Take Action: Tell Sen. Harris to Move HB 176 Now!

On September 15, 2009, HB 176 passed the House of Representatives.  It is time for HB 176 to be heard in the Ohio Senate!

Tell Senate President Harris that it is time to MOVE THE BILL!

HB 176 is the Equal Housing and Employment Act (EHEA) which would ban discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  HB 176 needs to be heard in an Ohio Senate Committee with full sponsor, proponent, opponent and interested party testimony and then voted on.

If passed out of committee, it would go to the Senate floor for a vote.  So far, Senate President Harris has not given HB 176 any hearings in the Rules Committee where it now sits.

As a community, we need to tell President Harris to MOVE THE BILL, NOW!
All over Ohio, residents continue to live in fear for their jobs, housing and access to public accommodation.  There needs to be a state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity so that all may feel safe where they work, live and play!

Every letter, phone call and email counts!

HB 176 EHEA Talking Points

Business Talking Points – Equal Housing and Employment Act 2009/2010

• In Ohio, people can lose their jobs or be denied housing solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.  Then can even be removed from a restaurant or movie theater.

• Nearly three quarters of Ohioans favor employment and housing laws that make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

• No language in HB 176 mandates quotas or creates affirmative action.  The bill contains language that specifically bars quotas or affirmative action based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  Ohio law does not require private employers to have affirmative action programs, and this bill does nothing to change that.

• Every business or business organization that has taken a position on HB 176 is either in support or neutral on its passage.  Not a single business or business organization has expressed any opposition to the bill.

• Employers with fewer than 15 employees are specifically exempt from the bill.

• This bill does not override company dress codes.  Employers can maintain current gender-specific dress codes.  In addition, employers will not have to construct new restroom facilities based on employees stated gender identities.

• Passage of this bill will not create a landslide of lawsuits or employment-related litigation.  According to the General Accounting Office, states that have enacted similar laws have not experienced increased litigation.  Cases related to sexual orientation and gender identity make up less than 4% of discrimination cases.

• Currently, 433 of the Fortune 500 companies have adopted similar workplace policies.  In addition, eleven of Ohio’s thirteen public four-year universities also have adopted such policies.

• Unfair practices are bad for business and bad for Ohio’s economy.  Many companies say that Ohio’s intolerance harms their ability to attract and keep a skilled, creative workforce.

As a community, we need to tell President Harris to MOVE THE BILL, NOW!