May 16, 2008
Equality bill is a civil rights and business issue, senators are told
by Eric Resnick
Columbus--“Basic protections should not depend on where you live or what company you work for,” Equality Ohio director Lynne Bowman told an Ohio Senate panel Wednesday. “And make no mistake. A decision by this body to not pass this bill would be explicit permission to discriminate.”
The bill she was discussing is the Equal Housing and Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination by sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in public and private employment, housing and public accommodations.
The May 13 hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Civil Justice Committee was the first time such testimony has been heard in the Statehouse on an LGBT equal rights bill. Similar bills were introduced in 2003 and 2005 but saw little action.
The measure, also known as EHEA, was introduced in March by Sen. Dale Miller of Cleveland, a Democrat who sponsored earlier versions as a member of the House.
http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories08/may/0516084.htm
