Lakewood City Council Support Anti-Discrimination Bill

LAKEWOOD, OH — House Bill 160, also called the Ohio Fairness Act, would prohibit discrimination against employees based on gender identity and expression and sexual orientation. On Monday night, Lakewood City Council passed a resolution strongly supporting the bill.

City Council President Dan O'Malley Tweeted out the results of the council's vote on Monday night, saying the resolution supporting HB 160 got unanimous support with a 7-0 vote in favor. The council's declaration of official support comes in unison with Columbus City Council, which passed a similar resolution Monday.

The actions of both city councils were celebrated by Equality Ohio, an LGBTQ advocacy group. "Thank you to the City of Columbus aqnd the City of Lakewood for passing resolutions in favor of the #OHFairnessAct, HB160," the organization said on Twitter.

HB 160 actually has roots in Lakewood. The legislation was first introduced by state Representative Nickie Antonio, who hails from Lakewood. She developed the bill in 2011, but the legislation is only gaining serious traction now, seven years later.

One of the reasons the bill is getting more consideration in 2018 is Ohio Business Connects, a coalition of Ohio companies that are looking to change policies in the Buckeye State. With more than 200 member companies, the OBC has some serious weight behind its lobbying. Among the member companies are Procter & Gamble, Key Bank and General Electric.

Another employer that could impact the passage of the legislation is looming over Columbus: Amazon.

Columbus is one of two handfuls of finalists for Amazon's HQ2 project, which would bring approximately 50,000 jobs to the city. Some city officials are worried that Ohio's lack of LGBTQ protections could be a black mark against the Central Ohio town.

"This is kind of a blemish and something we can be proactive to eliminate that to make sure we are the best place to live, work, raise a family," Columbus Council Member Michael Stinziano told ABC 6. "If they know some talent is afraid to come to Ohio because they have that concern because they could be discriminated against, it's a barrier."

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch