State Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) provided sponsor testimony on Wednesday for the Fairness Act (SB 132), a bill that would expand the definition of sex discrimination in the Ohio Revised code to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
“It is a fair proposal that will simply give people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender the same freedom and access to jobs, housing and services as anyone else in Ohio,” Antonio told the Senate’s Government Oversight Committee.
First introduced in 2008, the Fairness Act has failed to pass 10 times in the Ohio legislature.
Antonio — one of only two out LGBTQ+ Ohio state legislators — has introduced the bill in every General Assembly since she was first elected in 2011.
Ohio is one of 27 states without laws protecting individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Fairness Act is co-sponsored by every member of the state Senate Democratic Caucus, as well as two Republicans: Sens. George Lang (R-West Chester) and Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville).
Antonio said SB 132 will not create new protected classes or infringe on religious liberty. Additionally, she highlighted that passing the Fairness Act would send a message that the LGBTQ+ community is welcome in Ohio and allow the state to recruit the best and brightest talent.
“Treating [LGBTQ+] people fairly could create long-term economic benefits for our state,” she said.
It is unlikely the Fairness Act will be able to progress through the entire legislative process before the current General Assembly ends at the end of 2024.
“Leader Antonio is hopeful that it will receive additional hearings,” her office told The Buckeye Flame. 🔥
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- To access contact information for members of the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee, click here.
- To access The Buckeye Flame’s full 2024 guide to Ohio’s LGBTQ+ legislation, click here.
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