Ohio Lawmaker Fired From Medical Job After 'Colored' Comments

COLUMBUS, OH — State Senator Dr. Steve Huffman was fired from his position as an emergency room physician this week. The firing comes after Huffman asked whether "colored people" are more likely to get the new coronavirus because they don't frequently wash their hands.

Upper Valley Medical Center, in Troy, fired Huffman this week, the Washington Post reported.

Huffman's comments came during a debate on declaring racism a public health crisis in Ohio. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus criticized Huffman for using antiquated and racist language during the debate.

“There is something very wrong with a world where a lawmaker can be fired from his place of employment for being racist but keep his seat as Vice Chair of the Ohio Senate Health Committee. The private sector has deemed his behavior unacceptable, however, he faces no penalty or public rebuke from Senate leadership and the Republican party,” said state Rep. Stephanie Howse, president of the OLBC.

Huffman has since apologized for his comments.

"Regrettably, I asked a question in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant," Huffman later told the Columbus Dispatch. "I was trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons."

Howse did not seem ready to accept Huffman's apology. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and the ACLU of Ohio are calling on Huffman to resign.

"While we applaud the decision of the hospital to take a stand against such behavior, we would be remiss if we did not point out the culture of racism that permeates throughout our health care profession. He is not the only doctor who talks or thinks like this. What we are witnessing is not only the racial bias that exists in the Ohio Legislature, we are also seeing the bias that is prevalent in the healthcare profession and has led to the disproportionate rates of health problems within the Black community," she said in a statement.