Title
To support the Ohio Fairness Act and the effort to change Ohio’s anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as protected classes
Body
WHEREAS, Ohio House Bill 160 adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to Ohio’s list of protected classes, expanding the civil protections Columbus provides to the rest of our state; and
WHEREAS, Ohio’s current non-discrimination protections allows queer Ohioans to be evicted and fired simply for being who they are; and
WHEREAS, in Columbus both the public and the private sector understand the need to enact comprehensive non-discrimination legislation; and
WHEREAS, many businesses are rallying behind this legislation through the Ohio Business Competes Coalition which is made up of hundreds of Ohio’s top businesses; and
WHEREAS, as demonstrated by the economic fallout after North Carolina’s gender discrimination laws passed, a dedication to inclusion and openness is critical to attract top talent and employers from around the world; and
WHEREAS, all Ohioans should be treated equally and given the opportunity to pay their rent, work hard, be judged on their merit, and provide for their family; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council hereby supports the Ohio Fairness Act and the effort to change Ohio’s anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as protected classes.