Organizers behind an Ohio Equal Rights Amendment have decided to move forward with two separate ballot initiatives to ban discrimination and approve marriage equality, following a decision by the Republican-controlled ballot board on July 9 to sever the original proposal presented to them.
Organizers will now have to collect double number of signatures needed to get the language onto a future ballot: Instead of collecting 442,958 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters across at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties for one petition, they now need to collect that amount for each petition.
The two amendments would be:
- To prohibit the Ohio legislature and local municipalities from enacting or enforcing laws or policies that would discriminate against Ohioans on the basis of race, color, creed or religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression regardless of sex assigned at birth, pregnancy status, genetic information, disease status, age, disability, recovery status, familial status, ancestry, national origin or military and veteran status.
- To repeal the current language in Ohio’s Constitution that defines marriage as “only a union between one man and one woman.”
Despite organizers’ arguments that both issues fell under the umbrella of equal rights, the Republicans on the Ballot Board separated the two issues.
According to a statement from Ohio Equal Rights organizers, they deliberated for several weeks on next steps for their petition. Although they acknowledged that the Ballot Board’s decision would result in double the work and money involved, they determined that it was less work and money than appealing the decision.”
“It could take months, if not years to appeal the decision in court,” said Lis Regula, Executive Co-Chair of Ohio Equal Rights. “Moving forward, even though it is double the signatures and paperwork, it is the best shot we have at securing equality for every Ohioan in a timely manner.”
Organizers say that they are creating a fundraising effort to cover the increased legal fees, printing and research. But they remain determined.
“We still think splitting the amendment creates unnecessary hurdles,” said Regula. “But we still think moving forward is our best shot.” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- Learn more about the efforts to pass an Ohio Equal Rights Amendment by visiting their website here.
- Check your Ohio voter registration status here.
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