutional provisions barring same-sex marriage or relationship recognition.
In November 2004, Ohio’s state constitution was amended by ballot Issue 1 to ban same sex marriage. Article 15, Section 11 of the Ohio Constitution now says that the state shall not create or recognize relationships of unmarried adults that approximates marriage. In 2007, the Ohio Supreme Court narrowly interpreted the reach of Issue 1 in the case Ohio v. Carswell, allowing the state to continue enforcing domestic violence laws even if the couple was unmarried. Read the ACLU of Ohio press release and legal brief.