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LGBT Rights

Updated 06.18.09 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

June is Pride month! Find out when Pride festivals will be held in your community and how to volunteer at the ACLU tent here.

Equal Housing and Employment Act
In May, 2009, H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) was introduced into the Ohio General Assembly. If passed, this legislation will protect Ohioans from losing their jobs or housing because of sexual orientation or gender identity. Learn what you can do to extend equality in Ohio.

June 17, 2009, the Ohio House State Government Committee passed H.B. 176 with a 8 to 5 vote, making it the first time in Ohio's history that a vote has a occurred on legislation protecting the LGBT community in either chamber of the General Assembly.

The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the EHEA before the end of June.

Please contact your representative and urge him or her to support H.B. 176.

Domestic Partner Registries
In December, 2008, Cleveland City Council became the third city in Ohio  -- joining Toledo and Cleveland Heights -- to pass a domestic partner registry. READ MORE»

Read our press release in favor of the domestic partner registry .

Cleveland's domestic partner registry opens May 7, 2009, and many exciting activities are planned.

Marriage Equality
The pursuit of marriage equality is an ongoing struggle. State laws vary a great deal. A handful of states recognize full marriage benefits, civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other types of legal recognition.

Many states have either state law 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. Read the ACLU of Ohio's statement.

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 interpreted the reach of Issue 1 in the case Ohio v. Carswell. Read the ACLU of Ohio press release and amicus.

Anti-discrimination Ordinances
These Ohio cities have an LGB or LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance: Athens, Canton, Cincinnati*, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Dayton*, East Cleveland, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Oberlin, Oxford*, Shaker Heights, Toledo*, and Yellow Springs.
 * Denotes that the ordinance also covers gender identity.

In May 2009, Ask Cleveland, broad-based organization of gay rights supporters, launched a campaign to pass a transgender non-discrimination law. Learn more about the campaign and what you can do to help.


What’s Happening Nationally

Marriage Equality
On May 26, 2009, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 which banned same-sex marriage in California, but the court’s ruling said gay marriages performed between May and November 2008 remain valid. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling declaring same-sex marriage legal. In November 2008, California voters narrowly passed ballot Proposition 8 to repeal marriage equality. Immediately afterwards, several groups including the ACLU and Lambda Legal filed suit challenging Prop 8 and seeking to restore marriage equality.

In light of the Court’s May 2009 decision, the fight for marriage equality will likely return to the ballot seeking to restore marriage equality for all California couples. Read more about the case and some of the media coverage.


Resources
Students! Know Your Rights
Use this guide in conjunction with your school's handbook.

Prom Season
Find out if you can take a same-sex date to the prom

Know Your Rights: Transgender People and the Law
This brochure provides an overview of the legal issues affecting the transgender community.

Equality Ohio

TransOhio

TransFamily

Gay Ohio History Initiative (GOHI)

National ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Project

Human Rights Campaign

Freedom To Marry

Lambda Legal

The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce

Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG)

The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) works to end discrimination and violence caused by gender stereotypes.

Read LGBT related press releases and news articles in our News Center.