LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Law Passes In Cuyahoga County

LAKEWOOD, OH — After months of lobbying and debate, Cuyahoga County Council passed anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ residents. Cuyahoga is the first county in Ohio to ban discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

“Members of the LGBT community are no different from our neighbors. We work, we worship, we pay taxes, we send our children to schools and we even represent our communities,” said Ohio Rep. Nickie Antonio, from Lakewood. “Cuyahoga County passing this ordinance tells people that our region is open for business to everyone.”

Antonio lobbied on behalf of the legislation in July in front of the Cuyahoga County Council. She noted that she is the first member of the LGBTQ community to be elected and serve openly in the Ohio Legislature.

The legislation does more than protect members of the LGBTQ community. The ordinance also created a human rights commission that will investigate complaints and rule on issues brought before them.

Ohio is one of only 28 states that does not have clear non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ residents. Antonio has frequently introduced bills that would make such discrimination illegal throughout the state, but her legislation often languishes in a Republican-controlled legislature.

Most recently, Antonio introduced House Bill 160 which would bad discrimination against LGBT Ohioans. Despite wide-spread support from the state's business community, the bill has not advanced through the Ohio House.

“This is both a civil rights and an economic issue,” said Antonio in an emailed statement. “I am hopeful that the passage of this important county ordinance will be instrumental in helping statewide efforts to ban discrimination against people in the LGBT community. Nondiscrimination policies have the potential to serve as an economic catalyst to drive innovation, spur investment and attract the best and brightest to Ohio. Above all, it is the right thing to do.”

Antonio's testimony before Cuyahoga County Council can be seen below.

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Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch