Does Ohio Law Protect the LGBTQ Community From Discrimination?

People can face discrimination for a wide variety of factors over which they have no control. Age discrimination and racism are among the most well-known forms of discrimination, but they are far from the only common forms of discrimination that exist. Discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people is also a major problem.

Members of the LGBTQ community often face discrimination in many areas of their lives. Employers might refuse to hire someone who identifies as gender non-conforming, transgender or non-binary. Some businesses will discriminate against gay or lesbian workers, particularly when it comes to promotions and raises.

Even landlords could potentially refuse to rent a property to someone because of their bigotry about sexual orientation or gender identity. If you have been the victim of this kind of discrimination, you may find yourself wondering what rights you have under Ohio state law.

Ohio Law Does Not Specifically Protect LGBTQ People

Although many states across the Midwest have implemented statutory protections for members of the LGBTQ community, especially after the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage across the nation, Ohio lags behind its neighbors.

While the federal ruling does force the state to recognize same-sex marriages, state lawmakers have not extended other critical protections to members of the LGBTQ community. In theory, a private employer can discriminate against LGBTQ people over their sexuality or gender identity without ramifications. The same is true of landlords. However, there are many local communities that have enacted LGBTQ-specific laws that are designed to protect their citizens on numerous levels.

Despite the lack of state-wide protections, there may still be options available to those facing this insidious kind of discrimination. If you’ve suffered LGBTQ discrimination from your employer, find out more about your legal rights.