Title
To urge the Ohio General Assembly to adopt legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Body
WHEREAS, passage of House Bill 502 and Senate Bill 305 would amend the Ohio Revised Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, this bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the 127th General Assembly and is supported by numerous cosponsors of differing political philosophies; and
WHEREAS, among the most fundamental of American principles is that all persons have certain inalienable rights that cannot be assigned, taken away, or compromised; and
WHEREAS, these rights cannot be enjoyed if a person is identified, persecuted or discriminated against on the basis of his or her inherent nature; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has consistently confronted discriminating practices and prohibited their continuance; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon our municipal, state and federal government to disallow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identification; and
WHEREAS, twenty states and fifteen Ohio cities have adopted laws or policies which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, job applicants and employees should only be evaluated on the basis of their ability to fulfill the duties of a job, and not on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity which are not determinates of a person's performance; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That Columbus City Council urges the Ohio General Assembly to adopt legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and supports passage of House Bill 502 and Senate Bill 305 of the 127th General Assembly.